Around the English & Welsh Coasts 
Around the English & Welsh Coasts CautionAs the information on this page is contributed by many people, it is not possible to vouch for its accuracy. Information can also be 'out of date' at the time that the information is read. The information must not be used for navigational purposes. The safety of a vessel depends ultimately on the judgement of the skipper, who should assess all information, published or unpublished. We cannot be held responsible in any way for consequences that may be incurred as a result of using information from this site. |
Please note that the sequence of ports now follows that used in the Almanac. N.B. The Admiralty has issued a correction to the West Country portfolio (SC 5602.1) saying that the tidal stream data attributed to Plymouth should be labelled Dover. 22/9/00 The Isles of Scilly – St Mary’s: Improved facilities are now available that include upgraded showers, shore power and water at the visitors’ drying berths on the main quay. A new HM is appointed: Captain Glenn Covell. Ed., 21/05/05 St. Mary's (Isles of Scilly) - The 38 yellow visitors buoys and many new green locals buoys make anchoring in any real shelter impossible, while most of the yellow buoys are highly exposed to Atlantic swell. Distance between buoys is 15m and allows unoccupied down-wind buoys to bump against yachts of 10m length at LW. But harbour is very popular, especially with French. Babaji, 1/6/98 Internet facilities are available at the pub on Tresco. Graham Rabbitts, Ariadne, 01/09/03 Newlyn - Two new boat pontoons have been put to the west of St Mary's Quay with up to 80 berths available. Some may dry at springs. Some 40 berths are intended for boats 10-15m with a least dredged depth of 2m. HM available on Ch16. Ed. August,2006 Penzance - Internet facilities are available at the library. Graham Rabbitts, Ariadne, 01/09/03 Helford River - The Yacht Club (on the Southbank) has an excellant Yacht Club and makes visitors most welcome. Food, showers and laundery. All green buoys in the river are visitors’ buoys. Private moorings are changed to green by the berthing master when they become available during the season. Mike O'Brien, 06.03.02 Helford - private pontoon for dinghies good value at £1 for Shipwrights Inn serving excellent food and draught beer. Hardly changed in years. No Vodafone signal at Inn or on moorings. The number of visitors buoys has been significantly increased. Graham Rabbitts, Ariadne, 01/09/03 Falmouth Harbour Fuel – 24 hour fuel berth is now available at Falmouth Marina. Further dredging is planned for June. Ed., 18/05/05 River Fal - There are at least three pontoon moorings in the upper reaches of the Fal beyond the King Harry Ferry. They are equipped with rubbish collection but nothing else – a charge is made. They were well sheltered in the recent awful weather. R.L.Saunders, 1/6/99 Fuel is no longer available at the Town Marina. A fuelling barge ("Falmouth Industry") is available. However, this also provides bunker to ships anchored in the bay and can sometime disappear for several hours while this is done. Contact Falmouth Industry on Ch 12. It looks, however, as if a new fuelling pontoon is being commissioned. Graham Rabbitts, Ariadne, 01/09/03 St Mawes -Excellent shelter and still room to anchor but fair distance for tenders. Babaji, 30/5/98 Mylor Creek - The Mylor Yacht Haven redevelopment is now complete. Extensive new equipment is available, more car parking and it now handles 150 berths with layup for 600 boats. Ed. 07/08/05 Fowey CA Al. p28. - New visitors' pontoon available with services in the Pill - a quieter solution in the busy summer months. Mike Davey. 15/4/04 Website refreshed - can be used to indicate intention of putting in. web: www.foweyharbour.co.uk HM Mike Sutherland will reserve for groups and possible discount Ed. 11/3/05 River Yealm - is equipped with detached visitors pontoons. (Falmouth and Fowey have similar arrangements). Although these pontoons make convenient stopping places and allow more yachts to be packed in than swinging moorings, we found that leaving the pontoon can be harder than arriving. The tide in these rivers runs very strongly at times, and in some cases is at an angle to the lie of the pontoon, which can pose problems.. David Sadler, 29/9/98 Salcombe - Those mooring in "The Bag" at