The Wash, a little survey, if I may

Sixpence

Sixpence

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Have you sailed in The Wash ?
If yes, when was the last time ?
Would you like to but are put off by some comments ?
Is it somewhere you're not interested in ?
Any general comments also allowed, feel free
How do you feel about The Wash as a sailing ground, basically ?
 
My personal view Dave, and I may be quite wrong, is that there doesn't seem to be any particular "draw" factor there. I have headed up and down past it a few times, and Wells is the closest I guess to having been in the Wash itself. I am sure it has it's charms though and certainly the sandy bits look like it would be a challenging place to go sailing. I guess this is a "journey" or "landfall" question for me, and there doesnt seem to be enough to warrant the landfall, and similar journeys could be had elsewhere. I am probably just showing my ignorance here as I'm sure its a lovely place.
 
Dave,

Been doing some tentative 'research'.
The only 'draw' factor seems to be a drawback - we draw 7' (2.1m)... (not exactly a typical East Coast boat I admit).
I'm sure the Wash could be a very nice sailing area - just add water /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
As is, I think will give the Wash a wide berth.
 
Oh I'm not trying to 'big up' the area at all, sorry if that's how it comes over, just trying to find out how up to date people are when they comment about it. More and more I get the feeling that there's a sort of Solent attitude revealed where people are saying they wouldn't go there, even though they have either never been, or haven't been for so long it's more like childhood memories that put them off. Lord knows it's a little bit shallow at times, but only in places /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Have you sailed in The Wash ? <span style="color:blue"> Yes </span>

If yes, when was the last time ? <span style="color:blue"> 1972. Crewing for an old friend on route back to St Ives from Holland in his Ocean 30 motor cruiser.
Would have done so Easter last year but wimped out due to snow and a strong northerly wind </span>

Would you like to but are put off by some comments ? <span style="color:blue"> I would like to and will in the spring if everything works out o.k. </span>

Is it somewhere you're not interested in ? <span style="color:blue"> Only as it is on the water borne route from Cambridge to the Deben. </span>

Any general comments also allowed, feel free
How do you feel about The Wash as a sailing ground, basically ? <span style="color:blue"> To constrained by tides and not a lot of interesting places to go to. </span>
 
It does have its own little micro climate too...
One minute weather looks fine....next crash bang wallop....


Suggestion....ask HM at Wells how many people day sail.....

I know some MOBO friends used to go to Wells once a year when they were moored on the Gt Ouse above Denver.
Another used to blast across to Boston from Kings Lynn...usually straight lined....only went wrong a couple of times...


And the sand keeps moving.....check the Kings Lynn authority web site....they usually issue a new chartlet every few months when they have moved the buoys.
 
Have you sailed in The Wash ? Yes

If yes, when was the last time ? Oct 2008. Will be out again in a couple of weeks.

Would you like to but are put off by some comments ? N/A

Is it somewhere you're not interested in ? N/A

Any general comments also allowed, feel free
How do you feel about The Wash as a sailing ground, basically ?

I sail out of Fosdyke because its the nearest port to my home near Nottingham. I used to have trailer-sailers and have sailed all around the UK coast. For preference, give me NW Scotland any day. Failing that, I don't know that I would swap Wash sailing for any other. It has a wild beauty about it, superb wildlife and its lonely, its peaceful, its relaxing. To my mind the sandbanks all add interest, but I particularly chose a shallow draft yacht that takes the ground.

If you have more than 1 day free, then the Norfolk havens of Brancaster, Wells and Blakeney are lovely spots to visit. The problem comes for 'main' holidays, because after Blakeney you then have a long slog to get to Southwold before things get interesting again, or going north you have a long slog to Bridlington, or going east an even longer slog to Holland.

What I find most annoying and restrictive is the fact that all Wash ports are high tide access only, so sailing trips are for 12 hours which puts me off winter sailing in particular. But then I console myself with the thought that if it weren't for that, the place would be as popular, crowded and expensive as the Orwell or Blackwater. So, on balance, I don't think anywhere else is worth travelling the extra distance for.
 
Have you sailed in The Wash? Yes

If yes, when was the last time? Last November 2008

Would you like to but are put off by some comments? no and would like to go back when I can remember where that fresh water spring soft spot is to stick my keel in , I should know I went in waste deep several times wadding out to my boat at low tide last summer!!

Is it somewhere you're not interested in? It’s a magical place and I would agree that it has a micro climate the sun always shines I had only one aborted trip last year down to too much wind

Any general comments also allowed, feel free love it, it has an oldie worldy feel about the place and of course the beers good in the sailors at Brancaster

How do you feel about The Wash as a sailing ground, basically? For the adventurous and with no time constraints or the ability to dry out other than that go sailing in a tinker tramp

Would you like to but are put off by some comments? No never we are all individuals that have different goals, love the whole area. Now having the whole operation down in the Blackwater the goals are now much bigger
 
Sailed in the wash: Yes (well not sailed, I'm a slow old stinkie)
Last time: Aug 2008
Be put off by comments: No, I have no choice but to use the wash
Somewhere I'm not interested in: I actually quite like the place
General comments: As a slow old stinkie based on the river great ouse and just dabbling at sea cruising I have no option but to come in and out of the wash, it is the first place I have done any sea work and despite a breakdown first run out needing a tow in I have never found it that frightening a place, just somewhere to be respected.
I would be great to be somewhere with havens every couple of hours running but the convenience of having the boat a 10 minute walk from the house and having to pass my local pub is too good to give up.
Weather depending I'll be out in the wash again late may bank holiday heading for wells.

