The Wash or Deben?

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MCL

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I am trying to find a new place to sail on the east coast, most of my sailing has been limited to inland. I have a small trailer sailer with a draft of just 0.5m and the ability to take to the ground.

My requirements for wherever I sail are as follows:
A slipway (essential)
Trailer parking (essential)
Somewhere to tie up to recover my car/trailer (desirable)
Slipway with good access at differing tidal states say +3/-3 HW (desirable)
Less than 2.5 hr drive from Rutland. (desirable)


Fosdyke is just 30 miles away from my house and has a slipway available, but I am told you can only realistically enter/leave at high water, as the tidal flow is very strong and due to draft constraints. Does anyone know if I could enter fosdyke at LWN with my minimal draft? I havn't been able to find the depth/drying height of the Welland at CD. What puts me off fosdyke is having to stay out for the best part of 12 hours so sailing is really ruled out there for me for all but the summer months and when the tides are at favorable times. Is there a case for sailing from any of the other Wash ports that meet my requirements?

I have also heard good things about the River Deben but have almost no knowledge of it, would it meet any of my requirements?

Thanks!
 
The Deben is lovely, we had our first trip down there this summer in my trailer sailer. Not sure about slips though as we came round from the Orwell. Which is well worth the trip also, especially if you want the option of sheltered water. We used the slip at Suffolk Yacht harbour (all tide effectively)

What boat do you have?

I would be a little concerned at the Wash in anything but the best weather but Wells, Blakeney and Burnham Overy Staithe are lovely in the right conditions.


Jon
 
The problem with the lower reaches of the Deben are that they are all mud at low tide. I'm not sure about slipways but it's a beautiful river with some great sailing.

There is a slip on the Ore at Orford quay, it's rather lovely there too, with access to the Butley, Alde and beyond.
 
Fosdyke

With your tiny draft getting up to fosdyke at most states of the tide would be possible obviously more easy on neap tides.

The problem comes more with having water to use the slipway.

The welland itself retains an amount of water in it, there are just a couple of clear places that you need to clear. The situation should even be a bit better at the moment as there is alot of freshwater run off from the glen which should help keep the river a bit clearer.

You could always enquire about the environment agency moorings on the tidal side of the haven at south quay, this is just up river from the port and just a few miles to the open sea.

The Haven is probably a more user friendly river.

From my experience with trailer sailers in the area I would say there is a real lack of slipways!!
 
Does Waldringfield have a slip as well?

The Orwell has more slips but it's a river for marina dwellers, not very pretty in places and rather industrial with some big ships using it - not classic trailer sailer territory. I'd go for the Alde/Ore/Butley with its incredible beauty and endless opportunities to explore plus a good slip at Aldeburgh. Second choice would be the Deben but access to the upper sections is LW +3.
 
Lazy Kipper said:
Does Waldringfield have a slip as well?

The Orwell has more slips but it's a river for marina dwellers, not very pretty in places and rather industrial with some big ships using it - not classic trailer sailer territory. I'd go for the Alde/Ore/Butley with its incredible beauty and endless opportunities to explore plus a good slip at Aldeburgh. Second choice would be the Deben but access to the upper sections is LW +3.
Click to expand...

No, not public anyway
 
I think that in Suffolk the answers are:

Alde/Ore:
Aldeburgh/Slaughden - yes - talk to Upsons boatyard it is cheap but you have to pay them.
Orford - yes - not sure if they charge but talk to the harbourmaster.

Deben:
Only F.Ferry has a suitable slip. The WSC slip by the pub in Waldringfield is unlikely to be suitable and is not public. I guess you might be able to launch at Ramsholt on the top of a tide.

Orwell:
A few options, Woolverstone (I have never been sure if the slip is public or MDL controlled) and Levington (Suffolk YH as discussed above).

The Orwell options are the easiest to access from Rutland (A14) but as mentioned the other rivers are more rural.

Others will be along shortly to add or amend the above......
 
Charlotte Anne said:
I think that in Suffolk the answers are:
...

Orwell:
A few options, Woolverstone (I have never been sure if the slip is public or MDL controlled) and Levington (Suffolk YH as discussed above).
Click to expand...