Salcombe may find it of use to note that the Island Cruising Club headquarters Ferry has a bar onboard which is available for yacht crews to use. It's a short journey from the moorings/pontoon compared with the journey into town. There's a certain amount of bureaucracy - you have to sign in and out for safety reasons. The facility appears not to be advertised and it is little used. The bar is on the lower deck towards the stern. When private receptions are being held the bar may not be available but it is worth a try. Yacht: Badger 15/6/99 Dart Harbour - Fuel barge does NOT supply water and will not accept oily waste (e.g. paper toweling contaminated with diesel). Furthermore while one used to be able to get water at the fishermen’s pontoon it is no longer available. Water can be obtained at the quay in several places. Provide your own hose. R.L.Saunders, 1/6/99 Capt. David White took over as River Dart HM on 1 January 2005. Ed.11/3/05 Froward Point on the Kingswear side of the Dart entrance now has a National Coastwatch Institution lookout. Ed. 23/09/05 Brixham - MDL maintaining in excellent order. Neil Salter, their new manager is most enthusiastic, Babaji, 27/5/98 Teignmouth – has a new 20m quay frontage with depths guaranteed at 1.5m minimum at all tidal states. Ed. 29.01.06 Plymouth – C & C Marine have now taken over the old Watkins Yard at Richmond Walk and returning it to a working yard managed by Chris Cload tel.: 01752 605 807. Ed. 29.01.06 West Bay – Previously a notoriously difficult entrance in less than good conditions, the new pier was officially opened in early March. It is expected to make the harbour entrance feasible in all but severe storm. Ed., 14/05/05 It is reported that the new slipway can be hazardous when launching in an easterly and the old slipway is being used again but is not available for 2 hours around Low Water. Ed. 23/09/05 Weymouth – broadband connection planned for all outer harbour berths by August 2005. Ed. 11/3/05 Berthing facilities have been improved. Pontoons now have lighting and electric power points. Shower and toilet facilities have been improved and a launderet is being built. Costs come within the mooring fee. Ed., 13/07/05 Swanage - More moorings and seemingly more kelp on bottom adding to difficulty in anchoring. Babaji, 26/5/98 Poole Harbour – Visitors should be aware that it is still ok to moor on the quay between the Pool Arms and the Jazz Café. It is reported that some are turning away on finding the marina full. Water is not available here but marina staff will usually find a temporary berth to replenish tanks. The shower facilities are also available. Ed. 16/04/05 Buoys have been laid to mark the channel to the south and west of Green Island. These will be in place for this year and the harbour authorities would like to receive comment. Anchoring is not permitted in the channel. Ed., 14/08/05 Christchurch - The complex tide situation may be helped by accessing the HGO website: www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk whiuch, unusually, gives hw under port 038 in “Easytide” with tidal curves free, for one week ahead. Caution still needed as the depth at the bar may be significantly affected by barometric pressure. The bar can be dangerous in strong S to SE winds of,say, F5/6 and shifts readily. Within the harbour progress may be limited by depth especially at Neaps. Approaching from the West, identify Hengistbury Head, and strangers are advised to stay at least 1m offshore until reaching the the long groyne at the eastern end of the Head. Head NE towards redbrick beach café. Beware Mudeford Sandspit to port – seaward end has rocks marked with Port topmark. Follow parallel to spit until entrance buoys visible – pairs of red and green with topmarks on the port side. These sometimes appear further out to sea than expected. From the East, stay at least a mile offshore until cliffs lower towards Mudeford Quay. Look ahead and inshore to identify beach café and proceed as above. Most boats enter within 1 hour of HW. Be cautious of current in the narrows against the quay wall where a nasty sea may develop with reflected waves and stronger current. See R/F and HANNS for further notes on the harbour itself and facilities. Chris Austin, HLR, 6/12/04 Solent - Up-to-date information from our HLR in Lymington, Capt. Hutchinson, concerning mooring and berthing situations, and small changes to the approach. If you intend to go there and are unfamiliar with the river, we advise you to contact Capt.Hutchinson. (details in Yearbook) Beaulieu – Note the printed “Beaulieu River Tidetables” are incorrect. The dates used are fine but the days of the week are wrong. The tables are being re-printed but check which you have and be sure you are using the right date. Ed., 14/04/05
