The Coastal Guide 2019

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CoastalGuide 2019

Capturing the essence of the East Coast and its rivers

Coastal Guide 2019 1

Tidemill Yacht Harbour Tidemill Way Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 1BP 01394 385745 info@tidemillyachtharbour.co.uk www.tidemillyachtharbour.co.uk VHF 80 Tidemill Yacht Harbour is a long-established marina in Woodbridge where you can moor your boat safely and relax and enjoy the gentle, unspoilt surroundings at your leisure. Our team are on hand for berthing, lifts, cleaning, winter storage and all the running repairs and maintenance your boat may need. We also boast a new travel hoist, impressive shower/washroom amenities and fully-equipped workshops.

• Annual & visitor moorings available all year • Winter storage packages available • Full boatyard services including lift & crane • Engine installation, servicing, diagnostics & repair • Electronics sales & installation • Osmosis treatment & resprays • GRP repairs, painting & varnishing

We look forward to welcoming you to the Tidemill Yacht Harbour!

Richard & the team 2 Coastal Guide 2019

Welcome...

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here were you when the UK voted to leave the EU? We recall our whereabouts as if it was yesterday... after casting our votes we cast off from our marina berth and headed to the Walton Backwaters, a place of calm and quiet when all around is chaotic. There’s a similar sense of other-worldliness when we’re fighting a fast-running tide and a wind that’s right on the nose – living in the here and now, leaving everyday worries in our wake, is a huge part of boating life!

Gill Bendall

That sense of escape continues to fire our passion for the East Coast and its rivers, a love shared by guest contributor Jonathan Gornall. The story of his boating history – and amazing act of fatherly devotion – starts on p61. On a larger scale, the RYA’s efforts to bring newcomers into boating are outlined on p11, where we highlight the local clubs supporting this year’s Push the Boat Out campaign.

Events on the water and ashore are detailed on other pages, of course – see p23 for a look at some key London and Thames occasions, and p33 for ‘mustn’t miss’ dates in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and North Kent. We’ve asked local brokers for advice for those just about to dip their toes into the boat-owning waters (p7), and chatted to the friendly faces that offer a warm welcome when we arrive as visitors to some of the region’s favourite harbours and marinas – meet them on p75.

Tim Sandall

CoastalGuide&Events coastalguideandevents CoastalGuide&Events

As boat owners, we’re never far from the water even when we’re not sailing – the emotional pull is as strong as the tides! It was fun, therefore, to seek out some spare-time alternatives to being on board – see p49 for a selection of ideas and, if you’re in the market for a selfcatering cottage holiday, do make use of the money-saving offer on p22.

We also thoroughly enjoyed exploring Suffolk’s county town – this is a special anniversary year for the River Orwell, so what better reason to visit Ipswich and immerse yourself in its culture and heritage? Start planning your trip with our guide on p16.

As always, we’re especially grateful to the clubs and organisations that share their events details with us and distribute the Coastal Guide to their members and customers. A huge thank you, too, to the advertisers whose support means you get your copy free of charge.

Please take the time to see what they’re offering and, if you make contact, do tell them that you read about them here.

Here’s to another great year, both on and off the water!

For more on how to enjoy the East Coast and its rivers see www.coastal.events Coastal Guide 2019 3

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Contents 07 Don’t miss the boat!

11 Push the Boat Out 16 Destination Ipswich 23 Capital ideas 28 Coastal Shopper

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33 Adventures on the water 46 A tall tale 49 Unwind at the water’s edge 56 Spotlight on Woolverstone Marina 59 A new wave – chandler Arthur Beale 61 A passage through time 67 A matter of taste

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71 French fancy – new faces at Mariners 1900 72 Cockpit coolers 75 In safe hands 82 Sail Arthur Ransome’s Nancy Blackett 85 Your guide to what’s on in 2019 97 Clubs on the East Coast and its rivers

33 Coastal Guide 2019 5

With a skilled workforce using traditional methods of boatbuilding, at Robertsons Boatyard in Woodbridge we provide the following: • REPAIRS AND RESTORATION TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY IN ALL MATERIALS • ALL TYPES OF RIGGING SUPPLIED AND FITTED • ENGINE, PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL WORK UNDERTAKEN • PAINTING AND VARNISHING • MOORING – SWINGING AND JETTY • NEW TRAVEL HOIST & EXTENDED HARDSTANDING • WINTER STORAGE PACKAGES AVAILABLE • OSMOSIS TREATMENTS AND RESPRAYS • THE LARGEST SLIPWAY ON THE EAST COAST • HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION • EXPERIENCE AND PASSION FROM A FAMILY-RUN BOATYARD

For latest news follow us on Facebook

Lime Kiln Quay, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1BD

601394 Coastal Guide 2019 382305 • info@robertsons-boatyard.co.uk • www.robertsons-boatyard.co.uk

Don’t miss the boat!

When it comes to navigating your way through the boat-buying process, a broker offers a wealth of specialist knowledge and experience. We asked some of the locals for their top tips for first-timers…

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or many it’s a once-in-a-lifetime purchase, and it certainly has the potential to be one of the most life-enhancing moves you’ll ever make. It’s fair to say, then, that there is a lot of planning and possibly even soul-searching to be done once you’ve decided to buy a boat.

Top of the to-do list is to research boat types, determine your budget, organise finance and – especially if you’re buying second-hand – source some independent, expert advice. It’s an emotional, sometimes exhausting yet always exciting process… and a local broker will help you navigate your way through it.

Aaron French, Sales & Marketing Director at Clarke and Carter suggests that once you’ve decided on the type of boat you’re looking for – sail or power – you consider some key priorities.

“Are you aiming for comfort or speed, how many berths do you need, do you want heating, hot water and creature comforts, or is performance more important? There are lots of options inside and out; many can be added but sometimes at surprising

cost,” he says. “Where do you intend to use your boat, how far and fast do you intend to cruise and will you be in a marina, on a swinging mooring or cruising off into the blue? Usage and location may determine important factors like depth of draft, maximum mooring size or fuel availability.”

Tollesbury broker David Morris agrees. “It’s no good buying a weekender with two berths if you’re a family of five. Think about what you intend to do – weekends, day sailing or offshore boating overseas; the more time you spend on board, the bigger the boat you will need,” he says.

“As with buying anything these days, we know that if you spend a little more then you get something a little bigger or a bit better! Be careful, though, as this can run away with you. Try to stick to a budget and find a boat that ticks most of the boxes. Nothing will be perfect, so be prepared to compromise.”

Used boat shows offer a great opportunity to see lots of boats at once. “Even if the boats on offer aren’t quite right, look at everything that may » Coastal Guide 2019 7

potentially suit and speak to the brokers – there may be other boats elsewhere or some might come to market later that will suit you better,” Aaron says. “But if you find something you really like, get in quick! A good broker will not allow a bidding war, so you may miss out if someone else gets in first.”

A lot of ‘pre-loved’ boats come to market simply because their owners have stopped using them, so be aware that maintenance may be required – engine services, standing rigging and

8 Coastal Guide 2019

sail replacements, etc. The cost of any big-ticket items should be reflected in the price of the boat, so do your research and speak to local suppliers and boatyards who’ll be able to advise.

Ask your broker early on about title documents and a sales/service history – especially if you’re applying for a boat mortgage or other form of finance. Ian Brockwell, Director at Precious Marine advises: “A CE/RCD is a must, plus proof of VAT paid, and you’d usually expect a history of previous owners going back at least five years. Your broker will explain the basic implications of buying a used boat under maritime law.”

David Morris adds: “If you are looking to finance your purchase, do you extend your mortgage – often the cheapest route – or simply look for a loan from your bank or other provider? “Over £25,000 you might consider a marine mortgage, secured on the boat – there is lots of information online and most websites offer simple quotations.”

Any offer you make on a boat should be ‘subject to survey’ – a professional inspection by a qualified marine surveyor will provide peace of mind and may save you a lot of money later. A ‘sea trial’ will tell you how it handles and whether everything works as described too. “Ask who’s responsible for any added costs such as lifts and surveys,” says Ian. “Set aside some of your budget – up to £800 is a sensible amount.”

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Brightlingsea Harbour is a small mixed leisure and commercial port situated in Brightlingsea Creek, close to the mouth of the Colne where it meets the Blackwater and Thames Estuaries Brightlingsea Harbour is a Trust Port managed by Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners, who also run Waterside Marina.

Harbour facilities include:

Water Taxi • Fresh Water • Fuel • Sewage Pump Out • Laundry • Showers • Maintenance Posts • Wifi and electric in the marina • Waste Disposal Brightlingsea has a great selection of hostelries, shops, clubs and services, and our Harbour boat trips and Foot Ferry make it easy for visitors to explore the area further

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Fun for everyone Want to try sailing or windsurfing? Push the Boat Out events present an opportunity for all to have a go...

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atersports and sailing clubs across the region are taking part in the RYA’s Push the Boat Out campaign this May, offering people of all ages and abilities an opportunity to get afloat for the first time. The enthusiasm of members and volunteers makes this a campaign that’s gaining momentum each year – clubs taking part in 2019 are listed on the following pages. PTBO events are a fabulous chance to tempt newcomers onto the water and, for the clubs involved, an excellent recruitment opportunity too.

During its combined annual Open Day and PTBO event last year, for example, Blackwater Sailing Club in Essex signed up more than 30 new members. Nigel Butler, Vice-Commodore, says: “In 2018, 295 visitors came for our annual Open Day and RYA Push the Boat Out event. The Blackwater was looking stunning under clear blue skies with

glorious sunshine all day and 83 adult and cadet helpers made this a fantastic day out for our guests, many of whom had never considered trying sailing before. A total of 322 ‘taster’ sails were provided during the day on our seven-acre training lake in our fleet of RS Quests, Wayfarers, RS Fevas, Toppers and Optimists. Even our local MP was spotted getting out of a Quest with a large smile on his face! As the tide came in, 56 people tried a taster sail on a cruiser, 126 enjoyed a river trip on one of our RIBs or the launch, and many just sat and watched our club races.

“Sailing is thirsty work and our visitors managed to drink the bar dry after enjoying the food on offer throughout the day. Over 30 new members signed up on the day – making this our most successful Open Day ever!”

Also on the River Blackwater, Marconi Sailing » Coastal Guide 2019 11

NORFOLK

NORFOLK

Norfolk Punt Club www.puntclub.co.uk Hickling Broad Sailing Club www.hicklingbroad.com Norfolk Broads School of Sailing www.norfolksailingschool.co.uk Hickling Windsurfing Club www.hicklingbroad.co.uk Norfolk Broads Yacht Club www.nbyc.co.uk Norfolk School Sailing Association www.nssa.co.uk Coldham Hall Sailing Club www.coldhamhallsailingclub.co.uk Whitlingham Adventure www.norfolk.gov.uk Ouse Amateur Sailing Club www.oasc.co.uk Blakeney Sailing Club www.blakeneysailing.co.uk Hunstanton Sailing Club and Water Sports Centre www.hunstantonsc.co.uk Horning Sailing Club www.horning-sailing.club Snettisham Beach Sailing Club www.snetbeach.co.uk SUFFOLK SUFFOLK Royal Harwich Yacht Club www.royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club www.wobyc.com Southwold Sailing Club www.southwoldsc.org Waveney Sailability www.waveneysailability.co.uk Deben Yacht Club www.debenyachtclub.co.uk Pin Mill Sailing Club www.pmsc.org.uk Shotley Point Yacht Club www.shotleysailingclub.co.uk Beccles Amateur Sailing Club www.becclesasc.co.uk Oulton Broad Water Sports Centre www.oultonbroadwatersportscentre.co.uk Slaughden Sailing Club www.slaughdensailingclub.co.uk Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club www.ffsc.co.uk Aldeburgh Yacht Club www.aldeburghyc.org.uk St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing Association www.westsuffolksailing.org.uk

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Club had a fabulous day too, with 207 individuals attending and between 350 and 400 sessions on the water.

In Suffolk, Shotley Point Yacht Club is this year hosting a Push the Boat Out open weekend over the May Bank Holiday – 25-26 May – with many features including a boat jumble, craft market, the Harwich Life Boats and Cruising Association, Coast Watch, Coast Guards and local sea school.

Commodore Phill Barnes says: “This is our fifth year and over the two days we usually see somewhere around 3,000 people.

“Last year we met a lady who was in her 60s and did not think we would want to help her learn to become a great crew member. Today she has taken Competent Crew and has attended all of the sailing and training opportunities we have put on via our Crew Pool scheme. She is one of the most dedicated Crew Pool members we have ever had and promises to be a real asset on board, as she never stops learning, training and asking questions.”

LONDON & NORTH KENT LONDON & NORTH KENT

At Norfolk’s Horning Sailing Club, event co-ordinator Robert Hancock says: “We had a fantastic Push the Boat Out in 2018 – with over 270 sessions on the water, it was an incredibly busy day, but a great opportunity to showcase the club to the local community and beyond.

The weather was perfect and the happy faces said it all.”

New sailors recruited through PTBO tell similar stories of success. Londoner Lucy York says: “My husband and I always wanted to make the most of the river as we live so close to the Thames. One day last year, we were getting the ferry over to Hampton and happened to see a poster advertising an Open Day at the Hampton Sailing Club, and thought we would pop along.

“We were just expecting to find out some information and pick up a leaflet, so were pleasantly surprised when we were asked to help crew a boat there and then! It was such good fun and everyone was so friendly and welcoming, we decided this would definitely be the »

Segas Sailing Club www.segassailingclub.co.uk Broadstairs Sailing Club www.broadstairssailingclub.com Tonbridge Town Sailing Club www.tonbridgesailing.org Greenwich Yacht Club www.greenwichyachtclub.co.uk Tankerton Bay Sailing Club www.tbsc.co.uk Whitstable Yacht Club www.wyc.org.uk Medway Cruising Club www.medwaycruisingclub.org.uk Hampton Pier Yacht Club www.hpyc.org.uk Hampton Sailing Club www.hamptonsailingclub.com Medway Yacht Club www.medwayyachtclub.com Thurrock Yacht Club www.thurrockyachtclub.org.uk Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre www.dswc.org Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club www.iossc.org.uk Medway Watersports Trust www.medwaywatersports.co.uk Sheppey Sea Cadets www.sea-cadets.org/sheppey Minnis Bay Sailing Club www.minnisbaysailingclub.co.uk Coastal Guide 2019 13

ESSEX Walton & Frinton Yacht Club www.wfyc.co.uk Chapman Sands Sailing Club www.chapmansands.gosnold.info Colne Yacht Club www.colneyachtclub.org.uk Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk Burnham Sailing Club www.burnham.org.uk Brightlingsea Sailing Club www.sailbrightlingsea.com Gunfleet Sailing Club www.gunfleetsailingclub.co.uk Ardleigh Sailing Club www.ardleighsc.co.uk Blackwater Sailing Club www.blackwatersailingclub.org.uk Royal Corinthian Yacht Club www.royalcorinthian.co.uk Fishers Green Sailing Club www.fishersgreensc.org.uk Up River Yacht Club www.upriver.org.uk Stour Sailing Club www.stoursailingclub.co.uk Marconi Sailing Club www.marconi-sc.org.uk Eyott Sailing Club www.eyottsailingclub.org.uk Alexandra Yacht Club www.alexyachtclub.co.uk Wivenhoe Sailing Club www.wivenhoesailingclub.org ESSA Water Activities Centre www.essa.org.uk

river-based activity we were looking for and we haven’t looked back!

We love being members of the club. It has been great to meet so many new people and to learn lots of new skills – the tea and cake is definitely a bonus too. We are so happy that we saw the poster and went to that open day – the best decision we could have made!”

Holly Hancock, the RYA’s Sailing Development Officer (Norfolk) and Regional Communicator says: “Push the Boat Out provides a fantastic opportunity for sailing clubs to encourage the local community to come and give sailing a go – anyone wanting to get involved can search for their nearest event on the RYA website. Go along and get on the water – it really couldn’t be simpler. With a range of activities on offer across the UK throughout the whole of May, there are opportunities to try windsurfing, dinghies, keelboats and larger yachts – don’t miss out!”

Check the RYA website for details of who’s doing what and when: www.rya.org.uk 14 Coastal Guide 2019

Ne w Bo an at d Sa Us le ed s

Burton Waters Boat Sales is a large family-run business and is now one of the largest boat dealerships in the UK. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, we are able to offer that personal touch.

