Tollesbury, a couple of questions.

[Nauti Fox]

Popping into there over Easter and was looking for some tips.
11.5m motor boat that travels at about displacement speed most of the time, draught of 1.2m.
Checked the tides and it's springs that weekend, is there anywhere to anchor near the Nass Beacon while waiting for the tide as I will be there at approx low water (using the tides from the Medway) and it will be the same when returning home.
Also, any nice walks and places to visit/eat etc.
Thanks, Al.

 

[Athene V30]

West Mersea is full of moorings to await the tide. Think there may even be waiting buoys up near the lightship as you approach Tollesbury.

If want to get ashore in West Mersea you will need a dinghy as the WMYC launch tends to stop about 5pm.

 

[MoodySabre]

There will still be lots of empty buoys in the Mersea Quarters - I'd grab one of them.

I'll let the locals answer the other questions.

 

[tillergirl]

Can't tell you when the WM Club launch starts as I am away at the moment but I can answer in a while when I am back if no one else answers. Few moorings will be occupied then - certainly not mine at the far end of Salcott if you want beauty and solitude.

 

[Black Diamond]

There is enough depth at low water springs to pick up a waiting bouy at the end of the creek that goes up to the marina, by the Whale, where you can see a cill depth guage. This is about a quarter mile from the lightship, between the upper end of Little Cob island and the sea wall. However, there is very little water at spring lows by the shram hill (the only port hand marker bouy marking the channel), about 400 yards from Shinglehead Point, in the bouyed South Channel (this is because the north channel has been dredged by the surge coming down from the breached sea wall experiment at the top end of Chattersons Creek), so with your draught, I'd give it a couple of hours after low water in Mersea Quarters before picking up a waiting bouy in Tollesbury Fleet.

You should be right coming in to the marina about 90 mins before high water, there will be at least six feet over the cill by then.

The Cruising Club is very good, fab grub at reasonable prices, and Tollesbury Sailing Club is also worth a visit, great beer at discounted prices. There is a good pub up in the village, the King's Head, an excellent butcher and bakery and two general stores. The font in St Mary's is worth a look for its inscription, and there is a fantastic walk right around the seawall, and back into the village up the track from Thirslet Creek.

Hope you are blessed with good weather and we've seen the end of this dreadful permafrost by then!

 

[Otter]

There will be enough water in the Leavings (waiting buoys 200 metres before the lightship as described above) but at low water springs you won't be able to get there from West Mersea with 1.2m draft. We couldn't do it at dead low water with 0.8m draft. Best option is as described to go on a vacant mooring off Mersea. On a Spring Tide you'll get in to Tollesbury at least 90 mins before HW, probably earlier.

It's lovely, very sorry not to be there anymore

 

[Nauti Fox]

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

 

[Fire99]

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

Slightly off topic, Laguna 11.5m What a lovely boat!

 

[christo2024]

Try S.shore Bradwell

If southerly, anchor off the beach to the south of the Nass on the Bradwell shore. There is a small beacon on an out fall and just East of that, it is steeper-to. Good holding in 3-5 m at LW. Dinghy ashore and nice sea wall walk to St Peters Chapel. About 30 or 40 mins. I love it there!!!

 

[Nauti Fox]

Slightly off topic, Laguna 11.5m What a lovely boat!

Why thank you very much, it celebrates its 40th birthday this year!


"If southerly, anchor off the beach to the south of the Nass on the Bradwell shore. There is a small beacon on an out fall and just East of that, it is steeper-to. Good holding in 3-5 m at LW."

Thanks for that Christo.