The new Beaulieu Harbourmaster will be recognized by CA members as Mark Wakelin who has stated his intention not to make radical changes but to concentrate on giving moorings holders and visitors the best service and facilities. Ed. 16/04/05 River Hamble Authority has issued a Notice to River Users drawing attention to the recommended tracks in the Yachtsman’s Guide to Southampton Water which states: “.Yachts requiring to cross the channel in Southampton Water at the entrance to the river should do so at right angles and not diagonally” This follows a recent collision between a Red Funnel ferry and a sailing vessel. Ed. 16/02/05 Isle of Wight Speed Limit – an 8kn speed limit is announced on all pleasure craft “in the vicinity of pleasure beaches”. Ed. 18/05/05 Wootton Creek - Lat: 50n44.06 Long: 01w12.68 Here is the lat+o0est state of play as of 11/08/01 : Some Almanacs indicate 2m depth at Fishbourne Quay and that it has been known for fin Keel yachts to stay at the quay overnight as the water around the pontoons have been dredged. With this information in hand, I arrived at Fishbourne quay to find a completely different picture. Depth on the outer pontoon is now -0.9(dries) at CD. Overnight not suitable for Fin Keel yachts. The transits which lead you up the narrow channel from where the ferries berth in Wootton (270 degrees), are in a poor state of repair. The rear triangle is slightly overgrown and the front triangle has fallen over. Mark Hawkins, Yacht: Merlin, 11/08/01 Fishbourne quay now has several pontoons for yachts. Facilities are limited but it has got a haul out facility for vessels up to 40 feet. tony, 26/08/04 Bembridge - Visitors pontoon opposite Fisherman's Wharf now extended further east and connects to the shore where 'Pontoon' is shown on the CA harbour plan. It's now possible to walk from the pontoon to the facilities at Bembridge Marina along the causeway - about 10 minutes, and take a good torch in the dark! The visitors’ pontoon remains afloat but those alongside the pontoon (rather than those rafted further out) may touch bottom at LW. Bottom appears to be soft mud and no problems were caused. Ken Munn, Yacht: Indigo, 13/09/02 Cowes – useful new web site in association with Cowes Harbour Commission gives tides, weather, many news stories, complementary to the Cowes Port Handbook, HM page ferry booking and so on: www.cowes.co.uk Ed. 30/05/05 New facilities at Shepards Wharf Marina can cater for 120 visiting yachts as well as the 30 permanent berths. All have water and electricity and there is a minimum depth of 2m with 3m on the outside pontoons. There are shore-based toilets, showers and pump-out. Dry sailing opportunities for up to 50 boats. Details from: Stuart McIntosh, HM on 01983 293952. Ed. 05/08/05 East Cowes – The development work over the last 7 or so years at the marina is now said to be complete. With 235 permanent berths and room for 150 visitors, advance booking is feasible. Info: 01983 293983 or visit: www.eastcowesmarina.co.uk Ed. 14/08/05 xxxxxxx Fareham - A new chandlery has opened basing its appeal on being “no frills”. It is in warehouse premises and is geared to the cruising sailor. It claims to have everything from shackles to electronics and includes some second hand goods. Ed.16/02/05 Southsea – Phase II of the marina development is now complete with a “luxurious” shower block with underfloor heating and a new fuel bay on the waiting pontoon. A refurbished curry house also beckons. Booking on 02392 816066 Ed., 05/08/05 Chichester Harbour – Chichester Marina has now some availability for visiting yachts of a larger size: up to 14m. Ed., 2/05/05 Harbour News and Guide is out in its 84 page 2006 edition available from Harbour Office or Tourist offices. Ed 12/03/06 Chichester – Local weather and nav warnings are broadcast on VHF Ch 14 at 0915 on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, together with any