• First-class service with strict attention to detail • Part-exchanges always welcome • 200 new and used boats available • Boats presented to a high standard

• Affiliated member of ABYA and BMF • Finance & Insurance options available • Market-leading brokerage packages available

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Ipswich Haven Marina, New Cut East, Ipswich IP3 OEA T: + 44 (0) 1473 225710 W: www.burtonwaters.co.uk

Coastal Guide 2019 15

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uffolk folk are known for their self-effacing nature – an attribute shared, it seems, by the county town itself. Lauded for its longevity – it’s thought to be the oldest British town in continuous settlement – and maritime history, Ipswich has always had to vie for visitor attention with near neighbours Colchester and Norwich, and past perceptions of it have not always been positive. But 2019 is the year to forget what you think you know about the place and see it through fresh eyes: Ipswich has recaptured its sense of adventure and is reinventing itself as a cultural capital that, like the tidal waters beyond, is both outgoing and welcoming.

The town at the top of the River Orwell is a sailor’s ideal destination, with a choice of

marinas and a cosmopolitan waterfront filled with fashionable bars, restaurants and cafés, plus a wealth of other dining, drinking, retail and cultural venues all within walking distance.

A new partnership of key stakeholders is working hard to put Ipswich back on the tourist map and prove that this is a town which knows where it’s going as much as where it has come from. Their approach to celebrating Ipswich’s heritage and historic assets is soft and understated – a modesty shared by the majority of its population. But follow their cues and you’ll find that centuries-old Ipswich is achingly cool (in parts) and crammed with culture (everywhere!); stay awhile and you’ll see why it’s nicknamed ‘Hipswich’. »

Destination Ipswich Book a short break in Suffolk’s county town – it’s a cultural centre that’s full of surprises Coastal Guide 2019 17

There’s plenty of nightlife along the Waterfront, but to really appreciate Ipswich’s cultural credentials it’s worth considering doing something different.

Six Arts Council-recognised National Portfolio Organisations are based in Ipswich, including Dance East at the world-class Jerwood Dancehouse. Dance East offers dance experiences for all, across every discipline from ballet to hip hop and even baby discos, and the theatre here brings world-class artists and dance companies to the town. Intimate, inclusive and inspirational – you don’t have to know anything about dance to enjoy and be entertained by a performance here.

A short walk from the town centre – allow half an hour from the Waterfront to allow for some window-shopping – the 400-seat New Wolsey Theatre (above) creates, develops and produces a dynamic programme of theatre and other live performances. Its Studio Theatre – which you’ll find at a separate location close to Ipswich Museum – is a 100-seat theatre built on the foundations of the regional repertory company that had opened there in the late 1970s. Both theatres are run as a registered not-for-profit charity and present a range of productions to suit every taste. The smaller studio venue gives audiences a chance to get close to some of the best work touring small spaces in the UK with new work presented in the annual PULSE Festival.

Ipswich Regent is East Anglia’s largest theatre boasting more than 1,500 seats. Opened in 1929 it was among the first UK theatres to play films with sound and top acts have included the likes of The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.

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he Romans established a large villa at Castle Hill in the north-west of Ipswich, and the town was permanently settled in the seventh century as a trading port, its location at the top of the River Orwell making it perfectly situated as a port and for ocean-going trade with Germany. During the Saxon period Ipswich was a centre for weaving, and developed into a large and prosperous town, supporting its own mint. But the location also made Ipswich vulnerable to Viking attack. The Danes occupied the town from AD 869-917.

Ipswich was granted a royal charter in 1200, at a time when it was known as a centre for wool trading and leather manufacture. From the 13th century the town developed a thriving shipbuilding industry, while an annual fair attracted people from all over East Anglia.

Spring 2019 saw the 500th Anniversary of Henry VIII gifting the rights of the River Orwell to the Ipswich Corporation – the merchants and port men that ran the town. That King’s gift makes the Orwell unique in Britain, for the river and riverbed are owned by the town of Ipswich; most other tidal rivers are owned by the Crown Estate.

Ipswich has a huge number of landmark buildings, including many on or within a stone’s

throw of the Waterfront where the Old Custom House – built in 1845 and now the offices of Ipswich Port Authority – occupies a commanding position, its classical portico supported on four Tuscan columns set on a huge stone stair.

Nearby, the medieval church of St Mary at the Quay, built in the late 15th century and one of four seafarer’s churches, is now known as Quay Place, a heritage and wellbeing centre that’s the result of an innovative regeneration partnership between The Churches Conservation Trust and Suffolk Mind.

On Fore Street you’ll find The Old Neptune, a magnificent 15th-century Grade II* listed medieval house which has been painstakingly restored and, inside, stylishly updated. The house has 13 double bedrooms, a superb entertaining space and is set around a beautiful Italianate courtyard; it’s available to hire for parties, weddings and big group getaways.

Further along – past the friendly Lord Nelson Inn – Fore Street Baths is the second-oldest operational swimming pool in England. Now 125 years old, this iconic Victorian pool opened in March 1894 and was given an entrance with nautical-style porthole windows. The facility provided hot baths for those who lived locally, and

its pool is still used for swimming classes today.

Throughout the streets that link Ipswich Waterfront to the retail centre, you’re surrounded by architectural splendour – just look above the shopfronts and you’ll see the signature styles of almost every era in the town’s history.

At the centre of it all, the ebullient Victorian Town Hall, built in 1878, and neighbouring Corn Market is home to a pair of art galleries and a theatre, as well as tea shop and glittering 19thcentury function rooms. Outside, the recentlyrenovated Cornhill has a water feature, seating and four arches forming a symbolic reference to the figures on top of the Town Hall and the historic ‘gateway’ that was once the entrance to the town.

For contrast, Buttermarket’s Ancient House was built in the 15th century, its exterior covered with beautiful pargetry that represents Europe, America, Africa and Asia, as well detailed wood carvings that were added to the building in the 1660s.

Close by, at the junction of Northgate Street and Tavern Street you’ll spot the façade of the Grade II listed former Great White Horse Hotel, where guests have included Charles Dickens, George II and Louis XVIII of France.

Northgate Street itself is the setting for the Tudor/Gothic-influenced Ipswich County Library where, on the first floor, a magnificent 100ft long room complete with vaulted ceiling and old oak bookshelves has coloured glass windows depicting famous historic literary figures, scientists, politicians, artists, soldiers and sailors with links to Suffolk. Look out for the lions on the walls outside and, behind an impressive red brick wall opposite, » Coastal Guide 2019 19

the Ipswich and Suffolk Club. Also on Northgate Street is timber-framed Pykenham’s Gatehouse, built in 1471 by William Pykenham, Archdeacon of Suffolk, who was renting a neighbouring property from Holy Trinity Priory and decided that his status demanded a more impressive dwelling.

The Central Quarter of Ipswich is where all the major big-brand retailers are, but it’s in the area known as The Saints – one of the main thoroughfares that connects the town centre with the Waterfront – where you’ll find a fascinating fusion of independent stores and eateries. Many of the buildings date back to Tudor times and a statue celebrates the town’s favourite son, Cardinal Wolsey, who was born here in around 1473. A craft and vintage market held here every June and November showcases the works of a wonderful mix of local artisans.

Almost a relief after so much immersion in medieval architecture, the Unitarian Meeting House on Friars Street is a hidden gem. Built in 1699 and hardly altered since, it’s close to the iconic 1970s Willis Building, designed by architect Sir Norman Foster and the youngest at the time to have been awarded Grade I listed status. The centre of the building is constructed from a grid of concrete pillars, 14m apart, supporting cantilevered concrete slab floors while 890 sheets of toughened dark tinted glass and a grand piano-shaped design reflects everything around it like a prism.

Even more recent, The University of Suffolk building was opened on the Waterfront in 2008, its curved design with glass frontage picking up many reflections from the water. The building

Culture and collections Housed in an impressive Victorian building on High Street – a leisurely half-hour stroll from the Waterfront – Ipswich Museum hosts galleries devoted to Suffolk geology and wildlife, British mammals and birds, and an amazing Natural History Gallery: step inside and you’re greeted by a life-sized model of a woolly mammoth! The Queen Anne facade features swags, dragons, floral and

A drool-inducing range of restaurants, cafés and bistros are all along the Waterfront. Near the lock gates and Neptune Marina, Aurora is sleek and sophisticated – great for cocktails and special occasions. We absolutely fell in love though, with the informality of Cult Café (above) where fabulous diner-style food is served in a shabby-chic setting. The location may suggest that this is the Student Union bar for the University of Suffolk, but the clientele includes everyone from teens to business-types – and dogs are welcomed too.

Further along you’ll find Coffee Link, a family-owned business with a real passion for good quality coffee. Drink in, grab a cup and go or buy a bag of beans to enjoy at home – the emphasis here is on quality and service to suit you.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, then The Salthouse Harbour Hotel (see p50) is our recommendation. But you don’t have to book a bedroom to enjoy the experience of eating here – the restaurant is fabulous, its menu rich with fresh local produce and marvellous value.

If your boat’s in the marina, pop in for breakfast!

A long-time feature of the Waterfront, Mariners 1900 presents a contemporary approach to lunch and dinner, its new owner-chef serving his native French food in a fascinating floating setting, with al fresco eating and entertainment on the patio deck in fine weather. Read more on p71.

You can’t miss Isaacs on the Quay – it’s so much more than a pub – but in contrast, do look out for the Waterfront-based pop-up community café and general all-round creative hub, La Tour Cycle Café.

On the Haven Marina side of the water, there’s the Last Anchor bar and restaurant. And on the water itself, river cruise restaurant Allen Gardiner offers brunch, lunch, sunset and candlelit dinner cruises for up to 12 passengers on the River Orwell all year round.

20 Coastal Guide 2019

has six floors, an auditorium, lecture theatres and teaching rooms plus a stunning exhibition space that showcases the work of students, alumni, staff and guest artists.

fossil mouldings, false pillars and framed sections, while inside there are eclectic collections exploring Ipswich’s past and curios from around the world.

Next door, Ipswich Art Gallery was built in the 1930s in the Art Deco style and has distinguishing architectural features including a large glassroofed octagonal main-atrium space in the centre of the building. Throughout the year there’s a number of exhibitions on display in this former Ipswich Art School building where former students include painter-sculptor Maggi Hambling and ceramic designer Reginald George Haggar. Fine art and furniture are on show, too, at the fabulous Christchurch Mansion (above), a substantial stately

The centre of Ipswich is a dining-out delight too, with a choice of venues just a short walk from the Waterfront. Prime among them is Aqua Eight, which features a trendy cocktail bar (above) and a first floor restaurant where you’ll be offered a fusion of flavours and spices from across China, Thailand, Indonesia and Asia combined skilfully with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. We opted for the Contemporary Set Menu which included mix hors d’oeuvres (above right) and four mains – each was so colourful, fragrant and simply too delicious

home where treasures and household memorabilia are displayed in sumptuous period rooms. Here you’ll find the largest collection of paintings by Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable outside of London, while the Wolsey Art Gallery hosts a programme of changing exhibitions, featuring objects from the Ipswich collections as well as incredible loans from further afield – Auguste Rodin’s life-size marble sculpture The Kiss was a recent loan from the Tate.

All three venues are operated by Ipswich Museums, offer free admission and are staffed by people passionate and enthusiastic about their work. Some move between the three sites so spread your visits over a couple of days and you may well meet them more than once – with typical Suffolk warmth, they’ll welcome you like an old friend!

• For information on all the venues featured, and more, log on to www.allaboutipswich.com

to leave, we had no room for dessert – and outstanding value at £22.50 per person. Next time (and there will be one, very soon!) we’ll try the Signature Menu and leave the chef to decide what to serve… having asked our waiter to choose cocktails to complement our meal, we know we’ll be in safe hands.

For a nightcap, try near-neighbour Arcade Street Tavern, where more than 120 of the latest craft beers plus over 80 small batch gins are served in a beautiful Georgian townhouse setting.

Coastal Guide 2019 21

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Capital ideas The Thames provides a stunning setting for some fun events and festivals this year

Coastal Guide 2019 23

Thames Trafalgar Race

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fter last year’s cancellation due to lack of ‘sufficient space’ on the water, the Thames Trafalgar Race returns on 5-6 October. Hosted jointly by Little Ship Club and Erith Yacht Club, this two-stage race gives sailors of all ages and experience an opportunity to tackle the fickle tides and winds of the River Thames, starting from Blackwall Reach near Greenwich and finishing at Erith Yacht Club on day one.

After a dinner on the Saturday night to pay respect to Horatio Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar, stage two sees the race return upriver to Greenwich next-day.

Entry is limited to 40 boats and the race is open to any yacht with a Byron handicap system – if you don’t already have one, email the race organisers and they will let you know how to apply.

• www.littleshipclub.co.uk

Thames Historic Barge Rowing

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he Thames Barge Driving Trust runs events throughout the year to showcase the skills required by the lightermen who once moved freight along the river. In a race to commemorate their work, barges are propelled by ‘sweeps’ – 20ft-long oars – rowed by two of their crew, whilst a third uses one at the stern to steer with the tide. As a further test of their navigational skill, each crew must collect at least one pennant from barges moored along the course. This year’s Thames Historic Barge Rowing event takes place on 6 July and covers a seven-mile course between Greenwich Pier and Westminster Bridge.

•www.thamesbargedriving.co.uk

24 Coastal Guide 2019

The Great River Race

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spectacular rowing race that attracts entries from all over the globe, this event is known as London’s ‘river marathon’ for good reason – the course is a gruelling 21.6 miles long, from Docklands to Ham in Surrey. Teams of dedicated athletes compete with charity fundraisers and fancy-dressers on 14 September, the result a colourful and fun event for participants and spectators.

• www.greatriverrace.co.uk

Thames Traditional Boat Festival

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celebration of all that’s best about British boatbuilding and craftsmanship, this two-day event takes place in the serene surroundings of Henley-on-Thames and aims to evoke all the nostalgia of a bygone era. Now featuring the largest display of traditional boats in Europe, a fleet of Dunkirk ‘Little Ships’ and Her Majesty’s rowbarge Gloriana, the Thames Traditional Boat Festival was first held 40 years ago as a rally for like-minded enthusiasts. Still keeping faith with that principle, it incorporates all the elements of a fun day out for all the family.

• www.tradboatfestival.com

Coastal Guide 2019 25

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London Yacht Show

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iscover the opulent lifestyle of yachting at this recently relaunched event, which was formerly known as the London On-Water Boat Show. Held at the iconic St Katharine Docks, it’s held on 8-12 May this year and its team of partners includes British Marine, organiser of the Southampton Boat Show.

Boat exhibitors already confirmed include Azimut, Bavaria Power & Sail, Discovery Yachts, Princess and Halberg Rassy, and Sunseeker plans to bring three boats to the event too.

Two floating villages with full-size marquees will feature luxury yachting and lifestyle products, accessories and toys. And at the Docks’ Marble Quay, luxury cars, bikes and trailer boats will be displayed. As part of its relaunch, London Yacht Show will open on the first day for an exclusive VIP Elite function and press afternoon.

• www.londonyachtshow.com

Tidefest

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fast-growing Thames event which took place for the first time in 2014, TideFest includes a wide variety of river-based events in Chiswick, Kew, Brentford, Barnes, and elsewhere along the tidal Thames. Scheduled for 8 September this year, the event includes watersports, angling and live entertainment, plus boat trips along the Thames.

• www.thamestidefest.net Coastal Guide 2019 27

COASTAL Ideal for tender transfers and sightseeing trips, this 2l Pro-Light Waterproof Waist Pack won’t weigh you down. £31.99, Overboard. www.overboard.co.uk

Garmin Quatix 5 Marine connects with compatible chartplotters and other devices for autopilot control, remote waypoint marking, data streaming, racing assistance and much more. £379, Fox’s Chandlery. www.foxschandlery.com Easy care for lazy days: Weird Fish Etta jersey cotton dress, £35, Fox’s Chandlery. www.foxschandlery.com

Waterproof Handbag available in a range of colours, €89.99, Sacqua. www.sacqua.com Cork-backed Pin Mill Coaster by Claudia Myatt, £4, The Nancy Blackett Trust. www.nancyblackett.org

28 Coastal Guide 2019

On board, on shore, come rain or shine...

SHOPPER Soft, light and they float – the LiteRide is the latest evolution in the iconic clog range from Crocs. Other styles in the collection include a slide, flip and sandal, all available in a range of colours – pictured is barely pink/white. £44.99, Crocs. www.crocs.co.uk

Outstanding, lightweight protection from rain and spray: Musto Evolution XVR BR1 Jacket, £148.95, Fox’s Chandlery. www.foxschandlery.com

Lifeventure Thermal Mug, £13.99, Arthur Beale. www.arthurbeale.co.uk

some of this year’s must-haves

Coastal Guide 2019 29

COASTAL SHOPPER Beerenberg Pull-Over, also available in grey and cream, £97.50, Arthur Beale. www.arthurbeale.co.uk

Zipper Bags, £8 each, £21 for three, Arthur Beale. www.arthurbeale.co.uk

Ensure your kit stays dry ashore and afloat: Gill Race Team Bag (30l), £44.95, Fox’s Chandlery. www.foxschandlery.com

Two friends take a handsome, homemade canoe on an exploration of Britain’s rivers, including some of our Eastern region favourites. Paperback £9.99, Elliott & Thompson. www.eandtbooks.com

30 Coastal Guide 2019

Orca Bay Fowey two-eyelet deck shoe in premier saddle leather, £85, Fox’s Chandlery. www.foxschandlery.com

On board, on shore, come rain or shine... some of this year’s must-haves

9

Coastal Guide 2019 31

Visiting Burnham Yacht Harbour?

