What's Ipswich like?

sparkles

sparkles

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What\'s Ipswich like?

I'm considering a job in Bury St Edmunds and looking at the map, Ipswich seems closest. I need a marina berth and wondered what they are like there and how easy it is to get one. Also what is the river like, is there an awkward entrance? The boat is a small cat, draws 3ft and only has a 10hp outboard so it won't push against a big tide.

Thanks for your help boys.
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

Ipswich has a number of marinas, the two in the centre of Ipswich are Neptune and Haven, both OK, and are in what is known as the 'wet dock'. This is locked, and the lock is huge, easily holds 12 or more large boats, and isn't that challenging, with a very starightforward entrance, and little to worry about in the way of tides... its is 24/7 and not tide restricted.

A 1/4 mile up the river is Foxes, which isn't locked

Then you have Woolverstone and Royal Harwich, both on the side of the river, so not locked

Further up is Suffolk Yacht Harbour, which again isn't locked, and then closest to the sea is Shotley which is locked, but again, not that tricky an entrance.

Berths are available, but not openly, so often a visit is the best bet, rather than a phone call.

The Orwell is a big river, so both plenty of room for easy navigation, and not overly strong tides... typically never exceeds 2kts max of current, and more usually around 1kt. The entrance to sea is through Felixstowe and Harwich and is about as 'all weather' as you can get. And while there is a fair bit of shipping traffic, not overly difficult.

The river itself is utterly fabulous... it is extremely pretty, with numerous pleasant places to stop, and gems like Pin Mill to experience... it joins the Stour which is perhaps less pretty, with more of a 'marshland' feel, but even less developed.

As for a location... it is pretty good... you have numerous places to sail too nearby, from the very close Walton Backwaters, to the Deben, the Ore/Alde, The Blackwater, Mersea island, The Crouch, and the whole of the rest of the Thames Estuary.... Belgium is just 14hrs away, and less than 24hrs sees you in Holland.

But best of all, the people are really nice. There is still an air of comraderie that seems to have vanished in so many other places....

We only started sailing on the East Coast just over 2 years ago, and we are absolute converts, and adore the place.
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

Very good description - I've sailed here and hearabouts for 35 years now and I don't think I could improve on it.

Well, maybe just one thought - with a cat, marina berths are pricy, and drying moorings, a bit of a local specialty, are not...
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

Maybe I am biased as an East Coast 'roughtie tufti', but despite sailing most of the Channel ports, Brittany, Spain, Portugal etc. I do keep getting drawn back to the Orwell, again & again for a variety of reasons, maybe that's becuase I did most of my formative sailing years there, but your previous thread is right, there is plenty to do in all the Orwell and the Stour but he didn't mention the Walton backwaters, Maldon to the south and the Deben and the Alde to the north. Certainly for a couple of years of w/end cruising, then Belgium/Holland are only a days sail away in high summer
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

The advantage, if that's what you like, of being in either the Haven or Neptune is that you're a short pleasant walk from the centre of town. I liked that. Downside, is if you want to go to sea with limited time, is that it takes a couple of hours to get there. So - the plan for a weekend is to go down river on Friday evening, anchor round the corner of the Stour, then you're ready to go on Saturday morning (or you can cheat and go into a marina downriver - you extravagant lot).

It's lovely there - anywhere.

S x
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

I didn't like Neptune Marina. The loos are not within the compound but you had to go out of the gate, across the road and in through another gate and walk to the back of the yard. SWMBO disliked this intently as the road is dark and quiet and felt unsafe. I haven't been in Haven but I'm assured that it is much nicer - I'll give it a go this year.
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

We were in Neptune until September, and I agree. The flipside is that the marina is quite secure with decent entry controls, and secure car parking. But out of preference of the two, i'd agree, Haven is probably the nicer.
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

I've sailed on the Blackwater and the Swale, how does it compare? You can happily spend a day in those without needing to go to sea.
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

MC and MS - I was parked in Neptune when there was a floating loo block at the end of the pontoon!! It was rubbish, but it was close. Dont know how I'd feel about a long walk at night - mmm, other options occur to me..

As far as the Orwell/Stour are concerned - you can potter around for ages with a shallow draught boat, going right up the Stour, if you can take the ground.

S x
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

All of the above plus

If you have a copy of "Secret Water" by Arthur Ransome you can navigate the Walton Backwaters by the sketch map inside the cover.

Titchmarsh Marina also tends to be the cheapest marina in the area and I say that having just received this years mooring bill!
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

Neptune is very secure and incredibly easy for eating out, buying food etc. It's a shame the shower block is so far away now and it's even longer if you forget your keys and can't remember your number. Most of us natives are friendly though.
And MagnaCarter, thanks for all your help with David and Colros. I'll look out for you and try to thank you personally.
Margaret
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

[ QUOTE ]

Rubbish: 11-12 hrs tops /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

You haven't got a Snapdragon then?

Titchmarsh is the cheapest, and because of that, tends to have poorer facilities than some of the big Ipswich marinas, but does have a lot of people boating on a tight budget who seem to be almost over-willing to give money saving tips. (always a plus)
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

The Orwell is bordered by low hills and winds a bit, so some reaches can be fluky in certain winds. At weekends there is quite a lot of traffic, including motor-yachts from Ipswich and the speed-limit is widely ignored. It is a fine river, though, like a larger version of next-door Deben, with much more shelter than the Blackwater in high winds. The docks at Felixstowe and Harwich are always interesting to watch, though it is important to find out about the harbour rules and preferably keep radio watch.
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

If you would consider a swinging mooring, I would recommend Orwell Yacht Club. Although an immediate mooring is not guaranteed, the Mooring Master normally manages to accomodate everyone each season until or unless a permanent spot is allocated, for a fraction of the cost of a local marina berth (if you can find one)!
Take a look at the website, http://www.orwellyachtclub.org.uk/ or PM me if you would like more info.
Regards
Mike
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

As marinas go, SYH is a good one and the club in the lightship is friendly. The river on a saturday afternoon is a bit like the M25 on a Friday evening. Fair number of interesting places to sail to. Good for a year or three but I wouldnt like to be permanently berthed there

Bl***ing freezing in winter
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

[ QUOTE ]
As marinas go, SYH is a good one and the club in the lightship is friendly.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agree - quite happy there.
Reasonably priced too - swinging mooring in summer, pontoon berth in winter. 2K p/a. For a boat our size that's not bad at all.
Have been quoted multiples of for a South Coast (or even Woolverstone) berth.

Lightship a bit racing biased; but it's a case of "Don't bother me, and I won't bother you".
 
Re: What\'s Ipswich like?

Just to add my bit.
I've lived in the area for 37 years straight and probably about 41 in total. The last eight and a half we have been moored on the Orwell. It is a very pretty river and gives you many opportunities for day, weekend and longer jaunts. The facilities in the marinas are generally good but can be a bit pricey if you are on a budget.
Nearly everyone we have met has been friendly and there are several good places to buy kit from. You can even get more major things done (rigging, sails, paintwork, engines).
All in all, a lot to recommend even if you never venture further than the UK coastal waters.
Oh and you can get some great beer round this way!
 
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