race start times. Ed. 20/06/05 We are told that the short cut across the bank by West Pole Beacon is no longer viable as shingle has built up to take around a metre off previous depths. Ed. 26/10/05 Bosham - As lovely as ever but with worst floating green weed ever known. Check strainers before leaving. Babaji, 25/5/98 Brighton - Met Bob Goodall, father of MD. New facilities include health centre with swimming pool, 28 lane bowling alley, many new restaurants including floating Chinese, shuttle bus (£1 adults, children free) to Palace Pier, much new building. Resident boat owners moaning that their car park being built on. Entrance channel harrowed on ebb so mud flushed out.. Now that everyone including vandals in Brighton has a key they plan swipe cards.. Babaji, 26/5/98. Newhaven - Visitors pontoon in Newhaven Marina dried at LW - access and space less than anticipated from pilots but Marina restaurant recommended for enthusiastic if eccentric service!! John Langham Brown, 27/7/98 Eastbourne
- Sovereign Harbour,
I've just heard about a recent grounding in the middle of the entrance to
Sovereign Harbour 2 hrs. before low water. The yacht (draft 6 ft.) then
dragged over to the northern side under a Southerly wind. Lifeboat attempted
help but wrote off two propellors. £20,000 worth of damage caused. BUT: After the silting of last year, Sovereign Harbour Marina at Eastbourne have had the entrance Channel dredged. I have been through there in the last few days and the least depth I recorded was 1.13m below LAT. Ivan Andrews, Yacht: Kissen, 24/07/01 HM: Andy Garland: 01323 470099. VHF 17. Ed. 11/3/05 Dover – CA Al.. p.70/71 - The report in HANN's 99/3 about the Granville Dock is erroneous. The dock has had pontoons installed but the opening hours are much longer than those of the Wellington Dock. The Dover leaflet I collected says that it is open for around 60% of the tidal cycle and that was my experience on a recent visit. The staff at Dover were very helpful and with the extended marina it is an even better stop. Iain Kidson 21/8/99 Dover Marina has installed 14 new pontoon finger berths, serviced with water and electricity, inside Granville Lock entrance. Mooring fees have risen by 4.9% for 2005 in the basin and Granville but remained steady in Wellington lock. Ed., 14/04/05 Sandwich - Sandwich Entrance Channel clearly marked despite recent (early 2004) collapse of Sandwich Approach beacon (currently marked by yellow floats, leave to Starboard). Outer channel marked by Red cans to port, unpainted aluminium beer barrels to Starboard from Safe Water Mark in Ramsgate channel. Channel passes close to the point - marked by stakes with appropriate topmarks - believe them - the channel is closer to the point than we expected. Helpful River Bus owner directed us to a mooring on the quay. Approaching (as you will) on the flood the tides runs furiously through the bridge. There is little room to turn but observation at LWS confirms that the local technique of putting the bows into the bank to starboard and allowing the tide to turn the vessel is safe. Once turned a somewhat unnerving approach becomes easy. Recommend turning well downstream of bridge and stemming tide to allow a gentle reverse up to the berth. Toilets and water on quay. Extensive selection of pubs and restaurants - we can recommend the Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant. Town has mostly small and upmarket shops - we found no large supermarket. We took the dinghy 11 miles upriver on the tide to Grove Ferry. Excellent riverside pub. It is said that Canterbury can be reached by the enthusiastic. It certainly makes clear that Thanet was an Island. For the return water level falls significantly before stream reverses. Plan to leave for sea as soon as tide turns at Sandwich. You may stick but the tide rises fast and leaving early avoids fighting the (fierce) flood in the lower reaches more than necessary. - Iain Kidson, Rainbow Catcher, 2/4/2004 Ramsgate – CA Al.p.71/72 - new part of marina on WEST side of harbour is now complete and open. Good depth, (older outer harbour pontoon area has several shoals, at LW.), excellent new shower and amenities block within 100 metres. David Holden Yacht: Skeetwell 31/7/01 The new western marina is very neat and easy to use, but there is a very bad swell most of the time, especially from