Call the Harbourmaster on

01621 786832 or call up on VHF Channel 80 - 350 fully serviced berths - Safe and secure moorings - 24 hour tidal access - Restaurant, bar and conference room - Chandlery - Heated workshop - Shipwrights, engineers and outfitters - Yacht brokerage - Refurbished shower and toilet block - Free Wifi - Direct rail links to London

2 4 H O U R T I D A L A C C E S S

- Web: www.burnhamyachtharbour.co.uk - Tel: 01621 782150

O N S I T E R E S T A U R A N T

32 Coastal Guide 2019

Burnham Yacht Harbour is in the pretty town of Burnham-on-Crouch with its quaint shops and just an hour from London (direct train to Liverpool Street Station).

We provide all facilities you would expect to find from a modern secure marina with 24 hour tidal access.

You can easily explore the rivers and creeks of the East Coast ranging from the Thames (and London), through to the Norfolk Broads.

Annual customers also enjoy 30 days free berthing at Shotley Marina, Suffolk.

Burnham Yacht Harbour, Foundry Lane, Burnham on Crouch, Essex, CM0 7AG

Adventures on the water The East Coast hosts a number of races, festivals and regattas… here’s a selection!

Coastal Guide 2019 33

Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classic Regatta

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uffolk Yacht Harbour on the River Orwell hosts its 2019 Classic Regatta on 22-23 June – the largest event of its kind for classic yachts on the East Coast.

The popular regatta attracts a fleet of both local and visiting sailors and welcomes everyone from keen racers to social sailors to compete in fast, slow and Stella classes. Racing will take place over two days in Dovercourt Bay, Harwich Harbour, and the Orwell and Stour estuaries. On-the-water action is complemented by social events in the on-site Haven Ports Yacht Club lightship, with a regatta party and live band on the Saturday evening.

Winner of the 2018 regatta, Stella owner Andrew Gilmour says: “We have raced in seven of these regattas, having had the boat restored

by Suffolk Yacht Harbour. They were amazing in helping to return my father’s Stella to its original glory.

“The really nice thing about this event is that it is very well organised, the people are lovely and so is the place; the east coast is a wonderful venue for sailing.”

Regular competitor and Tumlare owner Jonathan Thompson adds: “Everybody gets on very well, there’s a lot of banter and it seems that we always get good weather and good racing. It’s the best event of the year for me.”

Suffolk Yacht Harbour Managing Director Jonathan Dyke says: “SYH has a long association

34 Coastal Guide 2019

with classic yachts, going right back to Stella designer and Kim Holman [one of SYH’s original founding directors]. With classic yacht maintenance facilities in the workshops and the Classic Marine chandlery on-site, we are well-equipped to assist classic yacht owners in the lead up to, during and after the regatta.”

Entry criteria for the regatta requires yachts to be either pre-1970 design of traditional construction, Bermuda or gaff rigged and built of wood or steel. Modern classic yachts with wooden or steel hulls are also welcome.

• Email enquiries@syharbour.co.uk for further details.

East Coast Piers Race

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pen to fast dinghies and cats, the East Coast Piers Race is a major charity event that raises funds to support the work done by The Cirdan Trust to benefit socially or physically disadvantaged children.

Based at Marconi Sailing Club on the River Blackwater in Essex, the race takes place this year on 7 July and goes up the East Coast to Walton and back again. Three course options are available: the Bradwell Race is 13 miles long and open to fast dinghies, the Colne Point Race is 27 miles long and open to fast dinghies and catamarans, and the full ECPR which is 48 miles long and open to catamarans only.

Motor boats anchor at every mile and a number of support boats spread out along the course to assist if required.

• www.eastcoastpiersrace.com

Medway Regatta

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edway Yacht Club hosts the Medway Regatta, which this year incorporates the Medway Barge Match and the Classic and Vintage Dragon Championships. Taking place over the last of the May Bank Holiday weekends, this has always been an open event and this year new trophies and a single race trophy event, the Medway Challenge Race, have been introduced to encourage even more visitors.

The racing area will be the reaches and creeks of the River Medway and the Thames Estuary, while the Medway Barge Match will start from Gillingham Pier. Shoreside events include sea shanty singers, a hog roast, Regatta Dinner and prizegiving.

• www.medwayyachtclub. com

Coastal Guide 2019 35

Welcomes you to one of the most attractive harbours on the East Coast

Full Marina Facilities

Temporary & Permanent Berthing Available Winter Storage Ashore or Afloat

www.titchmarshmarina.co.uk Harbour Office T: 01255 672 185 VHF Channel 80 info@titchmarshmarina.co.uk Melton Boatyard Dock Lane Melton Woodbridge IP12 1PE 01394 386327 Here at Melton Boatyard we pride ourselves on good, honest service. We are down to earth and, in a boating world increasingly full of shiny paint and expensive solutions, refreshingly straightforward. This is a traditional working boatyard, and we are proud of it.

Our 30-berth marina is modestly priced and our floating berths stay full all summer, although we can usually accommodate short-term requests by moving our own small fleet to free up a berth. Long-standing customers become our friends and many have been here for years.

Customers tell us they appreciate our friendly service, relaxed attitude and open approach.

We are able to store 100 boats ashore and maintain a few swinging moorings and mud berths upon request.

Steel fabrication & repairs • Grit, sand & bead blasting • Mechanical & electrical engineering • Full yard services • Lay-up and lifts to & from transport • 40t lift, up to 75’ loa, 17’5 beam

info@meltonboatyard.co.uk www.meltonboatyard.co.uk 36 Coastal Guide 2019

Maldon Town Regatta

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aldon Town Regatta has been held for generations and in its present form since 2002; this year’s event takes place on 21 September. Smacks and old gaffers, traditional and modern yachts race upriver from West Mersea to Osea, and from there to the town in a second race ending in The Parade of Sail. Shoreside activities and stalls will run throughout the day and model boats will be on display at the Boating Lake. In the evening there will be live music on the Quay.

• www.maldonregatta.co.uk

The Nore Race

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Mersea Week

n open race in the Thames Estuary starting and finishing at Southend Pier, this year’s Nore Race takes place on 23 June. Benfleet Yacht Club has organised this event since the 1920s and for many competitors it’s the only race they compete in. Around 140 boats usually enter and classes are open to multihull and monohull sailing dinghies and cruising yachts. Once the action’s over, many competitors anchor in the Ray for their crews to enjoy the Ray Sands before returning home on the tide.

• www.benfleetyachtclub.org

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he sheltered waters of the River Blackwater provide a fitting setting for this ‘family and friends-oriented’ week. Mersea Week 2019 will be held 11-16 August and racing is organised by a committee of volunteers from the Dabchicks Sailing Club and the West Mersea Yacht Club, which means competitors are welcome to use the facilities of both throughout the week. Free mooring for competitors is provided by the Mersea Moorings Association. Other sailing events on Mersea Island this summer include a Round the Island Race on 4 August and Town Regatta on 17 August.

• www.merseaweek.org Coastal Guide 2019 37

38 Coastal Guide 2019

Thames Barge and Smack races

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lat-bottomed Thames sailing barges were once common on the East Coast, their shallow draft and leeboards perfect for the Thames Estuary with its shallow waters and narrow tributary rivers.

There’s little cargo-carrying work for them today, but several survive and remain a common sight around the region, especially in summer when some compete in a series of races on the local rivers.

Dates for the 2019 Barge Match series are: 25 May – Medway 8 June – Blackwater 22 June – Thames 27 July – Pin Mill 10 August – Swale 25 August – Southend photo Gill Moon 7 September – Swale In addition, there’s a Passage Rally from the Medway to the Orwell on 20 July.

The pretty Pin Mill Sailing Club on the River Orwell also hosts a Smack & Working Boat race, which this year takes place on 13 July. Landguard Point and Shotley Marina are good locations for spectators wishing to see these lovely vessels in action.

• www.thamesbarge.org.uk Coastal Guide 2019 39

Rowhedge Regatta

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n annual event dating back to the eighteenth century, the pretty north Essex riverside village of Rowhedge hosts this friendly occasion which in 2019 takes place on 22 June.

On the water there’ll be local Brightlingsea and Wivenhoe One Designs as well as Rowing Gig teams in action, plus the spectacular sight of Smack boats finishing their race in front of the crowds gathered on the quayside. Shoreside activities include a dog show, crabbing competitions and fireworks.

• www.rowhedgeregatta.co.uk

Harwich International Shanty Festival

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he whole town of Old Harwich resounds to the sound of shanties and sea songs when this Festival arrives. Now in its 14th year, it welcomes performers from all over the UK and Europe, and takes place on 11-13 October.

Workshops and talks will include knot tying, shanties for beginners and spoken word sessions, and there’ll be a series of small intimate concerts. A Shanty Train runs between Harwich Town and Manningtree stations, and a 90-minute Thames sailing barge trip will feature entertainment from festival artists.

• www.harwichshantyfestival.co.uk

40 Coastal Guide 2019

IOS Island Race

Three Rivers Race

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ailed as ‘Europe’s toughest inland sailing race’, the course of this Horning Sailing Club event covers over 50 miles and three different rivers – the Bure, Ant and Thurne – and sees competitors having to lower masts to navigate three bridges at Potter Heigham and Acle. Each has up to 24 hours to complete the course and the racing this year takes place on 1-2 June.

• www.3rr.uk

T

he East Coast’s own Round the Island Race takes place on 1 September when the Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club hosts its endurance event – at 40 miles it’s the UK’s longest annual dinghy and board race. Sailed clockwise around the island, the race starts and finishes at Sheerness, and includes tidal sea, river and estuary sailing.

• www.iossc.org.uk

Burnham Week

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he region’s ‘most challenging and friendly’ regatta, Burnham Week attracts a full range of sailors including National champions and beginners with cruisers, one designs, multihulls and dinghies.

The sheltered waters of the Rivers Crouch and Roach and all-tide access to the Thames Estuary are the setting for a variety of courses and there’s plenty of action off the water too. This year’s event is 24-31 August.

• www.burnhamweek.com

Coastal Guide 2019 41

One location • Three great reasons to visit!

Tollesbury Marina on the River Blackwater 250 berths • Water • WiFi • Electricity • Chandlery • Boatyard for lifting & repairs • Wonderful views & countryside

www.tollesburymarina.com • 01621 869202

Eat at the Harbour View overlooking the Marina Seafood, specials and a fabulous Sunday Roast Lovely waterside setting with great views www.the-harbour-view.co.uk 01621 869561

Buying or selling a boat on the East Coast?

We hold Spring & Autumn used boat shows in a great location Free storage ashore No sale – no fee GIVE US A TRY! www.davidmorrisboats.co.uk • 01621868494

42 Coastal Guide 2019

Tollesbury Marina, Essex CM9 8SE

Brightlingsea Regatta

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rightlingsea harbour and waterfront are the setting for a host of activities on 20-21 July.

Brightlingsea Sailing Club and Colne Yacht Club will be offering newcomers the chance to try sailing, and the town’s Coastal Rowing Club and University Community Sailing Club will be providing gig rowing opportunities too. A St Helena Hospice Craft Your Raft Race is open to teams for more on-the-water fun.

• www.brightlingsearegatta.com

North West Norfolk Week

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arking its 70th anniversary in 2019, this familyfriendly event takes place 27 July to 3 August. Organised by all the clubs in the area, a nearunique feature is the variety of sailing on offer. Hunstanston and Snettisham Beach SCs are in the Wash and offer large open sea courses, while The Ouse Amateur Sailing Club offers tidal river racing and the largest coastal salt marshes in the world stretch between Brancaser Staithe and Blakeney.

Daily and weekly trophies mean there’s something for all and the facilities offered by host clubs are as varied as the sailing itself.

• www.norfolkweek.co.uk Coastal Guide 2019 43

Brightlingsea Blessings

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rightlingsea’s traditional Blessing and Reclaiming of the Waters ceremony takes place on 2 June – a traditional boundarymarking custom akin to Beating the Bounds on land. Dignitaries of the Cinque Ports and civic officials in their regalia attend a brief religious service before taking to the water to lead a Smack Flotilla procession along Brightlingsea Creek, past the Hard to West Ness. The origins of the event lie in an historic dispute between local oystermen and those from Colchester over the position of West Ness.

• www.cinqueportliberty.co.uk

Wroxham Week

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osted by the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club, Wroxham Week features seven days of racing and a full programme of land-based evening entertainment. Taking place from 29 July-4 August, the regatta is open to all single and double-handed dinghies, and rounds off with the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club Open Regatta which has racing in all classes.

•www.nbyc.co.uk

44 Coastal Guide 2019

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A tall tale

It’s one of Southwold’s most iconic sights and an important navigational aid for seafarers, but the town’s famous lighthouse is an attraction all can enjoy

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uilt by Trinity House in 1887, Southwold Lighthouse replaced three others locally that were under threat from severe coastal erosion.

While construction was in progress a temporary light was shown from a wooden structure first lit on 19 February 1889 and the present lighthouse came into operation in 1890, its light originally provided by an Argand burner that was replaced by an incandescent oil burner in 1906. A petroleum vapour burner was installed in 1923 and remained until 1938 when the Lighthouse was electrified and de-manned, and another update came into effect seven years ago, when both the character and range of Southwold Lighthouse, which stands 31m high, were changed – its main white light can now be seen from a distance of 24 nautical miles and flashes once every 10 seconds.

Lighthouse Manager Warren Clarke is responsible for the overall maintenance of the Trinity House estate, which includes 66 lighthouses in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. He says: “I am often asked which is my favourite and my first response is that I find lighthouses to be like children – they are all special in their own way.

“Southwold is an extremely important light; following the closure of Orfordness, the range of Southwold was increased from 17 to 24

46 Coastal Guide 2019

nautical miles to ensure the special awareness of vessels passing from the Wash to the Thames.

Even in these days of amazing technology, a visual reference is still seen as essential by the master mariners.”

The UK’s last Lighthouse Keepers were released from service in 1998 when North Foreland Lighthouse on the Isle of Thanet was automated – the property next door to Southwold Lighthouse used to be the Keeper’s accommodation and if you look closely above the entrance door you can still see lines where the adjoining roof used to be.

Today, Southwold Lighthouse is monitored and controlled from Trinity House’s Planning Centre in Harwich, Essex and Warren says: “All our major aids to navigation (AtoNs) have a telemetry system which feeds back various critical information, via a telephone-based system, to our monitoring centre.

This also allows our various teams to remotely operate key AtoN systems, such as lights and fog signals.”

So what happens if there’s a power cut?

“Nearly all our lighthouses are operated on a 24v system, utilising an installed battery system and chargers,” says Warren. “If there is a power outage the battery system will continue to support operation of the AtoN systems for a minimum of five days, allowing time for a technical team

to be deployed. That said, we operate multiple independent AtoN systems to ensure that, wherever possible, the mariner sees a fully operational light.”

Twice a year Trinity House staff carry out maintenance work at Southwold. Part of the navigational requirement is the lighthouse’s ‘day mark’: the view a mariner has of the lighthouse during daylight hours. “The day mark for Southwold is ‘White Round Tower’,” Warren explains, “and to this end we paint the station around every eight years.”

Take a tour Eagled-eyed tiny tots might recognise Southwold Lighthouse as a feature of the BBC children’s TV series Grandpa in My Pocket. But anyone over 1.1m tall can get ‘up close and personal’ with this important landmark – and climb the 113 steps to the top – as Southwold is the only working Trinity House lighthouse in East Anglia to which members of the public are admitted.

Tours organised by Southwold Millennium Foundation under licence from the Corporation of Trinity House begin at the base of the tower, where information boards together with three large TV screens give a rolling commentary about Southwold Lighthouse and Trinity House.

Visitors ascend via a spiral stairway to the

Information on opening times, admission fees, safety restrictions and tours can be found on the Trinity House website: www.trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouse-visitor-centres/ southwold-lighhouse-visitor-centre.

Trinity House is a charity dedicated to safeguarding shipping and seafarers, and has a statutory duty to deliver a reliable, efficient and cost-efficient aids to navigation service for the benefit and safety of mariners.

Service Room where they are given the opportunity to get their breath back while a guide offers an initial introductory overview to the building, its history and workings. They are then taken up a further stairway to the Lantern Room – the views and photo opportunities are outstanding! – where they’ll be able to see both the old and the latest technology whilst watching today’s rotating optic in operation.