The slip is controlled by MDL (charges on thier website) but I understand that members of the RHYC have a right of access along with being able to moor off the fueling barge after hours!
 
simon14b said:
The slip is controlled by MDL (charges on thier website) but I understand that members of the RHYC have a right of access along with being able to moor off the fueling barge after hours!
Click to expand...

RHYC have their own slip, and whilst MDL seem to allow youth sailing teams and some open meetings to use it, not sure if they charge them or not, I don't believe RHYC have any rights to it.

Academic really as its going soon as part of the refurb of that area along with fuel barge and pier, new berths are to be installed and apparently a lifting dock which is sorely needed. There will be a new slip installed but it will be smaller along with new fuelling berth.
 
Charlotte Anne said:
I think that in Suffolk the answers are:

Alde/Ore:
Aldeburgh/Slaughden - yes - talk to Upsons boatyard it is cheap but you have to pay them.
Orford - yes - not sure if they charge but talk to the harbourmaster.

Deben:
Only F.Ferry has a suitable slip. The WSC slip by the pub in Waldringfield is unlikely to be suitable and is not public. I guess you might be able to launch at Ramsholt on the top of a tide.

Orwell:
A few options, Woolverstone (I have never been sure if the slip is public or MDL controlled) and Levington (Suffolk YH as discussed above).

The Orwell options are the easiest to access from Rutland (A14) but as mentioned the other rivers are more rural.

Others will be along shortly to add or amend the above......
Click to expand...

Add to that Walton Backwaters... there is a slip at Titchmarsh marina... a truly lovely bit of water to be based upon!
 
I believe Titchmarsh to be in Essex, and somewhat off any easy route from Rutland .. but as you say a lovely place to sail.

The youth boats launching on the MDL slip in Woolverstone are from the Neptune Sailing School with the premises just above it and are permanently based there.
 
:):)

yep, Felixstowe Ferry Boat Yard has access to the river Deben, with a fairly secure area behind a lifting barrier for your car / trailer to be left, IF the Yard agree. Suggest you phone ahead and obtain agreement / fees etc.

Shingle beach to launch of off, couple of Cafe's and a Pub or two, to start your day / trip on the river. Some supplies also avilable locally.

Also start your trip upriver on the Tide so any mistakes (water wise) easily remeded. :o

Just enjoy the Deben, at your leisure! :)

BUT keep it a secret! otherwise all and sundry will visit the ssssshhhh low voice Deben!
 
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MCL said:
Fosdyke is just 30 miles away from my house and has a slipway available, but I am told you can only realistically enter/leave at high water, as the tidal flow is very strong and due to draft constraints.
Click to expand...


We visted Fosdyke for a one night stay in 2011, in our mobo. So I cannot claim to have local knowledge.
The following is a link to the EA river level gauge for Fosdyke
http://www.environment-agency.gov.u...ionId=6006&RegionId=1&AreaId=3&CatchmentId=11

As the EA gauge reading demostrate the tide has a large range. The flow rushes in and out pretty quick.
 
Fosdyke

If you can use the EA slip just upstream of Fosdyke Bridge, you'll need to put your mast up downstream of it. Fosdyke Haven has no slip - hoist charge £11.50+VAT per metre each way in November 2012.

With less than 0.5m draft, I can confidently reach my Fosdyke Haven berth until HW +5, though I sometimes ground alongside between HW +5 and +7 (ebbs for 7h, floods for 5h). While possible, a low water return means a tedious 6 mile (outboard) slog from Tabs Head - as you say MCL, a good sail from Fos is a 12 hour outing.

There's a slip (and Yacht Club) at Brancaster - the nearest of the North Norfolk harbours from Rutland. Roads aren't great past King's Lynn... Have heard good things about the Orwell YC (Ipswich).
 
Hi guys,

Many thanks for the responses, I think the best thing to do is try as many places as I can, after all thats the best bit of owning a trailer-sailor!

I am keen to try the North Norfolk coast too, Wells and Blakeney look lovely and you can sail at the edge of the harbor at HW
 
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