about half-flood to half-ebb. It is rather a long walk to the shower block and the office. Christine Sheffield, 27/11/01 Website – A new website gives details of services and facilities at both Port and Royal Harbour Marina: www.portoframsgate.co.uk Ed. 12/03/06 Please note that the sequence of ports now follows that used in the Almanac. Queenborough- River Thames – A new and useful guide for those on the water or towpath has recently been published. The River Thames Guide is the one-stop guide for everything 'Thames' and that includes anything that floats. The website at www.riverthames.co.uk gives “all you need to know about everything that's happening in, on and around the Thames, how to get there, where to eat and places to stay”. It claims well over a million hits a month and is updated daily. For further information from Jeannette at The River Thames Guide. Tel: 020 8989 2041; email: Ed. 05/08/05 CA Al. p.79 - The trot Boat service has not been run by the Harbour operator; Swale Borough Council this year. The Queenborough. YC are running a service at the weekends. The concrete lighter, used by many for mooring has had a reprieve: it was to be scrapped, but now funding has been authorised for the necessary safety improvements. Temporarily it is marked "Unsafe- No Mooring". David Holden, 24/07/04 Yacht: Skeetwell We are told that Queenborough Yacht Club continue to provide a ferry service on Fridays: 1700 – 2000 and 2100 – 2300; Saturdays: 1000 – 2300; Sundays: 1000 – 1600. Call QYC Trot Boat on Ch.8. During weekdays, the council offer a service during office hours: call Sheppey one on Ch.8. Ed. 07/08/05 Thames Estuary: South Shoebury Buoy ( 51.30.58N 000.52.38E) – PLA announce that a new seabed wave recorder inshore of the S Shoebury Buoy is marked by a yellow buoy exhibition light: Fl5Y 20s. Ed., 18/05/05
A new buoy, “Princes Approach” has been laid at 51°28’.60N 01°23’.60E at the eastern approaches to the Princes Channel. It is a red & white spherical mark with white light (Morse A 10 sec.) Ed. 16/02/05 Southend – Following the fire last year, an exclusion zone of 500m around the pier head has been declared. Ed. 29.01.06. River Thames - Port VHF frequencies have altered. Outer Thames to Sea Reach No 4 is now VHF Ch69; inbound to Crayfordness: VHF Ch68; Crayfordness to Thames Barrier: VHF Ch14. All sector callsigns are now “London VTS” Ed. 16/02/05 Guide book: The Tidal Thames – A guide for users of Recreational Craft is now available free of charge. Contact Martin Garside on 020 7743 7915 . Ed. 26/10/05 River Crouch - Farnbridge Yacht Haven has increased its hard standing for storage/lay up. Ed. 26/10/05 Note the Foulness lefthand buoy has been moved to 51.39.92N 001.04.12E, Ed. August, 2006 Wallasea Island - Now has up to 500 deep water berths including 50 swinging moorings. Many facilities have improved and the Wallasea/Burnham ferry has been re-instated. See: www.essexmarina.co.uk ed.25/10/04 Heybridge – Diesel at Heybridge is discontinued, Filling in a long vat form for every transaction was part of the problem. The Clarke yard pump at West Mersea is closed for the same reason. Jim Clark (no relation) who sold fuel from his front garden has retired. A pity, not just because of the fuel problem but he is a terrific engineer. His skills will be missed. Ian Wright, 24/01/05 A new colour booklet of walks from the Heybridge Basin has been published by Essex County Council. They cover the Chelmer and Blackwater Canal. Costing £4.50 more information is available from 01245 437291. Ed. 15/11/05 Basin gutway - Red can buoy removed, now leave withies to Port about ten feet. The Jolly Sailor has good beer (Broadside!) and decent food at Pub prices. There is a Shower/toilet/laundry block in the Basin. Ian Wright, Yacht: Patience, 10/5/00 Lock 'Traffic Lights' operational. Two reds = Not today sunshine. One red = opening this tide. Green = Get a move on, we don't have all day! "dogleg" in gutway even more acute, from the green
'Basin Approaches' buoy head towards the end wall of the Jolly Sailor Pub
until abeam of the second withy then alter towards the lock gates and head
straight in. Leave withies to Port about ten feet. Top of springs, just head
straight in. Depth gauge reads +2 ft, but if your draught is under seven
feet you will have no problems. Twelve foot draught is do-able with care.