Coastal Guide 2019 47

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48 Coastal Guide 2019

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Unwind at the water’s edge

Check out – or into! – these great locations for short stays and holidays, all within a stone’s throw of favourite harbours and estuaries Coastal Guide 2019 49

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ask in contemporary boutique-style living on a cosmopolitan waterfront courtesy of Ipswich’s Salthouse Harbour Hotel (right). Here, each room has been individually designed and decked out with more than a hint of extravagance; choose a Marina Room for stunning views – some have copper baths too – or push the boat out with a Penthouse Suite.

At street level a plush, colourful lounge is the perfect place in which to unwind with a drink after wandering the Waterfront in the company of sailors, students and those who simply want to see and be seen – a Times reviewer likened this area to the French Riviera, and on the sunny days of our stay, it was easy to see why.

Beyond, the Eaterie serves belt-stretching breakfasts, relaxing lunches, sumptuous afternoon teas and intimate dinners. No matter when you dine, the menu is rich with fresh local produce and served by some of the friendliest yet most efficient staff on the East Coast.

Uber-cool curios, artworks and accessories catch the eye at every turn within this restored brick warehouse, whetting the appetite for adventures further afield – Ipswich is a town chock-full of culture and history, all of it within an easy walk.

The Salthouse Harbour Hotel is owned by the same family firm as Southwold Pier and the Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds. It’s a business with a deserved reputation for exemplary attention to detail. We stayed for two nights and can’t wait to return... decadent, divine and a definite must-do!

• www.salthouseharbour.co.uk

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The River Blackwater harbours Essex’s best-kept secret: the enchanting and exclusive Osea Island. Accessible only via a winding tidal causeway, the island boasts 400 acres of idyllic countryside and four miles of beaches. A variety of period accommodation ranges from the grand and imposing to the quaint and cosy, the interiors of each characterful and stylishly restored in-keeping with Osea’s relaxed vibe. Pick a price to suit your purse – two-night stays range from £490 to £4,000.

• www.oseaisland.co.uk

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ew meets old at The Penthouse, a luxury top floor apartment which is part of the Whisstocks Boatyard redevelopment at Woodbridge Wharf.

This beautifully furnished one-bedroom abode boasts spectacular views over the River Deben and Woodbridge’s iconic Tide Mill – throw open the balcony doors and watch the world go by with the tide’s rhythmic rise and fall.

Within walking distance of the shops, pubs and restaurants that make the town such a popular destination for sailors and landlubbers alike, The Penthouse is close to the railway station, while private parking is provided for those who prefer to travel under their own speed.

• www.suffolkcottageholidays.com

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delightful Grade II listed house on the top of a cliff that overlooks Ramsgate harbour, Paragon enjoys lovely views from its large bay windows and balcony. With stylish decor and a fully enclosed garden, six are accommodated in comfort.

This is fast becoming a vibrant and lively town with great restaurants, art galleries, independent shops and of course the Royal Ramsgate Marina brimming with boats, many of them berthing here before heading to mainland Europe. For adventures closer to home, the Ramsgate Tunnels give an insight into what life was like for local people who took shelter there during WWII, while the medieval town of Sandwich is a short drive away.

• www.originalcottages.co.uk

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ombining stunning river views with access to all the attractions of Woodbridge, The Crow’s Nest is a modern riverside apartment on the banks of the Deben beside Robertsons Boatyard – the oldest working boatyard on the river.

This luxury holiday let (right) boasts three large double bedrooms, three bathrooms and a stunning open-plan living room with woodburner and fullwidth triple-glazed sliding doors leading onto a huge balcony offering wonderful views across the boatyard and river towards Sutton Hoo. A second, smaller balcony with direct access from the top floor master bedroom provides a great place from which to sit and watch the river life go by. And a recently installed stairlift assists with access to the first floor entrance, where two of the bedrooms, shower room, living room and main balcony are all wheelchair-friendly.

• www.thecrowsnestwoodbridge.co.uk

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njoy views over the water at Felixstowe Ferry from the dining area, master bedroom and private balcony at Harbour View. This newly-built apartment for two (below) rocks a bright nautical theme throughout, its whitewashed walls throwing all the focus on the water and boats beyond.

With private parking provided, pet-friendly Harbour View is just a very short stroll from the atmospheric Ferryboat Inn, two cafés, fresh fish stalls and the Felixstowe Foot Ferry. Cross to Bawdsey Quay and you can visit the museum at the Manor, famous for its role as an RAF and radar base until the 1990s.

• www.suffolk-secrets.co.uk

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Boasting a beautiful marina setting and a stylish modern design, the Ship and Trades overlooks one of the yacht basins at the former Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham and has extensive waterfront seating offering panoramic views across the River Medway to historic Upnor Castle. Fifteen beautiful boutique bedrooms (left) are each stylishly designed with a nod to the location’s nautical heritage.

• www.shepherdneame.co.uk

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ye-catching Freston Tower is a six-storey Tudor folly set in undulating parkland beside the River Orwell – there’s a single room on each floor with the sitting room at the top (left) to take advantage of the unrivalled views. Skilfully restored using early photographs for reference, it sleeps four and is dog-friendly too.

• www.landmarktrust.org.uk

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oasting beach rather than boating views, we’ve found two properties perfect for an out-of-the-ordinary holiday. You won’t find a more unusual setting than The Wee Retreat, Sheringham – a traditional Victorian toilet block bought by the owner as a present for his wife (let’s hope she had a good sense of humour!) and transformed into a unique holiday home for four.

• www norfolkcottages.co.uk ninterrupted sea views are assured at 5 East Cliff, Southwold, where only a narrow footpath separates your one-level accommodation from the beach below. Set your alarm to watch the sun rise... and wander along the beach to the Blackshore and harbour for your ‘fix’ of boating action.

• www.suffolk-secrets.co.uk

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RIGGING ADVANCED TECHNICAL INSTALLATIONS

The complete service for all sailing and motor yachts At Fox’s Marina & Boatyard, our team is a great mix of experienced cruising/racing sailors and time served engineers and craftsmen. Whether you own a dinghy or a superyacht, we understand our customer’s problems and how to resolve them quickly and cost effectively.

TALK TO US ABOUT PREPARING YOUR YACHT FOR OFFSHORE CRUISING – WE HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOU AND YOUR BOAT IN ONE STORE

Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 8NJ +44 (0) 1473 688431 sales@foxschandlery.com foxschandlery.com

Coastal Guide 2019 55

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Woolverstone Marina Creating the ultimate leisure destination

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Woolverstone Marina’s luxury lodges accommodate up to eight guests. Facilities include modern open plan living areas, hot tubs and free WiFi

56 Coastal Guide 2019

oolverstone Marina is set in 22 acres of glorious parkland overlooking the picturesque River Orwell. It is part of MDL Marinas, Europe’s leading marina operator, who have 19 sites across the UK. MDL Marinas recently opened a new, on-site luxury lodge park, specially designed to extend Woolverstone Marina’s appeal as a destination for both on-water and land leisure pursuits, as well as attracting new visitors seeking a family-friendly retreat.

Kelly Sharman, Woolverstone Marina Manager, says: “The lodges are ideal for those looking for a taste of the outdoors with a touch of luxury. With their clean, modern aesthetic and open plan living space, they provide accommodation for up to eight guests. Some lodges have hot tubs, and all of them have spacious living and dining areas and woodland balconies plus free WiFi, multi-channel TV and the latest appliances.”

The Marina has 235 berths, first-class facilities and an on-site chandlery as well as boatyard facilities for boat repairs or maintenance work. There is storage ashore for over 250 boats and yacht stores and undercover mast storage.

Lifting facilities are available, alongside a wide, easy-access slipway and ample space for car parking and trailer storage. There is also a main

“Woolverstone is an excellent base for cruising as well as enjoying the local rivers”

Volvo Penta dealer on-site, and an electronics and engineering specialist, plus a broker, sail and cover maker and camping company.

“Visitors can enjoy a great range of watersport activities, including an RYA-accredited sailing school for both sail and powerboat courses,” adds Kelly.

“For those who like to keep their feet firmly on dry land there are beautiful walks and plenty of on-site activities for younger guests, including a children’s play area and many walking and cycling trails that are suitable for all ages. The marina restaurant is a wonderful place to chill too, with stunning views across the water.”

Woolverstone is an excellent base for cruising as well as enjoying the local rivers. Beyond the Orwell and the Stour there are numerous creeks in Walton Backwaters to explore. To the south, the Colne and Blackwater estuaries offer varied sailing, while turning north takes you along the coast to the River Deben, where leisure sailors can cruise upriver past Ramsholt to the pretty town of Woodbridge.

A little further up the coast is the Ore/Alde River, where a fast tide sweeps past Havergate Island, on to picturesque Orford and then to Aldeburgh.

If you’d like to go further afield, Ostend in Belgium is only 92 miles away from Woolverstone, whilst Holland and France are also within easy reach.

FIND OUT MORE

Woolverstone Marina, Woolverstone, Ipswich, Suffolk IP9 1AS 01473 780206 woolverstone@mdlmarinas.co.uk www.woolverstonemarina.co.uk @MDLWoolverstone woolverstone.marina

Coastal Guide 2019 57

Our Famous Oiled Wool Beerenberg

Nautical Instruments

Picture by Dan Johnson

Rigging services and special projects Clothing, Chandlery, Rigging

Clothing, Chandlery, Rigging Arthur Beale 194 Shaftesbury Avenue WC2H 8JP 020 7836 9034

58 Coastal Guide 2019

sales@arthurbeale.co.uk

arthurbeale.co.uk

A new wave

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Chandler Arthur Beale is launching a fresh range of products that reflect its history of innovation and quality

race’s Guide to British Industry lists Arthur Beale as being established circa 1500, making it one of Britain’s oldest companies – if not the oldest, according to MD Alasdair Flint. Originally a rope maker, the business gained a reputation for making fine quality lines, including the renowned Alpine Club Rope that was used by climbers throughout the world. “Our extensive archives have letters and orders from famous mountaineers and explorers, including forms signed by Sir Ernest Shackleton,” says Alasdair (below).

The company focused on yacht chandlery during the 20th century and had branches on the South and East coast. But a failure to move with the times meant that when Alasdair – who then owned a scenery-building and backstage hardware company – visited its London store on Shaftesbury Avenue with colleague Gerry in 2014, it was about to shut its doors forever.

“As a keen yachtsman who had known Arthur Beale since the 1980s, I felt the old establishment was worth saving,” he says. “Within weeks we had purchased the company. The shop had one computer that was used once a year to submit the tax return. There was no email nor website and the accounts were handwritten. There was clearly a lot of work to do!”

A website, email address and modern accounting systems were quickly installed.

The shop was restocked and redecorated, events and classes were held, and the window display regularly changed.

And in just four years turnover quadrupled from £152k to around £700k, making the company profitable once more.

A lifelong sailor, Alasdair has made some noteworthy voyages, including a single-handed Trans-Atlantic crossing and several Arctic trips. He sold his theatre-industry business to the staff in 2018 so he could concentrate on developing Arthur Beale.

“The shop in London is crucial to our business model but the company wouldn’t survive solely as a traditional chandler in such a sought-after position.

Our plan concentrates on increasing our own-brand products, making the shop a ‘flagship store’.

“The Arthur Beale brand reflects its history supplying sailors and explorers. Our products are serviceable at sea, mainly timeless designs made from natural materials. The target market is anyone who appreciates classic well-made products that will withstand the test of time.”

Alasdair first realised he was sitting on a valuable brand when a new zipper bag, emblazoned with the Arthur Beale logo, sold within minutes. He says: “Often an idea for a new product grows from a product we already sell but are not entirely satisfied with. Take the Beerenberg Pullovers. We know our clients like good provenance. We sell a lot of Norwegian pullovers, which used to be made in Arctic Norway. However, three years ago the business relocated, and we found it was a lot harder to sell a Norwegian Pullover made in Lithuania. We also stocked genuine Sub-Mariner pullovers but they were a strange shape and not very thick. I have always loved oiled wool. So, the Beerenberg range was developed using pure British wool that has not been bleached or dyed.

It has been fantastically popular.”

• www.arthurbeale.co.uk Coastal Guide 2019 59

Estuary Vessel Management Providing a comprehensive range of marine services for yachts and powered craft berthed on and around the Shotley Peninsula, Suffolk We provide a friendly, reliable maintenance/ management service including: • Polishing • Antifouling • Anode replacement • Monthly washdowns/ detailing (all-year-round) • Internal valeting • Painting & Varnishing • Winch & Seacock servicing • Daily or Passage crewing

Further details please call Jon or Sue: 01473 788 806 – 07455 913257 jonhumby@gmail.com www.estuaryvesselmanagement.co.uk

60 Coastal Guide 2019

A passage through time

Author and journalist Jonathan Gornall shares his passion for the East Coast and its rivers – a love that led to an amazing demonstration of fatherly devotion

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mpossibly emerald fields cascading to the edge of the wide silver river, its surface ruffled by an easterly breeze and sparkling in the bright spring sunshine… the first of the season’s boats, freed from the long purdah of a winter ashore, back on the water…

This was the brief but evocative view from the Orwell Bridge as my wife Kate and I drove home from Ipswich hospital with our newborn daughter on April 25, 2014. The day before, Phoebe had made her debut in the Deben delivery suite, named after the most mysterious of the six rivers that entwine land, sea and sky in this most magical part of the British Isles.

She had picked her moment well, setting sail on the adventure of her life at 3.13pm, about mid-flood on that day’s tide which, as any mariner knows, is by far the wisest time to go nosing around in uncharted waters.

Even as I took in the fleeting glimpse of the river from the bridge, an idea was forming in my mind.

This river, and the sea to which it led, had changed my life. As a father at 58 there was so much I wanted to teach my daughter but, I feared, insufficient time left in which to do it.

During long, sleepless nights pacing with Phoebe in my arms, the idea solidified into a »

Coastal Guide 2019 61

plan, which at the time seemed entirely reasonable.

Despite a complete lack of appropriate skills, to say nothing of the necessary tools, I would build my daughter a traditional, clinker-built wooden boat.

The boat would be her liberating plaything and her classroom, as boats had been mine. The act of building it would serve as testimony to her daddy’s love, and as a life lesson that there is little that cannot be achieved.

How I fared is, in part, the story of How to Build a Boat, my book about what happens when a thoroughly unskilled modern man, without so much as a chisel or saw to his name, attempts such a thing. Without giving too much away, let’s just say there is no shortage of blood, sweat or tears.

But the book is also a love letter – to Phoebe, of course, who will always have it and her little blue boat as tangible reminders of her father’s love; but also to a history-drenched

Harwich

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landscape that one day, I hope, will prove to be as good a friend to her as it has been to me.

I learnt to sail on the Orwell as an 11-year-old, transported from the post-war bombsite that was Peckham in south London to Woolverstone Hall, an experimental boarding school for disadvantaged kids run by the Inner London Education Authority.

It was an unexpected reversal of fortune that continues to surprise me and for which I have always been profoundly grateful.

As a child largely unfettered by today’s preoccupation with health and safety I was free to roam the magical Shotley peninsula by foot, bike and boat, and came to know and love every inch of foreshore and every track that criss-crosses the fieldscape between the Orwell and the Stour.

With no certain home to speak of and a distant, itinerant mother too deep in mourning for her own fractured life to care a great deal about mine, it wasn’t long before I came to think of this place as my home, which is how I think of it still.

At the turn of the Millennium I was lucky enough to find a cottage to rent on the water’s edge

Wrabness at Pin Mill, where in the 1930s Arthur Ransome, creator of the Swallows and Amazons stories, had two yachts built at Harry King’s boatyard.

It was here that I laid my plans to row the Atlantic – plans that were doomed, as it turned out, but nonetheless life-affirming for that. This was also where I moored the Essex-built sloop Sea Beatrice, a 24ft clinker-built Finesse in which I spent a summer in the late 1990s cruising in the wake of east coast author Maurice Griffiths.

Setting out from Pin Mill, Sea Beatrice and I would sail downstream to the mouth of the Orwell and nose up the neighbouring Stour as far as Manningtree, pausing en route to pick up a mooring under Wrabness cliff.

In the tender I would row across to the opposite shore to explore the isolated promontory of Stutton Ness, where storm-driven tides scour the fossilised remains of long-extinct animals from the low exposed cliffs of London Clay.

In this lonely spot can also be found a relic of a more recent age – Graham’s Wharf, a 19th-century quay where the Thames sailing barges that once

Pin Mill

shuttled between the Suffolk fields and London used to load straw and hay, and return with manure for those fields provided by the capital’s horses.

The quay, now reduced to a stunted forest of rotten stumps visible at low tide, was in use as recently as the Second World War, when observers from the US Army Air Force used it as a platform from which to supervise dive-bombing practice on the river. In a series of training accidents three American pilots lost their lives here in 1944, crashing into the river while training for the impending invasion of Europe.

