What's Normal for Norfolk?

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Misterbreeze

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I'm thinking of breaking out of my usual discomfort zone (Kent, Essex, Suffolk coasts) and heading to Norfolk and perhaps further into the Wash. What pilot guides are best for the area, and is there a paper chart pack available? I can't see one on Imray's website.
 
I already use ECP extensively, but it only goes as far as Gt Yarmouth. Peter Harvey's latest Norfolk, Wash & Humber is a 2022 edition, has much changed or are updates available online as with ECP?
 
There is some harbour information on Visit My Harbour where for example Wells, Wisbech and Kings Lynn are all in the north east England section; Dylan Winter's KTL videos also cover this area albeit from a few years ago
 
Shallow draft and an ability to take the ground considerably open your options. I was at Fosdyke Yacht haven for quite a few years and if you head up there try to arrive at slack water at the top of the tide.
Lots of opportunities to be brave if you don't mind touching the bottom.
 
For Wells Next The Sea look at the wells harbour website for the way in. The exact route changes and you can't rely on any chart .
 
A different idea if you are not too deep draft is to explore the Suffolk/Norfolk rivers.
We did that a few years ago with a 1.4 m draft and mast up. You can enter at Lowestoft and go through Mutford lock into Oulton Broad and then up the Waveney to Beccles and downstream as far as St Olaves. After exiting again at Lowestoft go up to Great Yarmouth and explore the Yare nearly to Norwich. Makes for an interesting cruise, there are a lot of nice pubs here and there. You can't get into the Bure though due to the low bridges at Yarmouth.
It does depend on the various swing and lifting bridges being in operation though.
 
The more I look at the leg from Lowestoft (or Yarmouth) to Wells more doubts creep in - it would be a long (singlehanded) day in September with wind & tide needing to be exactly right both ways. What are the chances of that? Could end up stuck though there are worse places. A diversion into the Broads might well suit instead.
 
North Norfolk where the sun rises over the sea and then sets over the sea and in places the tide goes out over a mile with pleasant sand under foot. Best showl draft with bilge keels
 
If you've got a easily droppable mast, then the Northern Broads has more places to visit..

For the Broads you'll need to pay broads tax, see here,
https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/owning-a-boat/tolls
Also on the left of that page is arrival procedures for Lowestoft, and Yarmouth.

Information on the public broads moorings see here,
Map of the Broads - Richardsons Boating Holidays note most moorings on here are free but not all. Broads Authority moorings are for 24 hours at each place.
Most broads pubs have moorings, many charge, but refund against a meal.

In a Broad out of the main channel you can mudweight.

For broads tides see here
Norfolk-Broads.org
For instance Horning is 4 hours after Gorleston Bar and 19 miles inland by river can still have a 2 to 3 mph incoming tide , going with the tide is much easier and save fuel. Click on view / print for a better visual display.

For much more information then the Green Book is a great source of information.. bridge heights, moorings, slipways , etc
The Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association

Especially look at Diary Dates in there as you might not want to be faced with..

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There are many regattas and just routine sailing club events throughout the year.
Though you'll miss the above one , as Horning regatta week this year is 2nd to the 8th August, around 100 boats from an Oppie to a 45ft broads yacht competing over a mile and half of river, 180 ft wide or less..
Open event 3rd to 8th all are welcome..
 
I can recommend the Heron Maps "The Broads Cruising and Tourist Map" This has a great deal of useful information with Mooring sites, Bridge heights, Electricity points, Shops, etc.
The Ordnance Survey Map OL40 is also useful with details of footpaths.
Shops are a rather thin on the ground in the Southern rivers and may involve a bit of a walk in some places.
 
Took my old boat up to the Broads from Ipswich once entering at Lowestoft and made it to Reedham. Reedham swingbridge stopped me from getting to the quay before closing time though. Had a Pegasus 800 then and lowered the mast for Haddiscoe road bridge. A sailing holiday that took me closer to home than where I keep the boat!
A few years later with my current boat I singlehanded up to Wells stopping at Lowestoft and enjoyed that far more. Just pick a good weather window for the bit round the Norfolk coast as there’s no refuge.
Wells is a lot easier these days since they straightened out “The Run” and the entrance isn’t too bad either. On my list of re-visits. Between the Broads and Wells, I would pick Wells every time.
 
Habebty said:
Took my old boat up to the Broads from Ipswich once entering at Lowestoft and made it to Reedham. Reedham swingbridge stopped me from getting to the quay before closing time though. Had a Pegasus 800 then and lowered the mast for Haddiscoe road bridge. A sailing holiday that took me closer to home than where I keep the boat!
A few years later with my current boat I singlehanded up to Wells stopping at Lowestoft and enjoyed that far more. Just pick a good weather window for the bit round the Norfolk coast as there’s no refuge.
Wells is a lot easier these days since they straightened out “The Run” and the entrance isn’t too bad either. On my list of re-visits. Between the Broads and Wells, I would pick Wells every time.
Click to expand...
Wells is wonderful.
 
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