River Colne - Note The Inner Bench Head Buoy, Fl(2)R.5s., has been changed from a can to a pillar., Ed., August,2006
Walton Backwaters
- The banks off Stone Point have changed over recent years following the
reinforcement. The obstruction shown on charts is no longer significant. The
Swatchway dries about 2.3 metres. Best water is found with East Coast Sails
bearing 275T. This buoy is lit so the Swatchway is possible at night. For
drying out/scrubbing the best position is to leave East Coast Sails on 090T
and watch for the leveling out of the seabed. In easterlies this spot is
sheltered by the banks to seaward. In westerlies it is probably best to use
the beach North of the Exchem Green Buoy. Beware of the bight between
Plumtrees buoy and the inner point of Stone Point - this is now deep sticky
mud and provides neither a good site for scrubbing nor good holding. Iain
Kidson, Rainbow Catcher, 10/9/2004 Ipswich - Ipswich Haven Marina, CA Al. p65, Head of Orwell River. Access to the marina is now 24 hours. Mooring pontoon available on the Starboard side inside the lock. Reasonably priced/ friendly marina staff will find a berth anytime! Showers/Laundry and smart bar/restaurant though only 5 minutes into town with ample supply of good restaurants. Dave Spencer, Yacht: Wahine, 13/12/02 Deben - Deben Entrance IMPORTANT NOTICE Substantial Spit developing South of the Mid Knoll Buoy It has been reported that a new spit developing south of the Mid Knoll Buoy (Deben Entrance) may pose a danger to navigation with a reduced depth of just under 1m at low water on the bar its self. It is recommended to pass 40-50m south of Mid Knoll leaving it to starboard on entry. Please do not use the printed 'APRIL 2004 EDITION' chart. The chart download will be unavailable until updates can be made. A request has been made for Trinity House to move the Mid Knoll ASAP. We will contact you as soon as an updated chart is available for download. Web: www.debenentrance.com/homepage.html : check this site (for latest information (August 2004) New features may be added based on demand, so if there is something you would like to see included, such as events listings or perhaps a news page, please let us know. Chris Woods Orfordentrance.com Sketchmaps from accurate survey information provided on the 27th & 28th of March 2005 of both the Deben and Ore entrances are now available for download from http://www.debenentrance.com or printed versions of the Deben Entrance sketchmap should be available from the usual UK outlets. Copies are in the R/F. Source: Deben authority, April, 2005 East Knoll Buoy – Felixstowe Ferry HM advises new position at 51.58.77N 001.23.85E ed: 12/03/06 Dick Larkman's yard near the navigable limit of the Deben near Wilford Bridge specializes in laying up, offers very good value, and has two cranes to get up to six yachts in or out on a tide; easy walking distance from Woodbridge Station. Power points. Cradle rental. Ray Glaister, 15/2/01 Woodbridge -The
Spring 2004 chart of the entry to the Deben can be seen at and downloaded
from the web site of Tidemill Yacht Harbour, the
address of which is:
www.tidemillyachtharbour.co.uk Richard Gapper, 13/05/04