Here too, improbably, at low tide can be seen the remains of an Anglo-Saxon fish trap.

From this mournful headland Sea Beatrice and I would follow the increasingly narrow channel up the Stour to Mistley Quay. Here, the river bank was once thick with tall oaks, felled in their thousands by shipwright James Betts as the raw material for the 11 warships he built for the Royal Navy between 1779 and 1807.

The most famous of these was the 32-gun frigate Amphion, launched in March 1798, which found fame under the command of Norfolk-born Captain Sir William Hoste. Sir William and the Amphion became household names in England after a three-year hit-and-run campaign against superior French and Italian forces in the Adriatic, culminating in a spectacular victory at the Battle of Lissa in 1811.

A later HMS Amphion would be based downstream at Harwich at the outbreak of the First World War. On August 6, 1914, the lightlyarmoured scout cruiser fired the first shots and claimed the first victory of the war at sea, sinking the Königin Luise, a German mine-laying ship operating off the east coast of England.

Having rescued some of the German sailors, the Amphion struck one of the mines the enemy ship had laid and sunk with the loss of 132 of her »

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crew and most of the men she had just rescued.

Five of the crew and two of the German sailors who died with them are buried in the churchyard at St Mary’s, Shotley, which sits atop a lonely hill overlooking Harwich harbour.

During both world wars Harwich was home to British fleets charged with intercepting invaders crossing the North Sea, a role the Royal Navy has performed since its earliest days. On modern charts, the tip of the peninsula is called Shotley Point, but an older name is Bloody Point – so named, it is thought, after a battle fought here between a Viking fleet and ships mustered by Alfred of Wessex in 885.

At the history-steeped confluence of the Stour and Orwell, Sea Beatrice and I would occasionally tie up for the night at Harwich’s Ha’penny Pier, which in the 19th century threw a protective arm around the smacks and bawleys of the town’s once large fishing fleet, many of which were built nearby in yards that have long vanished.

From the haven of Harwich, we would venture towards open water, the old Finesse filling her red sails and dipping her lee rail either in deference to the imposing container ships at Felixstowe to port or in salute to the ancient maritime town of Harwich to starboard.

Here lived Christopher Jones, part-owner and master of the Mayflower, who steered the 100ft ship across the Atlantic and into history in 1620.

The Mayflower was almost certainly built nearby – Customs records for the years 1609 to 1611 list her as being ‘of Harwich’ – and Jones’s home at 21 King’s Head Street survives to this day.

Sea Beatrice and I have a shorter voyage in mind than that of the Mayflower. Leaving the

Shotley Point shelter of Landguard Point, home to a fort whose guns covered the approach to Harwich harbour for over 400 years, we enter the Medusa Channel and bounce briefly in the chop of a fresh North Sea. Were we to hold a course a shade south of east from the Landguard north-cardinal buoy we would, like the young heroes of Ransome’s We Didn’t Mean To Go To Sea, fetch up in Vlissingen, 100 miles across the North Sea in Holland.

But today our destination is the closer sanctuary of Walton Backwaters, a mysterious landscape of low-lying islands, mudflats, salt marshes and withy-marked tidal creeks, populated by seals and migrating birds. Here in the 1930s Ransome sailed his 28ft cutter Nancy Blackett – disguised as the Goblin – gathering inspiration and material for his

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t is this historic landscape, with its magical sense of limitless possibilities, that I hope through the hard-won gift of a little clinker-built boat to bequeath to my daughter.

We launched Swift on a cold April day last year and during the summer Phoebe and I, accompanied by a press-ganged toy rabbit, had several little adventures, all within sight of the hard at Pin Mill. This year the skipper has turned five and we plan to go further afield, perhaps as far as Harwich, steered at least part of the way by her small hand on the tiller.

At the confluence of the Orwell and the Stour, Phoebe will have her first glimpse of a beckoning horizon, framed by sky and sea. If it fires her imagination and whispers to her of those limitless possibilities, as it once whispered to me, then daddy’s year spent struggling to master a skill born in the mists of time will not have been in vain.

•How to Build a Boat is published in paperback by Simon & Schuster, £9.99.

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River Deben 1939 adventure Secret Water.

From the backwaters, we set a course north across the mouth of Harwich harbour and, five miles up the coast, risk all navigating the shifting shingle bar at the mouth of the Deben river just a little too soon after low water. Compounding an error born of impatience we also rashly ignore local advice to pick up a pilot. We touch bottom once or twice in the swell, but somehow get away with it and scrape in over the bar, passing Old Felixstowe to port and Bawdsey Manor, the wartime home of radar development, to starboard.

We sit out the night on a buoy at the ferry, listening to the birds settling in the marshes.

Nearby a low sea wall conceals The King’s Fleet, a long, straight body of water, now cut off from the

river, where Edward III is said to have assembled his ships for the invasion of Flanders early in the 14th century.

We cast off before first light to ride the tide the eight miles along the serpentine Deben to the waterfront town of Woodbridge. But, charming as it is, it isn’t the town we’ve come to see. We are here in pilgrimage, hoping for a shipboard view of Sutton Hoo, where the Anglo-Saxon King Rædwald is believed to have been laid to rest in a ship in the seventh century.

We hang motionless in the slack water and I stand on the roof of Sea Beatrice’s cabin, gazing across the river towards the north bank of the Deben. Once, the burial mound might have been visible from the river, but now trees obscure the view. Regardless, I give Sea Beatrice a few minutes at this place before we take advantage of the ebb and run back towards the sea. After all, she and the burial ship – which archaeologists believe must have been hauled to its final resting place from this very river – are sisters, connected across time through the ancient and largely unchanged Nordic tradition of clinker boatbuilding.

Back at Pin Mill, I sit on the brick steps outside the cottage that lead down to the water’s edge and watch the shelducks squabble for possession of strips of mud. As the North Sea floods back in, temporarily resolving their territorial dispute, Sea Beatrice swings eagerly on her mooring to face the incoming tide once again.

She and I hear the call of the river’s infinite promise like the oceans feel the pull of the Moon.

That way, downstream, lies everything, and everywhere. This stretch of water in which I am dangling my feet is connected directly to every time, every place and every person on Earth.

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The Swallowtail Restaurant and Bar is situated in Burnham Yacht Harbour and with its full height sliding doors has stunning views of the marina and River Crouch.

The large open balcony has an amazing new canopy which means you can enjoy alfresco dining no matter the weather.

We are open 7 days a week.

We welcome visiting groups, functions and families and our friendly staff will make it their aim to give you a truly memorable experience.

Please call us on 01621 785505 or visit our website: www.swallowtailrestaurant.co.uk Foundry Lane, Burnham on Crouch, CM0 8BL 66 Coastal Guide 2019

A matter of taste Festival season means there’s every reason to eat, drink and be merry all summer long!

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ocal rivalries are cast aside when Norfolk coastal towns Cromer and Sheringham join forces to host their annual Crab and Lobster Festival. Dedicated to promoting the local seafaring heritage and active fishing community, the event takes place 18-19 May this year, and begins with a traditional seaside variety concert at the famous Pier Pavilion Theatre in Cromer.

A feast of fun, art, heritage and music, highlights of the weekend include a Crab Sandwich Competition and Art Trail. For foodies, the cookery theatre is a must-see: a chance to watch as local chefs, cooks and bakers use the freshest

ingredients with a dash of flair and imagination to create some fabulous seafood dishes.

Later in the summer, a World Crabbing Competition takes place on Cromer Esplanade over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Open to teams and individuals, competitors try to catch the most crabs or the biggest crab to earn the title of World Champion.

• www.crabandlobsterfestival.co.uk A laid-back beach-side venue showcases the best local suppliers alongside international street food vendors when the Brightlingsea Food and » Coastal Guide 2019 67

Drink Festival takes place on 24-25 August. A real ale marquee featuring beers from local breweries plus a Prosecco bar for people more into fizz promise to get the party started, and there’ll be plenty of picnic space along Promenade Way. • Keep up to date with the plans on Facebook: Brightlingsea Food & Drink Festival Maldon Oyster and Seafood Festival 2019 celebrates all things seafood on the banks of the River Blackwater. Taking place on 8 September at Promenade Park it’s a fun chance to herald the Landing of the Oysters and then tuck into fresh oysters, seafood and drinks with beautiful river views and historic barges as the backdrop.

• www.eventbrite.co.uk All attention will be on Ipswich Waterfront on 21-22 September when a new two-day free art and food festival, ArtEat, debuts. Celebrating creativity and community, the festival will include urban art, exhibitions, street food stalls and an outdoor bar. www.arteatfestival.com 68 •Coastal Guide 2019

A fantastic end-of-summer event, this year’s Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival takes place on 28-29 September in the atmospheric setting of Snape Maltings. Now in its 14th year, more than 100 producers will set up their stalls for this notfor-profit event (above) which sticks firmly to its ethos of celebrating locally grown, reared, foraged and sourced foods.

With a backdrop of the River Alde and reedbeds, the historic Victorian maltings at Snape are the best-preserved brick malt kilns in Britain and a fitting setting for an event that’s become established as one of the country’s foremost food festivals.

Celebrity chefs and food- and drink-lovers travel from far and wide to chat to and buy from small Suffolk businesses offering everything from macarons to raw milk, sourdough to street food.

Big-name sponsors such as Adnams add to the festival’s credentials, and demonstration stages host a number of visiting and local chefs – Valentine Warner and Thomasina Miers are among those who’ve featured here in the past.

• www.aldeburghfoodanddrink.co.uk

T h e Au t h e n t i c C o a s t a l S p i r i t

Crafted in Aldeburgh, between the sea and the salt marshes.

Fishers gin infuses local herbs and coastal botanicals, capturing the wild and forgotten flavours of the British Isles.

Fishers founder, Andrew Heald, whose family has lived in Aldeburgh for many generations, was inspired to create a gin that reflects the power of the sea and the beauty of the wind swept landscape that surrounds this majestic old fishing town. Botanicals are foraged locally and sourced from remote stretches of the British coastline, paying tribute to the maritime history of these islands.

Fishers Gin will be opening a new distillery in Aldeburgh later this year, in a stunning location flanked by the River Alde and the North Sea.

w w w. F i s h e r s G i n . c o m \FishersGin

\FishersGin

\Fishers_Gin Coastal Guide 2019 69

“our food speaks for itself” Suffolk Food & Drink Awards 2017 — Best International Restaurant TripAdvisor Award for Excellence 2013 – 2018

21 Market Hill, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4LX 01394 380055 News and menus at www.galley.uk.com 70 Coastal Guide 2019

French fancy A

A new owner is giving floating favourite Mariners 1900 a fresh look

familiar feature on Ipswich Waterfront for many years, Mariners 1900 has a new crew: French chef Julien Jourdain and his wife Karine.

Both have been in the catering business for over 15 years, and Julien was previously a partner in the nearby Waterfront Bar Bistro.

First launched in 1899 and commissioned a year later as Belgian gunboat SS Argus, the vessel has survived a WWII sinking and service as a hospital ship. In the early 1970s she began an 18-year stint as a party boat before, in 1990, crossing the North Sea bound for Ipswich and her new role as a restaurant.

Calais-born Julien moved to the town aged 20 and admits that owning Mariners 1900 was a long-held ambition. “I fell in love with her the moment I saw her,” he says. “We aim to bring her back to her former glory by offering a more vibrant and contemporary approach, which includes lots of work on the hull and exterior, as well as updating the menu.”

A newly-refurbished upper deck terrace will be the setting for relaxed music, meals and drinks this summer, while a longer-term project will see the original wheelhouse opened up to create a ‘Captain’s Table’ area, along with restoration of the 1920s searchlight. Julien plans new-look branding too, with a new name, 1900@Mariners, reflecting the heritage of his new business.

When we met, Julien was preparing to move the vessel to Manningtree for hull checks and maintenance. “She hasn’t been dry-docked since 2000,” he explains.

Mariners 1900 is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Sunday. Inside, you’ll find low ceilings, deck-style flooring and contemporary furnishings along with well-polished wood and deck fittings that soak up the conversation and evoke intimacy.

The restaurant is renowned as a place for celebrations and special occasions, but with set menu lunch prices starting at £15.95 per person for two courses and dinner at £17.95, you don’t have to push the boat out to dine here.

Every dish is a visual delight and there are lots of French favourites to choose from – mussels, snails and camembert all feature on the starters list – while mains choices range from Polenta to seabass, steak, seafood skewers and pork belly. Pay a little more and there’s a mouthwatering menu of desserts; the Crème Brulee is divine!

An extensive wine list complements every dish and all bottles are available to order and take home, or to your boat, at a £10 discount. Do ask the serving staff for recommendations – they’re knowledgeable, attentive and happy to check with chef Julien if allergies or intolerances are a concern.

• www.marinersipswich.co.uk

Coastal Guide 2019 71

1

2

3

4

Cockpit coolers The best days end in the company of good friends.

Try these tipples for your next sundowner celebration…

1

MARTIAN SUNRISE 50ml Adnams Single Malt Whisky • 75ml cranberry juice • 35ml strawberry syrup • 25ml lime juice • fresh thyme and basil to garnish Fill a serving glass with ice. To a cocktail shaker add the whisky, cranberry juice, strawberry syrup and lime juice. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into the glass and add garnish.

2

SEA SPICED DRY MARTINI 100ml Fishers Gin• 20ml white vermouth • dash of chilli bitters • pepper • ice Fill a shaker with ice and add the gin, white vermouth and a dash of chilli bitters. Shake, then pour into a martini glass and garnish with pepper.

72 Coastal Guide 2019

3

LONGSHORE MARTINI 50ml Adnams Longshore Vodka • 15ml dry vermouth • fresh lemon peel twist • ice Stir the Longshore Vodka and vermouth with ice in a mixing glass. The longer you stir, the more the ice will melt and you’ll have a more dilute martini. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with the lemon twist.

4

THE BLACK PEARL 50ml Fishers Gin • 40ml carrot juice • 10ml oyster sauce • 40ml lemon juice • tomato juice • red pepper • cucumber • wasabi • pinch of salt • ice Crush the red pepper and cucumber in a shaker with the wasabi. Add the carrot juice, oyster sauce, lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Add the gin, shake well then strain into a long glass with ice and top with tomato juice.

Onboard breakfast, lunch, supper or dinner* cruises using the very best local Suffolk produce.

Perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, family outings, corporate entertainment or office parties. Year round sailing. info@rivercruiserestaurants.co.uk www.rivercruiserestaurants.co.uk For further information, please ring Kris or Craig on 07831 698 298 . 01473 558 712 *

Allen Gardiner only

Coastal Guide 2019 73

RELAX, ENJOY, DISCOVER AT CHATHAM MARITIME MARINA Chatham Maritime Marina offers first-class berthing and marina services at the heart of a multi-million-pound leisure and retail development that’s set to become a major waterfront attraction.

Following a recent expansion, the marina now has 412 berths and is close to a factory outlet shopping complex, multi-screen cinema, and numerous restaurants and bars.

• COMPLIMENTARY STAYS AT OVER 120 EUROPEAN MARINAS

• FUEL AT COST • MOST GENEROUS BOATYARD DISCOUNT • ACCESSIBLE AT ALL STATES OF THE TIDE THROUGH A LOCK ENTRANCE*

• INCLUSIVE STORAGE ASHORE • SURROUNDED BY SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS • NEXT TO HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM

T: 0163 4 89 9200 CH AT H A M M A R I T I M E M A R I N A .CO.U K *Some restrictions may apply to vessels exceeding 1.5m draft

74 Coastal Guide 2019

R

obert Smith MBE was born and raised in Wellsnext-the-Sea on the North Norfolk coast. The creeks and marshes were both playground and classroom for Robert, who worked first with his family of longshoremen before joining a local shipping company, then the Wells Harbour Commissioners as Assistant Harbour Master and, in 2000, Harbour Master. This, as well as his 27year tenure as crew and second Coxswain on the Wells Lifeboat, has given him a great appreciation of the power and unpredictability of the sea.

Recognised in the 2016/17 New Year’s Honours List and awarded an MBE for his services to the Port and Community of Wells, the following year Robert published his first book, Crossing the Bar, described as ‘a hymn to the most beautiful coastline in the world’.

Robert’s office is in the Old Lifeboat House, built on the quayside in 1868, and overlooks the harbour and especially the visiting pontoons: 206m with an access bridge and fresh water and electric. Moored on the inside of the pontoons is a facilities barge used by visiting vessels – it contains showers, WCs and a small laundry.

Wells has a maximum tidal range of 3m and the visiting berths alongside the pontoons have a low water depth of 2.5–3m. “The Harbour Office does not take bookings for visiting vessels, and every effort will be made to accommodate you at the town,” Robert says. Visiting vessels are allowed to berth in the Outer Harbour only under the express permission of the Harbour Master.