Of course being able to float on a soggy sponge helps /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Have you sailed in The Wash ?.......No.
If yes, when was the last time ?....actually I did once, about 35 years ago I sailed in a Fireball Open at Snettisham Beach.
Would you like to but are put off by some comments ?.....not put off at all, just a bit further from us (N.Kent) but we'll get there one day.
Is it somewhere you're not interested in ?....not at all, sounds fascinating.
Any general comments also allowed, feel free
How do you feel about The Wash as a sailing ground, basically ? .... it sounds challenging, but I dare say it's all do-able with careful planning and application of common sense.
 
Like Guapa - a little shallow for a 2m deep fin keel - was never attracted sufficiently by others' descriptions of destinations to go into such a big shallow area
 
I've been thinking about visiting the Wash this season.

Boat is a multihull so drying out etc is OK

Many of the comments above point to the drawbacks, or lack thereof. Would anyone actually reccomend the Wash?

P
 
You might be OK. I would like to visit Bancaster, Blakney and Brancaster Staithe by boat and you could. Wells worth a couple of nights if you like walking amoungst the dunes and watching the birds. Good for kids as there is nice sand at all 3 and also some good pubs.

Boston is virtually impossible (have to take your mast down) and not a place to visit anyway and I consider Kings Lynn the same.
 
Its not an area for those with deep keels and as previously stated its not Gods sailing ground either (NW Scotland).The tides severely restrict the area.Untill they dredge out wells then there is no 24/7 acess,i think that Kingslynn has the greater range of tidal acess and there is a sailing club at Kings Lynn ,not a pretty place to visit.

The good thing with the wash is that it can protect you from some of the stronger winds,it can be blasting a southerly gale and you wont think so in the wash

if you enjoy sunsets,wildlife,and a quiet sailing area then you will enjoy the wash.

As stated places like Wells,Brancaster and blakeney are worth a trip
 
I'm hoping that it is probably multihull country: Shallow, sheltered so no real chop. A bit like the Fresian Islands

Also; the Outlaws live in Wisbech so I might kill several species with one stone.

I might need to leave the boat there for a bit: Is Wisbech Marina any good? Prices?

Anywhere to leave a boat for a week or so? I like to pay in beer.

Paul
 
Hi Paul, don't know about prices, but Wizzbang marina are quite secure,,, helps as it's right next to the plod shop. Only way you'll get a mooring at beer price though, is to head further inland and use a private one, mine is vacant but it's also far from simple to get to. It's up the Welland, through the scissor lock at Seas End on to the Glen and about half an hour upstream from there. But it's definately a mast down and duck too route. Let me know if interested, otherwise stick with Wisbech and pay with paper or plastic but at least it's secure.
 
Have you sailed in The Wash ? Yes
If yes, when was the last time ?2008
How do you feel about The Wash as a sailing ground, basically
We have sailed many times in The Wash, both from Wisbech and Wells to Ipswich. We had a Hallberg Rassy originally then downsized to a Heavenly Twins, ideal for Wells. The Wash can be a lovely sailing area, quiet and beautiful but if the weather becomes tricky it is not for the fair hearted or inexperienced
 
Have I sailed in the Wash. Yes.
Last Time. 2002 arriving in Boston from Whitby as crew on HM Bark Endeavour.
How do I feel about the Wash? I'd like to sail in the Wash with someone who knows the area before venturing out alone, but I would like to sail the Wash..it is on my doorstep after all..

I have thought about basing my boat at Fosdyke. Its a lot quicker to get to sea than the long run down river from either Boston or Wisbech to reach the Wash. In the meantime I carry on sploshing round Rutland Water in comparative safety, but with a low satisfaction/achievement level.

Yes..there are not many places to go from the Wash without going a long way, so not a lot of people will venture this way from other ports.

If anyone wants a crew member for Wash sailing, let me know.


Tim
 
[ QUOTE ]


If anyone wants a crew member for Wash sailing, let me know.


Tim

[/ QUOTE ]

Dont really have a need for crew, but might be able to organise a trip out on my Coromandel in the summer if you fancy it.....

Hardly sailed anywhere else! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Boat is at Boston, and mooring before having to drop masts is difficult, but not impossible.

Plenty of ships calling into Boston port with much more than 2m draft. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

n868725130_1244821_3784.jpg


But it's all sand, no water, terrible currents and dodgy weather, nothing to see there at all. I wouldn't recommend anyone come near the place.....

I hope you all believe it and it stays peaceful! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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