“It always best to plan your arrival at Wells »

In safe hands They’re the friendly faces who provide a warm welcome and wealth of local information for visiting yachtsmen. We talked to some East Coast Harbour Masters and marina staff about their work…

Coastal Guide 2019 75

Wells-next-the-Sea outer buoy to coincide with the incoming tide, approximately 2-3 hours before High Water,” Robert advises. “The tidal window for most vessels is 2.5hrs before to 1.5hrs after High Water. On arrival at the outer buoy (West Cardinal), call Wells Harbour Channel 12 for entry instructions.”

First-time visitors are often escorted in by the harbour launch – a free service – and it is vital that all yachtsmen, whether you have visited Wells before or not, call on channel 12 before entry. Wells can become very difficult to enter in strong northerly winds as there is a bar at the entrance – avoid when possible, or unless being escorted by the harbour launch.

“I am now entering my 30th year working for the Port and even after this time, every day is different,” says Robert, who sails a small Stiffkey Cockle – a traditional and popular boat on the North Norfolk coast – when he’s off-duty. “Even when you think you have seen it all something will surprise you – even the speed and direction of the tide can catch you out when you least expect it.

However, when I am asked to describe my work I reply ‘fresh air and freedom’.”

• www.wellsharbour.co.uk

76 Coastal Guide 2019

Tidemill Yacht Harbour

H

arbour Master at Brightlingsea since 2016, James Thomas is one of nine Commissioners of the Trust Port here, answering to them as Chief Executive. “I wasn’t always a Harbour Master,” says James (below). “I spent 23 years in the Army where I learned about boats and their management, then I was involved in construction and running small businesses. The harbour is a business and must be run as such; I also have a statutory role to ensure safe navigation within the area of responsibility.”

Working from an office that has a small balcony projecting out onto ‘the Hard’ – the point where the road meets the sea – James says: “I can see all the way down the Town Jetty and enjoy the view of historic smacks on the Heritage pontoon. We have approximately 376 residential and at least 10 dedicated visitor moorings.”

The Brightlingsea area is tidal, which makes berthing relatively simple; staff are always on hand to

direct yachts to berths and take their lines. “Access is easy, everything you need to know is published on our website, which includes an electronically updated depth gauge giving height above chart datum,” says James. “You can choose to stay in the marina or on the linear pontoons in the creek. The main channel from the mouth of the creek is dredged to a minimum of 1m below CD.” Marina access is over a cill which is 1m above CD either side of HW. “The ground is a very soft, silty mud in suspension which allows keels to sink in without causing any damaging to them,” he adds.

“Call on VHF Channel 68 when entering the Harbour, let us know your length and whether you want a berth in the marina or linear pontoons then wait by the Northerly cardinal – we pride ourselves in never sending anyone away,” he says. “There is a tendency for vessels when waiting to unintentionally head north of the cardinal – this should be avoided as it becomes very shallow very quickly.”

James has his own 30ft yacht which he enjoys sailing locally when off-duty. Of work he says: “I try to get out on the water daily, just to see what is going on and collect my thoughts; however much of the time I am sailing a desk!”

• www.brightlingseaharbour.org

Michael Ellis – or ‘Mike the Pipe’, as he’s known locally – has been Harbour Master at Tidemill Yacht Harbour, Woodbridge for over 20 years and has worked in marinas and boatyards since 1979. Tidemill Yacht Harbour can be very busy so Mike advises visitors to book ahead, and warns: “The main thing to consider is the tides. We rely on a cill to keep the water in the marina – always remember to check the tide gauge, which is accurate and on the port side of the entrance.

“The easiest thing to do is look at our website and check the predicted height and times for your intended trip. The word to watch is ‘predicted’, as we can’t control nature!

“When we are busy, most of our VHF work is done via a handheld set, so it’s best to wait until Woodbridge is in sight before calling us on Channel 80. We will need the length, beam and depth of your vessel to allocate a suitable berth.”

• www.tidemillyachtharbour.co.uk

Brightlingsea Coastal Guide 2019 77

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We’re committed to creating sails of high performance and impeccable quality for every cruising yacht, with ranges that offer the ultimate in cloth, cut and stitching options – choose Touring for best-in-class durability at an entry-level budget, or improve offshore passages with the high-spec Voyager.

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sales@hydesails.co.uk 78 Coastal Guide 2019

Chatham Maritime Marina

L

ock-keeper John Kempton has been at Chatham Maritime Marina for 19 years. The location is a perfect fit for his off-duty passion, as he explains: “I don’t own a boat myself, but am into historic vessels, working on the Paddle Steamer Medway Queen and for the last ten also the Light Ship 21.”

The view from John and his colleagues’ office overlooks the River Medway. “Across from us is Upnor Castle, open to visitors and famous as part of the Dutch raid on the Medway in 1667 – although it failed to prevent the raid,” he says. “We are next door to the Historic Dockyard Chatham, a taxi ride to Rochester, and we have a small supermarket in walking distance, cinema and other shopping outlets in the Dockside outlet centre, a distillery opposite the marina, The Copper Rivet, and an excellent delicatessen.”

Chatham Maritime Marina, part of the MDL group, has 420 berths – any empty or temporarily vacated are used for visitors – plus an events berth for rallies. The lock operates 24 hours a day, with a minimum depth on the outer cill of 1.3m at LAT plus low water prediction.

“The main thing is if possible to call or email ahead to check availability and so we can book vessels in,” John says. “We always try to accommodate visitors, but cannot guarantee berthing with no notice. Call at red buoy number

32 inbound from the sea, or the Historic dockyard ship sheds upriver, on Ch 80, call sign Chatham Marina, and the lock-keeper will advise order of entry. We try to get visitors to come starboard side-to into the lock, as the lock office is that side.

The lock-keeper will come down to your vessel and hand over a marina map with your allocated berth and entry codes. Once in, you can pay on your day of departure – a locked marina means there is no need to ‘rush’ to the office.”

Take care in a strong tide and, if you have a deep-drafted vessel, avoid low water.

“The lock-keeper can advise the depth on the outer cill if in any doubt and we have a waiting pontoon outside the lock if needed – though this is also set at 1.3m at LAT,” John adds.

•www.mdlmarinas.co.uk Coastal Guide 2019 79

Emma Crompton joined Queenborough Harbour Trust CIC as Harbour Manager in January 2018, having previously worked in Marine Consultancy and as Captain of high speed vessels. She says: “I have the best view! My office is based on our all-tide landing overlooking the harbour on the Swale, where we have 170 moorings for annual mooring holders consisting of swinging, fore and aft, pontoon and town quay moorings. We have four visitor buoys which can hold in total up to 20 vessels and pontoon berths for up to 20 vessels.”

Queenborough’s location provides a safe haven and easy access to many destinations; visitors call here en route to London, Ramsgate, the Essex harbours and the Continent and it’s the entry harbour for the River Medway. But Emma says: “Queenborough is a charming place to visit in its own right. The Swale with its many under-exploited creeks is recognised for its permanent and migrating bird life.”

Shortly after the Trust took over running Queenborough Harbour, Sir Robin KnoxJohnston agreed to be a Patron and, says Emma, “Queenborough has always been a sailing ‘safe haven’ for him.”

If you’re planning a visit, Emma says: “We do not have electric points or refuelling services, but we do have fresh water, refuse services and a free trot boat service every weekend and every day throughout the high season – check the website for its hours. We do not take bookings unless you are a club or group with more than six boats – all moorings are on a first come, first serve basis. Contact us on VHF Ch 08, call sign Sheppey 1 and we will allocate a suitable mooring.”

• www.queenborough-harbour.co.uk

P

embrokshire-born Phil Manning has been part of the three-man Harbour Master team at Burnham Yacht Harbour for just over 14 years.

His ‘office’ overlooks the marina and River Crouch beyond. “It is an ever-changing, picturesque scene that I find absolutely beautiful,” he says.

“Most yachting clubs, visiting cruising clubs, single boats or yachts are able to pre-book berths months ahead, or on their way to us,” Phil says.

“On approach, call our direct number (01621 786832 ) or on VHF Channel 80 so we can confirm the berth number and advise whether it is port- or starboard-to. This should give the skipper enough time to set fenders and warps but assistance can be called upon – the harbour staff will help catch lines.

“We have a minimum depth of 2.2m at all states of tide,” Phil advises. “There is a yellow buoy to the approach of the marina and port and starboard piles indicate the channel in.”

Phil says berthholders and visitors make this

80 Coastal Guide 2019

a fun and varied place to work. The best days, though, are when two of his favourite activities – classic cars and riverside activities – combine.

“Whilst on duty during a particularly spectacular summer, a lonesome photographer walked in to the Harbourmaster’s Office and asked if it would be ok to take some photos of a few of his customers’ cars by the river’s edge,” he recalls. “Not thinking too deeply about it, I was happy to oblige him. What I hadn’t realised was the cars in question were rare and sought-after classics, one-offs and incredibly collectable, rarely seen, if at all!

“My favourite childhood super-car of all time was the last to be photographed: a Maserati Mistral. I was so lucky to see one in the flesh, up close and personal. The photographer could tell I was overcome and offered to photograph me alongside the car as a keepsake, to show his gratitude.”

• www.burnhamyachtharbour.co.uk

Burnham Yacht Harbour

- See... Sail... Support Arthur Ransome’s

NANCY BLACKETT Owned by the author of Swallows and Amazons The real-life Goblin from ‘We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea’

in Swe u es Ri atSwa ve e an r r d Su side sllowc nd C assr ww ay in au w. Ap emaRandise riv r 1 W n A er 9t o s mth sid h od o a e e.c - 3 br m zo s o. pm idg e! nsa uk m e

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Rescued, restored and now preserved and maintained by the Nancy Blackett Trust

Joining the Trust entitles you to enjoy this unique sailing experience.

One low membership subscription covers the whole family.

Skippered sailing: cost contribution applies - but children sail free!

www.nancyblackett.org - 0117 962 1802

Jo

Day, overnight or longer cruising. Based on the River Orwell

Coastal Guide 2019 81

Sail Arthur Ransome’s Nancy Blackett

...we do mean to take you to sea!

E

verybody on the East Coast seems to know Pin Mill, the little sailing village on the River Orwell, with its pub, the Butt and Oyster, its sailing club and its two boatyards, King’s and Webb’s. For many people, they have Arthur Ransome to thank for this, as he set the opening of We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea here, “down the deep green lane that ended in the river itself, with its crowd of yachts”.

And the most famous of these yachts is undoubtedly Ransome’s own boat, the Nancy Blackett, which in the book becomes the Goblin, the “little white cutter with red sails”. This is the boat in which the four children, John, Susan, Titty and Roger (the Swallows from Swallows and Amazons) find themselves unintentionally sailing across the North Sea to Holland.

Ransome bought the 28ft four-berth cruiser in 1935 when he and his Russian wife Evgenia were

R

moving into the area, from the Lake District, in search of some sea sailing. He renamed her – she was called Electron when he found her in Poole Harbour – and sailed her round to Pin Mill through some atrocious weather, which helped give him the idea for the book.

Nancy is still sailing on the Orwell, thanks to the efforts of the Nancy Blackett Trust, which was set up over 20 years ago to look after her, following her rediscovery, derelict in Scarborough Harbour in the 1980s, and an extensive restoration.

Based at Woolverstone Marina, she is available for anyone to go for a sail and experience the feel

espected sailor and writer Peter Willis will be forever known as founder and President of the Nancy Blackett Trust, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. His book Good Little Ship explores the themes of Ransome’s rite-of-passage novel We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea, and how it came to be written.

Part maritime history, part literary criticism – and a joyous homage throughout – it’s an impeccably-researched tale of the life, near-death, rescue and restoration of the Nancy Blackett and a thoroughly engrossing read, whether you’re a lifelong lover of Ransome’s works, or only just discovering them for the first time. Photographs add life to the story, while Ransome’s drawings and own account of a voyage in her – as well as brief details of his other boats – mean this is a must-have for lovers of both boats and literature. Good Little Ship is published in paperback by Lodestar Books, £14.

82 Coastal Guide 2019

of being aboard the Goblin. Trips can be short, day or half-day cruises on the Orwell, perhaps down to Harwich and back, overnighters a little further afield, or longer cruises, perhaps a week at a time, sleeping aboard. Last year, Nancy explored the East Coast and its rivers, up to and into the Norfolk Broads, and down South and up the Thames to St Katherine Dock, usually with a change of crew at some convenient port of call every Saturday. Sailing is under the charge of a qualified volunteer skipper; membership of the Trust is needed, but the modest annual subscription covers the whole family.

Ransome actually wrote two books featuring the Goblin while he lived here; the second, published exactly 80 years ago in 1939, is Secret Water, set in the Walton Backwaters. He loved the area, and would sail down there in Nancy to drop anchor for a bit of peace and quiet to work on his next book – except that he was often tempted to play truant, and escape for a bit of sailing in her tender, the clinker-built dinghy Coch-y- Bonddhu.

The Backwaters may be a bit less ‘undiscovered’ now than they were in Ransome’s day, but they still have an air of mystery and isolation, with a silence punctuated by bird-song. They’re still a favourite destination for Nancy Blackett crews, and certainly will be this year.

Nancy Blackett is 28ft 6in long, plus the 10ft bowsprit.

She’s been painstakingly restored to make sure she is just as Ransome would have known her, and as the Goblin is described in the book: “I say, just look down,” said Titty. They looked down into the cabin of the little ship, at blue mattresses on bunks on either side, at a little table with a chart tied down on it with string… a little white sink opposite the tiny galley where a saucepan of water was simmering on one of the two burners of a little cooking stove.

She has various open days throughout the summer, at Woolverstone and elsewhere, so come and see her and find out more about how this humble Hillyard 7-tonner became one of the most famous boats in fiction. And if you’d like to sail her yourself, just join the Nancy Blackett Trust; it’s not expensive, and you can book a day-sail or a longer passage.

• www.nancyblackett.org If you’d like to sail into Secret Water aboard Nancy Blackett – or anywhere else on ‘Arthur Ransome’s East Coast’ for that matter – take a look at the website (www.nancyblackett.org) and get in touch. And don’t forget, children sail free!

Coastal Guide 2019 83

Situated at the mouth of the River Blackwater, Essex, TSL’s natural marina provides yacht moorings, boat & mast lifts, winter storage and local access to associated services. Great for sailing too!

Benefits include; ● Hardstanding area ● Hauling & Launching ● Access to our maintenance posts ● Access to water and electricity ● Located just 15 minutes from the A12 ● Coded Toilet and shower block for customer use only ● Private parking ● Recycling, rubbish and chemical wash out facilities ● Local chandlery, tea room and other amenities

Range of half-tide berths available Join our friendly, welcoming community

Visitors welcome - find out more, visit

TSL-ONLINE.CO.UK

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Mob: 84 Coastal 07521 Guide 2019 318155 Tel: 01621 868113 E-mail: info@tsl-online.co.uk

COASTAL EVENTS From

Event

Location

Contact

19-Apr

Easter Regatta

Royal Burnham Yacht Club

rbyc.uk

19-Apr

Easter Egg Open Meeting

Waldringfield Sailing Club

waldringfieldsc.com

27-Apr

Blackwater Cup

Blackwater Sailing Club

blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

27-Apr

Youth Team Racing Open Regatta

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

27-Apr

Endeavour Keelboat Championship

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

royalcorinthian.co.uk

27-Apr

RYA Learn to Sail Dinghy Course

St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing

westsuffolksailing.org.uk

04-May

Push the Boat Out

Horning Sailing Club

horning-sailing.club

04-May

Open Day - Push the Boat Out

Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club

iossc.org.uk

04-May

Squib Gold Cup

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

royalcorinthian.co.uk

04-May

RS 700 Snetfest Open

Snettisham Beach Sailing Club

snetbeach.co.uk

04-May

Supernova Sea Championships

Snettisham Beach Sailing Club

snetbeach.co.uk

04-May

Cadet Regatta

Thames Estuary Yacht Club

teyc.co.uk

04-May

Musto/Blaze Open

Wilsonian Sailing Club

wilsoniansc.org.uk

04-May

Push the Boat Out

Norfolk School Sailing Association

nssa.co.uk

04-May

Push the Boat Out

Blackwater Sailing Club

blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

04-May

Push the Boat Out

Fishers Green Sailing Club

fishersgreensc.org.uk

04-May

Musto/Blaze open

Wilsonian Sailing Club

wilsoniansc.org

04-May

Push the Boat Out

Eyott Sailing Club

eyottsailingclub.org.uk

04-May

Push the Boat Out

Segas Sailing Club

segassailingclub.co.uk

04-May

Push the Boat Out

Greenwich Yacht Club

greenwichyachtclub.co.uk

04-May

Push the Boat Out

Hampton Pier Yacht Club

hpyc.org.uk

04-May

Push the Boat Out

Medway Watersports Trust

medwaywatersports.co.uk

05-May

Spring Open Regatta

Hickling Broad Sailing Club

hicklingbroad.com

05-May

Lark Open

Marconi Sailing Club

marconi-sc.org.uk

05-May

Push the Boat Out

St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing

westsuffolksailing.org.uk

05-May

Push the Boat Out

Beccles Amateur Sailing Club

becclesasc.co.uk

05-May

Push the Boat Out

Slaughden Sailing Club

slaughdensailingclub.co.uk Coastal Guide 2019 85

COASTAL EVENTS From

Event

Location

Contact

05-May

Push the Boat Out

Burnham on Crouch Sailing Club

burnhamsc.co.uk

05-May

Push the Boat Out

Ardleigh Sailing Club

ardleighsc.co.uk

05-May

Push the Boat Out

Broadstairs Sailing Club

broadstairssailingclub.com

05-May

Push the Boat Out

Tankerton Bay Sailing Club

tbsc.co.uk

05-May

Push the Boat Out

Medway Cruising Club

medwaycruisingclub.org.uk

06-May

Push the Boat Out

Clacton on Sea Sailing Club

clactonsailingclub.org.uk

06-May

Push the Boat Out

Deben Yacht Club

debenyachtclub.co.uk

06-May

Push the Boat Out

Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club

ffsc.co.uk

06-May

Push the Boat Out

Royal Harwich Yacht Club

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

11-May

Push the Boat Out

Hickling Broad Sailing Club

hicklingbroad.com

11-May

Single Handed Open

Horning Sailing Club

horning-sailing.club

11-May

King’s Lynn Regatta

King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club

klcrc.club

11-May

Brightlingsea One Design Open Weekend

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

11-May

Push the Boat Out

Snettisham Beach Sailing Club

snetbeach.co.uk

11-May

Hanse Regatta and Festival

King’s Lynn Norfolk

kingslynnhansefestival.co.uk

11-May

Push the Boat Out

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

11-May

Push the Boat Out

Southwold Sailing Club

southwoldsc.org

11-May

Push the Boat Out

Walton & Frinton Yacht Club

wfyc.co.uk

11-May

East Coast Championships

Haven Ports Yacht Club

hpyc.com

11-May

Push the Boat Out

Whitstable Yacht Club

wyc.org.uk

11-May

Push the Boat Out

Thurrock Yacht Club

thurrockyachtclub.org.uk

12-May

Push the Boat Out

Norfolk Broads School of Sailing

norfolksailingschool.co.uk

12-May

Push the Boat Out

Hunstanton Sailing Club

hunstantonsc.co.uk

12-May

Maldon Mud Race

Maldon Essex

maldonmudrace.com

12-May

Push the Boat Out

Chapman Sands Sailing Club

chapmansands.gosnold.info

12-May

Push the Boat Out

Hampton Sailing Club

hamptonsailingclub.com

18-May

Snipe & National 18 Open Meeting

Blackwater Sailing Club

blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

86 Coastal Guide 2019

COASTAL EVENTS From

Event

Location

Contact

18-May

Snipe & National 18 Open Meeting

Blackwater Sailing Club

blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

18-May

Fireball, Merlin, Hornet, Albacore Open

Brightlingsea Sailing Club

sailbrightlingsea.com

18-May

Spring Regatta

Hoo Ness Yacht Club

hooness.org.uk

18-May

Sprint/Cherub Open

Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club

iossc.org.uk

18-May

Wayfarer Open

Medway Yacht Club

medwayyachtclub.com

18-May

Yeoman Open Weekend

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

18-May

Sharpie and Europe Open

Overy Staithe Sailing Club

overystaithesc.org.uk

18-May

707 Eastern Championships

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

royalcorinthian.co.uk

18-May

Push the Boat Out

Stour Sailing Club

stoursailingclub.co.uk

18-May

Push the Boat Out

Norfolk Punt Club

puntclub.co.uk

18-May

Push the Boat Out

Hickling Windsurfing Club

hicklingbroad.co.uk

18-May

Push the Boat Out

Blakeney Saiing Club

blakeneysailing.co.uk

18-May

Push the Boat Out

Waveney Sailability

waveneysailability.co.uk

18-May

Push the Boat Out

Pin Mill Sailing Club

pmsc.org.uk

18-May

Push the Boat Out

Oulton Broad Water Sports Cent

oultonbroadwatersportscentre.co.uk

18-May

Push the Boat Out

Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club

maylandseabay-sc.org.uk

18-May

Push the Boat Out

Gunfleet Sailing Club

gunfleetsailingclub.co.uk

18-May

Push the Boat Out

Stour Sailing Club

stoursailingclub.co.uk

18-May

Push the Boat Out

Wivenhoe Sailing Club

wivenhoesailingclub.co.uk

19-May

Push the Boat Out

Aldeburgh Yacht Club

aldeburghyc.org.uk

19-May

Push the Boat Out

Colne Yacht Club

colneyachtclub.org.uk

19-May

Topper Open

Royal Harwich Yacht Club

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

19-May

Three Race Regatta

Wilsonian Sailing Club

wilsoniansc.org.uk

19-May

Push the Boat Out

Erith Yacht Club

erithyachtclub.org.uk

19-May

Push the Boat Out

Coldham Hall Sailing Club

coldhamhallsailingclub.co.uk

19-May

Push the Boat Out

Whitlingham Adventure

norfolk.gov.uk

19-May

Push the Boat Out

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

royalcorinthian.co.uk Coastal Guide 2019 87

COASTAL EVENTS From

Event

Location

Contact

19-May

Push the Boat Out

Up River Yacht Club

upriver.org.uk

19-May

Push the Boat Out

Tonbridge Town Sailing Club

tonbridgesailing.org

24-May

Medway Regatta

Medway Yacht Club

medwayyachtclub.com

24-May

Push the Boat Out

Brightlingsea Sailing Club

sailbrightlingsea.com

25-May

Spring Regatta

Aldeburgh Yacht Club

aldeburghyc.org.uk

25-May

Creek Week

Gravesend Sailing Club

gravesendsc.org.uk

25-May

Finn Open

Harwich Town Sailing Club

htsc.co.uk

25-May

Push the Boat Out

Marconi Sailing Club

marconi-sc.org.uk

25-May

MYC Keel Boat Regatta

Medway Yacht Club

medwayyachtclub.com

25-May

Whitsun Regatta

Royal Burnham Yacht Club

rbyc.uk

25-May

Phantom Open Meeting

Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club

wobyc.com

25-May

Push the Boat Out

Shotley Point Yacht Club

shotleysailingclub.co.uk

25-May

Push the Boat Out

Alexandra Yacht Club

alexyachtclub.co.uk

25-May

Push the Boat Out

Docklands Sailing & Watersports Centre

dswc.org

26-May

Push the Boat Out

Ouse Amateur Sailing Club

oasc.co.uk

29-May

North Sea Race

Royal Harwich Yacht Club

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

31-May

Junior Open Regatta

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

01-Jun

Dragon Open Meeting

Aldeburgh Yacht Club

aldeburghyc.org.uk

01-Jun

Solo Eastern Area Open

Hickling Broad Sailing Club

hicklingbroad.com

01-Jun

Three Rivers Race

Horning Sailing Club

horning-sailing.club

01-Jun

Push the Boat Out

Medway Yacht Club

medwayyachtclub.com

01-Jun

Wilsonian River Challenge

Wilsonian Sailing Club

wilsoniansc.org.uk

01-Jun

Three Rivers Race

Horning Sailing Club

3rr.uk

02-Jun

Gunfleet Regatta

Clacton on Sea Sailing Club

clactonsailingclub.org.uk

02-Jun

Blaze Open

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

royalcorinthian.co.uk

02-Jun

Topper Open Meeting

Waldringfield Sailing Club

waldringfieldsc.com

02-Jun

Blessing of the Waters

Brightlingsea

cinqueportliberty.co.uk

88 Coastal Guide 2019

COASTAL EVENTS From

Event

Location

Contact

07-Jun

Sharpie Nationals

Wells Sailing Club

wellssailingclub.co.uk

08-Jun

CYC 100th Anniversary Regatta

Colne Yacht Club

colneyachtclub.org.uk

08-Jun

Thornbury Open Meeting

Gravesend Sailing Club

gravesendsc.org.uk

08-Jun

Yare and Bure Open Weekend

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

08-Jun

June Regatta

Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club

rnsyc.net

15-Jun

Wayfarer L’Escargot Open Meeting

Aldeburgh Yacht Club

aldeburghyc.org.uk

15-Jun

Fireball Open Meeting

Blackwater Sailing Club

blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

15-Jun

Allcomers and Single Handers June Cups

Blakeney Saiing Club

blakeneysailing.co.uk

15-Jun

Norfolk Punt Open

Hickling Broad Sailing Club

hicklingbroad.com

15-Jun

Osprey Open

Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club

iossc.org.uk

15-Jun

White Boat Open

Norfolk Punt Club

puntclub.co.uk

15-Jun

IOCA Eastern Championships

Royal Harwich Yacht Club

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

15-Jun

Rowing Festival

Stour Sailing Club

stoursailingclub.co.uk

16-Jun

Oppie Open

Medway Yacht Club

medwayyachtclub.com

22-Jun

Dayboat Week

Gravesend Sailing Club

gravesendsc.org.uk

22-Jun

Yeoman Open

Horning Sailing Club

horning-sailing.club

22-Jun

Norfolk One Design Open Weekend

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

22-Jun

Rowhedge Regatta

Rowhedge Essex

rowhedgeregatta.co.uk

22-Jun

Cadet & RS200 U21 Open

Waldringfield Sailing Club

waldringfieldsc.com

22-Jun

SYH Classic Regatta

Sufolk Yacht Harbour

syharbour.co.uk

23-Jun

Horsea Island Race

Harwich Town Sailing Club

htsc.co.uk

23-Jun

Bittern Open

Norfolk Punt Club

puntclub.co.uk

23-Jun

Lowestoft Regatta Cup Race (open)

Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club

rnsyc.net

23-Jun

RYA Learn to Sail Dinghy Course

St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing

westsuffolksailing.org.uk

23-Jun

Nore Race

Benfleet Yacht Club

benfleetyachtclub.org

28-Jun

Regatta Weekend

Waldringfield Sailing Club

waldringfieldsc.com

29-Jun

Yeoman National Championships

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk Coastal Guide 2019 89

COASTAL EVENTS From

Event

Location

Contact

29-Jun

Norfolk Punt Open

Norfolk Punt Club

puntclub.co.uk

05-Jul

Swale Regatta

River Swale

swaleregatta.co.uk

06-Jul

Flying 15 and Laser Open

Aldeburgh Yacht Club

aldeburghyc.org.uk

06-Jul

International 14 and Seafly Open

Blakeney Saiing Club

blakeneysailing.co.uk

06-Jul

Keelboat Weekend

Horning Sailing Club

horning-sailing.club

06-Jul

Summer Weekend Regatta

Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club

wobyc.com

06-Jul

Thames Barge Rowing Race

Greenwich Pier

thamesbargedriving.co.uk

07-Jul

East Coast Piers Race

Marconi Sailing Club

marconi-sc.org.uk

07-Jul

OK Open

Overy Staithe Sailing Club

overystaithesc.org.uk

07-Jul

Laser Open

Waldringfield Sailing Club

waldringfieldsc.com

07-Jul

East Coast Piers Race

Marconi Sailing Club

eastcoastpiersrace.com

13-Jul

Hurricane Open

Clacton on Sea Sailing Club

clactonsailingclub.org.uk

13-Jul

Yare and Bure Open Weekend

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

13-Jul

Streaker and K1 open meeting

Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club

wobyc.com

13-Jul

Smack and Working Boat Race

Pin Mill Sailing Club

pmsc.org.uk

14-Jul

Inshore Challenge Cup

Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club

rnsyc.net

14-Jul

Boatswain’s Trophy - Team Racing

St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing

westsuffolksailing.org.uk

19-Jul

Easter Egg Open Meeting

Waldringfield Sailing Club

waldringfieldsc.com

19-Jul

Thames Traditional Boat Festival

Henley-on-Thames

www.tradboatfestival.com

20-Jul

Town Regatta

Colne Yacht Club

colneyachtclub.org.uk

20-Jul

Dinghy Championships

Dabchicks Sailing Club

dabchicks.org

20-Jul

Club Regatta

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

royalcorinthian.co.uk

20-Jul

Club Regatta

Stour Sailing Club

stoursailingclub.co.uk

20-Jul

Ladies Regatta

West Mersea Yacht Club

wmyc.org.uk

20-Jul

Brightlingsea Regatta

Brightlingsea

brightlingsearegatta.com

21-Jul

Round the Island Races

Blackwater Sailing Club

blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

21-Jul

Regatta

Clacton on Sea Sailing Club

clactonsailingclub.org.uk

90 Coastal Guide 2019

COASTAL EVENTS From

Event

Location

Contact

27-Jul

Junior Open Meeting

Aldeburgh Yacht Club

aldeburghyc.org.uk

27-Jul

Maritime Festival

The Quay Harwich

historicharwich.co.uk

27-Jul

Broads One Design Open

Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club

rnsyc.net

27-Jul

North West Norfolk Week

Norfolk

norfolkweek.co.uk

29-Jul

Cadet Week

Blackwater Sailing Club

blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

29-Jul

Cadet Week

Colne Yacht Club

colneyachtclub.org.uk

29-Jul

Cadet Week

Marconi Sailing Club

marconi-sc.org.uk

29-Jul

Wroxham Week

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

29-Jul

Cadet Week

West MerseaYacht Club

wmyc.org.uk

29-Jul

Wroxham Week

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

29-Jul

Cadet Week

Dabchicks Sailing Club

dabchicks.org

31-Jul

Cadet Week

Benfleet Yacht Club

benfleetyachtclub.org

02-Aug

DYC Regatta

Deben Yacht Club

debenyachtclub.co.uk

02-Aug

North West Norfolk Sailing Week

Snettisham Beach Sailing Club

snetbeach.co.uk

03-Aug

Dayboat Open

Gravesend Sailing Club

gravesendsc.org.uk

03-Aug

Summer Regatta

Hickling Broad Sailing Club

hicklingbroad.com

03-Aug

Laser Open Meeting

Overy Staithe Sailing Club

overystaithesc.org.uk

03-Aug

Club Regatta

Royal Harwich Yacht Club

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

04-Aug

Otter Week

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

royalcorinthian.co.uk

04-Aug

Wroxham Gold Cup/Powerboat racing

Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club

rnsyc.net

04-Aug

Round The Island

West Mersea Yacht Club

wmyc.org.uk

05-Aug

Cadet Week

Snettisham Beach Sailing Club

snetbeach.co.uk

07-Aug

Youth Regatta

Brightlingsea Sailing Club

sailbrightlingsea.com

11-Aug

Club Week

Blackwater Sailing Club

blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

11-Aug

Pyefleet Week

Brightlingsea Sailing Club

sailbrightlingsea.com

11-Aug

Bittern Open Championships

Hickling Broad Sailing Club

hicklingbroad.com

11-Aug

Cadet Week

Royal Burnham Yacht Club

rbyc.uk Coastal Guide 2019 91

COASTAL EVENTS From

Event

Location

Contact

11-Aug

Mersea Week

West Mersea Yacht Club

merseaweek.org

13-Aug

Sailing Course

Deben Yacht Club

debenyachtclub.co.uk

14-Aug

Open Weekend

Erith Yacht Club

erithyachtclub.org.uk

14-Aug

Hansa Dinghy open meeting

Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club

wobyc.com

16-Aug

Sprint 15 Nationals

Harwich Town Sailing Club

htsc.co.uk

17-Aug

Regatta Day

Blackwater Sailing Club

blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

17-Aug

Shearwater National Championship

Brightlingsea Sailing Club

sailbrightlingsea.com

17-Aug

Mixed Keelboat Open Weekend

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

17-Aug

Town Regatta

West Mersea Yacht Club

wmyc.org.uk

17-Aug

Blakeney Regatta

Blakeney Saiing Club

blakeneysailing.co.uk

18-Aug

Aldeburgh Regatta

Aldeburgh Yacht Club

aldeburghyc.org.uk

18-Aug

Ipswich Maritime Festival

Ipswich Waterfront

ipswich-waterfront.co.uk

19-Aug

Junior Race Week

Royal Harwich Yacht Club

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

24-Aug

RS Tera National Championship

Brightlingsea Sailing Club

sailbrightlingsea.com

24-Aug

Club Regatta

Norfolk Punt Club

puntclub.co.uk

24-Aug

Burnham Week

Royal Burnham Yacht Club

rbyc.uk

24-Aug

Burnham Week

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

royalcorinthian.co.uk

24-Aug

Junior Regatta

Wilsonian Sailing Club

wilsoniansc.org.uk

24-Aug

Burnham Week

Burnham Essex

burnhamweek.com

25-Aug

ITCA Topper Traveller Series

Snettisham Beach Sailing Club

snetbeach.co.uk

27-Aug

Eyott Week

Eyott Sailing Club

eyottsailingclub.org.uk

28-Aug

Optimist Open Meeting

Blackwater Sailing Club

blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

28-Aug

Cadet Week

Waldringfield Sailing Club

waldringfieldsc.com

30-Aug

Cadet Regatta

Thames Estuary Yacht Club

teyc.co.uk

31-Aug

Yare & Bure One Design Open

Horning Sailing Club

horning-sailing.club

31-Aug

Round The Island race

Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club

iossc.org.uk

01-Sep

Topper Open

Medway Yacht Club

medwayyachtclub.com

92 Coastal Guide 2019

COASTAL EVENTS From

Event

Location

Contact

06-Sep

Dragonfly 70th Anniversary Weekend

Waldringfield Sailing Club

waldringfieldsc.com

07-Sep

Single Hander Dinghy Open

Hickling Broad Sailing Club

hicklingbroad.com

07-Sep

707 East Coast Championship

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

royalcorinthian.co.uk

07-Sep

Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival

Great Yarmouth Norfolk

great-yarmouth.co.uk

07-Sep

Pin Mill Regatta

Pin Mill Sailing Club

pmsc.org.uk

08-Sep

Optimist Open

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

12-Sep

Dragon East Coast Championships

Medway Yacht Club

medwayyachtclub.com

14-Sep

Solo Open Day

Brightlingsea Sailing Club

sailbrightlingsea.com

14-Sep

Barts Bash

Colne Yacht Club

colneyachtclub.org.uk

14-Sep

Barts Bash

Horning Sailing Club

horning-sailing.club

14-Sep

Yare and Bure Open Weekend

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

14-Sep

Tera East Coast Championships

Royal Harwich Yacht Club

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

14-Sep

YPA Regatta

St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing

westsuffolksailing.org.uk

14-Sep

Cartoon Trophy Open Meeting

Waldringfield Sailing Club

waldringfieldsc.com

14-Sep

Barts Bash

Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club

wobyc.com

14-Sep

The Great River Race

Docklands, London

greatriverrace.co.uk

15-Sep

Barts Bash

Blackwater Sailing Club

blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

15-Sep

Barts Bash Weekend

Brightlingsea Sailing Club

sailbrightlingsea.com

15-Sep

Barts Bash

Deben Yacht Club

debenyachtclub.co.uk

15-Sep

Barts Bash

Marconi Sailing Club

marconi-sc.org.uk

15-Sep

Barts Bash

Norfolk Punt Club

puntclub.co.uk

15-Sep

Barts Bash

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

royalcorinthian.co.uk

15-Sep

Barts Bash

Erith Yacht Club

erithyachtclub.org.uk

15-Sep

EYC Open Event

Erith Yacht Club

erithyachtclub.org.uk

20-Sep

Ajax Nationals

Royal Harwich Yacht Club

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

20-Sep

Barts Bash

St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing

westsuffolksailing.org.uk

21-Sep

Open Dinghy Weekend

Horning Sailing Club

horning-sailing.club Coastal Guide 2019 93

COASTAL EVENTS From

Event

Location

Contact

21-Sep

Star Open Weekend

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

21-Sep

Maldon Town Regatta

Maldon

maldonregatta.co.uk

28-Sep

Autumn Regatta

Hickling Broad Sailing Club

hicklingbroad.com

28-Sep

Autumn Regatta

Hoo Ness Yacht Club

hooness.org.uk

28-Sep

Regional Junior Championships

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

royalcorinthian.co.uk

28-Sep

Laser and Solo Open

Royal Harwich Yacht Club

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

05-Oct

Brightlingsea One Design Open Weekend

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

05-Oct

Thames Trafalgar Race

Greenwich

littleshipclub.co.uk

06-Oct

Laser Open meeting

Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club

wobyc.com

11-Oct

Harwich International Shanty Festival

Harwich Waterfront

harwichshantyfestival.co.uk

12-Oct

Skiff Fest

Brightlingsea Sailing Club

sailbrightlingsea.com

12-Oct

Wayfarer Open Event

Hickling Broad Sailing Club

hicklingbroad.com

12-Oct

Topper Open Event

Marconi Sailing Club

marconi-sc.org.uk

12-Oct

End of Season Regatta

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

nbyc.co.uk

12-Oct

Athene Cup

Norfolk Punt Club

puntclub.co.uk

13-Oct

West Nore Sands Race

Thames Estuary Yacht Club

teyc.co.uk

13-Oct

Ovens Buoy Race

Erith Yacht Club

erithyachtclub.org.uk

13-Oct

RYA PBI Course

Erith Yacht Club

erithyachtclub.org.uk

26-Oct

Suffolk Yacht Harbour Open Weekend

Suffolk Yacht Harbour

syharbour.co.uk

27-Oct

End of Season Regatta

Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club

wobyc.com

17-Nov

Invitational Fleet Open 1&2

Royal Harwich YachtClub

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

01-Dec

Invitational Fleet open 3&4

Royal Harwich Yacht Club

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

15-Dec

Invitational Fleet open 5&6

Royal Harwich Yacht Club

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

26-Dec

Boxing Day Race

Harwich Town Sailing Club

htsc.co.uk

26-Dec

Boxing Day Breezer

Royal Harwich Yacht Club

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

26-Dec

Icicle & Snowflake Trophy Race

Benfleet Yacht Club

benfleetyachtclub.org

26-Dec

Brass Monkey event

Leigh on Sea Sailing Club

leighsailingclub.org

94 Coastal Guide 2019

Coastal Guide 2019 95

Boat Building

Custom New Builds / Restoration / Repair /

CAD Design & CNC Cutting Composite Engineering / Production

Indoor & Outdoor Boatyard Storage Lifting & Moorings Yacht Brokerage Surveys

01728 452019 info@demonyachts.co.uk Demon Yachts, Aldeburgh Boatyard, Aldeburgh, Suffolk IP155DE

96 Coastal Guide 2019

ON THE WATER CLUB

LOCATION

WEBSITE

Adastral Park SC

Ipswich, Suffolk

adastralsailing.org.uk

Aldeburgh YC

Aldeburgh, Suffolk

aldeburghyc.org.uk

Alexandra YC

Southend, Essex

alexyachtclub.co.uk

All Hallows YC

Rochester, Kent

allhallowsyachtclub.net

Alton Water

Stutton, Suffolk

altonwater.co.uk

Ardleigh SC

Ardleigh, Essex

ardleighsc.co.uk

Beccles Amateur SC

Beccles, Suffolk

becclesasc.co.uk

Benfleet YC

Canvey Island, Essex

benfleetyachtclub.org

Blackwater SC

Heybridge, Essex

blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

Blakeney SC

Blakeney, Norfolk

blakeneysailing.co.uk

Bradwell Quay YC

Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex

bqyc.org.uk

Brancaster Staithe SC

Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk

bssc.net

Brightlingsea Coastal Rowing Club

Brightlingsea, Essex

brightlingsearowing.co.uk

Brightlingsea SC

Brightlingsea, Essex

sailbrightlingsea.com

Burnham on Crouch SC

Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

burnhamsc.co.uk

Chapman Sands SC

Canvey Island, Essex

chapmansands.gosnold.info

Chelmsford Canoe Club

Chelmsford, Essex

chelmsfordcanoeclub.co.uk

Clacton Canoe Club

Clacton-On-Sea, Essex

clactoncanoeclub.co.uk

Clacton on Sea SC

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

clactonsailingclub.org.uk

Coldham Hall SC

Surlingham, Norfolk

coldhamhallsailingclub.co.uk

Colne YC Waterside,

Brightlingsea, Essex

colneyachtclub.org.uk

Crouch YC

Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

cyc.org.uk

Dabchicks SC

West Mersea, Essex

dabchicks.org

Deben Canoe Club

Woodbridge, Suffolk

dwsc.org.uk

Deben Rowing Club

Woodbridge, Suffolk

debenrowingclub.co.uk

Deben YC

Woodbridge, Suffolk

debenyachtclub.co.uk

Dereham Canoe Group

Swanton Morley, Norfolk

derehamcanoeing.co.uk Coastal Guide 2019 97

ON THE WATER CLUB

LOCATION

WEBSITE

Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre

Isle of Dogs, London

dswc.org

East Suffolk Wakeboard & Water Ski Club

Felixstowe, Suffolk

eswsc.co.uk

Erith YC

Erith, Kent

erithyachtclub.org.uk

Essex YC

Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

essexyachtclub.co.uk

Eyott SC

South Woodham Ferrers, Essex

eyottsailingclub.org.uk

Felixstowe Ferry SC

Felixstowe, Suffolk

ffsc.co.uk

Fox’s Marina YC

Ipswich, Suffolk

fmyc.org.uk

Gravesend SC

Gravesend, Kent

gravesendsailingclub.co.uk

Greenwich YC

Greenwich, London

greenwichyachtclub.co.uk

Gt Yarmouth & Gorlestone SC

Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk

gygsc.co.uk

Gunfleet SC

Holland on Sea, Essex

gunfleetsailingclub.co.uk

Harlow Blackwater SC

Maylandsea, Essex

harlow-blackwater-sailing-club.co.uk

Harwich Town SC

Harwich, Essex

htsc.co.uk

Haven Ports YC

Levington, Suffolk

hpyc.com

Hickling Broad SC

Hickling, Norfolk

hicklingbroad.com

Hickling Windsurfing Club

Hickling, Norfolk

hicklingbroad.co.uk

Hoo Ness SC

Rochester, Kent

hooness.org.uk

Horning SC

Horning, Norfolk

horning-sailing.club

Hostellers SC

Paglesham, Essex

hostellerssailingclub.org.uk

Hundred of Hoo SC

Rochester, Kent

hundredofhoosailingclub.org

Hunstanton SC

Hunstanton, Norfolk

hunstantonsc.co.uk

Iken Canoe Club

Aldeburgh, Suffolk

ikencanoe.co.uk

Ipswich Canoe Club

Ipswich Suffolk

ipswichcanoeclub.org.uk

Ipswich Rowing Club

Ipswich, Suffolk

ipswichrc.org.uk

Island YC

Canvey Island, Essex

islandyachtclub.org.uk

Isle of Sheppey SC

Sheerness, Kent

iossc.org.uk

King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club

King’s Lynn, Norfolk

klcrc.club

98 Coastal Guide 2019

ON THE WATER CLUB

LOCATION

WEBSITE

Leigh on Sea SC

Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

leighsailingclub.org

Lower Halstow YC

Lower Halstow, Kent

lhyc.org.uk

Lowestoft Rowing Club

Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, Suffolk

lowestoftrowingclub.org.uk

Maldon and Dengie Canoe Club

Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

madcanoeclub.co.uk

Maldon Gig Rowing Club

Maldon, Essex

maldongigclub.org.uk

Maldon Little SC

Maldon, Essex

mlsc.org.uk

Marconi SC

Southminster, Essex

marconi-sc.org.uk

Maylandsea Bay SC

West Maylandsea, Essex

maylandseabay–sc.org.uk

Medway Cruising Club

Gillingham, Kent

medwaycruisingclub.org.uk

Medway Watersports Trust

Gillingham, Kent

medwaywatersports.co.uk

Medway YC

Lower Upnor, Kent

medwayyachtclub.com

Mersea Island Rowing Club

West Mersea, Essex

mersearowingclub.org.uk

Norfolk Broads School of Sailing

Acle, Norfolk

norfolksailingschool.co.uk

Norfolk Broads YC

Wroxham, Norfolk

nbyc.co.uk

Norfolk Punt Club

Barton Broad, Norfolk

puntclub.co.uk

Norfolk School Sailing Association

Filby Broad, Norfolk

nssa.co.uk

North Fambridge YC

North Fambridge, Essex

Essex nfyc.co.uk

Northern Rivers SC

Acle, Norfolk

thenrsc.com

Orwell YC,

Ipswich, Suffolk

orwellyachtclub.org.uk

Oulton Broad Water Sports Centre

Lowestoft, Suffolk

oultonbroadwatersportscentre.co.uk

Ouse Amateur SC

King’s Lynn, Norfolk

oasc.co.uk

Pin Mill SC

Pin Mill, Suffolk

pmsc.org.uk

Queenborough YC

Queenborough, Kent

queenboroughyachtclub.co.uk

River Stour Boating

Essex

riverstourboating.co.uk

Rowhedge Coastal Rowing Club

Rowhedge, Essex

Facebook page

Royal Burnham YC

Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

rbyc.org.uk

Royal Corinthian YC

Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

royalcorinthian.co.uk Coastal Guide 2019 99

ON THE WATER CLUB

LOCATION

WEBSITE

Royal Harwich YC

Woolverstone, Suffolk

royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk

Royal Norfolk and Suffolk YC

Lowestoft, Suffolk

rnsyc.net

Segas SC

Gillingham, Kent

segassailingclub.co.uk

Shotley SC

Shotley Gate, Suffolk

shotleysailingclub.co.uk

Slaughden Sailing Club

Aldeburgh, Suffolk

slaughdensailingclub.co.uk

Snettisham Beach SC

King’s Lynn, Norfolk

snetbeach.co.uk

Snowflake SC

Horning, Norfolk

sfsc.co.uk

Southend Canoe Club

Southend-on-Sea, Essex

southendcanoe.org.uk

Southwold SC

Southwold, Suffolk

southwoldsc.org

St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing Association

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

westsuffolksailing.org.uk

Stour SC

Manningtree, Essex

stoursailingclub.co.uk

Strood YC

Rochester, Kent

stroodyachtclub.jimdo.com

Thames Estuary YC

Southend-on-Sea, Essex

teyc.co.uk

Thurrock YC

Grays, Essex

thurrockyachtclub.org.uk

Tonbridge Town SC

Tonbridge, Kent

tonbridgesailing.org

Up River YC

Hullbridge, Essex

upriver.org.uk

Waldringfield SC

Woodbridge, Suffolk

waldringfieldsc.com

Walton and Frinton YC

Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex

wfyc.co.uk

Waveney & Oulton Broad YC

Oulton Broad, Suffolk

wobyc.com

Waveney Sailability

Lowestoft, Suffolk

waveneysailability.co.uk

Wells SC

Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

wellssailingclub.co.uk

Wensum Ospreys Canoe Club

Fakenham, Norfolk

wocc.org.uk

West Mersea YC

West Mersea, Essex

wmyc.org.uk

Whitlingham Adventure

Norwich, Norfolk

whitlinghamadventure.org.uk

Wilsonian SC

Hoo, Kent

wilsoniansc.org.uk

Wivenhoe SC

Wivenhoe, Essex

wivenhoesailing.org.uk

Yare SC

Norfolk

yaresailingclub.org.uk

100 Coastal Guide 2019

www.rofixrestoration.com

☏ 01359 250343 ✉ office@rofixrestoration.com Coastal Guide 2019 101

Landscape Photography Tuition Landscape Photography tuition on the Suffolk Coast with professional photographer Gill Moon One to one tuition Half day and full day workshops for beginners and improvers tailored to meet your specific requirements Small group workshops Full day themed workshops for up to 4 people available throughout the year in various locations along the Suffolk Coast.

New workshops for 2019 include: River Deben, River Orwell, Aldeburgh, Woodlands, Long exposure.

Photographing the Suffolk Coast

by Gill Moon A location guide to exploring the Suffolk Coast with your camera available in shops May 2019 Find out more at www.gillmoon.com email:gill@gillmoon.com Tel: 07920 162319

102 Coastal Guide 2019

Traditional equipment for classic boats.

Order online or come and visit our chandlery at Suffolk Yacht Harbour on the east coast.

Telephone: 01394 380390 or 01473 659394 | Email: info@classicmarine.co.uk | www.classicmarine.co.uk Classic Marine, Suffolk Yacht Harbour, Levington, Ipswich, Suffolk, United Kingdom IP10 0LN Photography Credit: Emily Harris

Coastal Guide 2019 103

syharbour.co.uk 01473 659465 enquiries@syharbour.co.uk

Suffolk Yacht Harbour:

the east coast’s leading marina Credits: Main Photo - Patrick Squire.

Below - Gill Moon & Emily Harris.

Founded in 1967, Suffolk Yacht Harbour is the east coast’s largest independently owned marina offering a vast array of onsite services and facilities.

Comprising 550 berths and additional swinging moorings, with access at all states of the tide, the marina offers the ideal stopover whilst cruising along the picturesque rivers and coastal waters of East Anglia.

A marine hub for local and visiting yachtsmen.

• Busy calendar of events and regattas, including the annual Classic Regatta.

• Haven Ports Yacht Club offers a warm welcome, hearty food and drinks for locals and visitors.

104 Coastal Guide 2019

• Maintenance facilities and services for classic and modern yachts, including boat hoists up to 75 tonnes, two well equipped chandleries and newly refurbished workshops.