Orford Haven - Orford Haven Buoys are now laid. The correct side of the R.can buoy "Oxley" only has 0.6m at CD. Go a little further NE and there is 1.2m, a little further NE and the seagullls are walking, ie dries about 1.6m. Survey done on 11/04/04 will be incorporated on new Alde and Ore plan due to be published in about a fortnight. I have seen the official survey but there seem to be more shallow bumps than indicated. It was very calm when I went out on 25/4. Beware! Changes have taken place since last year John Calver, Mardi Gras. 27/04/04 Moorings available for visitors to Orford will again have a small orange pick-up buoy marked V attached; charge payable to Harbour Office overlooking quay £5 per night. Office has telephone (01394 459950) and listens on VHF Ch 8/16 during day. Call "Chantry" on Ch 8. Orford Sailing Club (OSC) pontoon with reasonable depth (gauge at end) except at LW and maximum stay (attended) one hour; water hose. Use of quay is free for first hour but note use made of this by National Trust and RSPB ferries and Lady Florence with regular restaurant cruises. Key for OSC showers and WCs available from Hr Office, deposit £5. Adjacent National Trust office organizes ferry to Ness, with excellent exhibitions and restored wartime relics. Ray Glaister, Babaji, Sept 2004 Following recent spell of strong easterly winds
shingle banks it appears, from shore observation, that shingle banks remain
much as during summer. OXLEY buoy (R Can) has shifted about 1 cable to SSW
and lies in shoal water. WEIR (g Conical) seems not to have moved. Best
approach is probably from HAVEN buoy to line just to N of row of
exCoastguard cottages. Sketchmaps from accurate survey information provided on the 27th & 28th of March 2005 of both the Deben and Ore entrances are now available for download from http://www.debenentrance.com or printed versions of the Deben Entrance sketchmap should be available from the usual UK outlets. Copies are in the R/F. Source: Deben authority, April, 2005
Aldeburgh
-
Pictures of controversial Scallop
memorial to Benjamin Britten on seashore just north of Aldeburgh. Ray
Glaister, 21/2/04 Alde & Ore River Guide – now £2.50 + large SAE, available from May from Aldeburgh YC. Shingle Bar frequently shifts even in summer – contact HLR, Tom Miller-Jones or 01728 452120 or 07785 761091 or RNLI Sec: Simon Reid on 01728 452552. Tom Miller-Jones, HLR 21/12/04 Lowestoft – CA Al Page: 99. The primary address (URL) of the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club website is now www.rnsyc.org.uk (formerly "co.uk"). The VHF working channel for Mutford Lock is now (2004) Ch 73, Peter Bell, 28/11/04, UK Up-to-date information about facilities and prices at the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club marina is now easily accessed via the club's new web site (www.rnsyc.co.uk). Peter Bell , Yacht: Rose Rambler , 03/08/03 Associated British Ports (ABP) has opened Lowestoft Haven Marina, strategically located on Lake Lothing, < two miles from the harbour mouth of Lowestoft. The marina currently offers 140 pontoon berths that can accommodate leisure vessels from 7 m (23 ft) to 20 m (65.5 ft). It is equipped with luxury showers and toilets, a launderette, onshore boat storage, and a berth-holders’ car park. Over the coming months, a number of other services and facilities will be added, including a pub and restaurant, and various marine services, including boat-repair, refits and engineering. Ray Glaister, 20/2/04 Great Yarmouth - The bright yellow bases for 38 wind turbines have been put in place on the Middle Scroby Sands off Great Yarmouth since Christmas 2003. The site developers are Powergen Renewables Offshore Wind Limited and Vestas, the Danish wind turbine manufacturer. The development site is located on a sand bank known as the Middle Scroby Sands, which lies approximately 3 km east of the Great Yarmouth. The turbine development covers an area of approximately 3.1km by 1.4km, with the closest turbine 2.3km from shore. The scheme will consist of 38 2MW turbines with a total generating capacity of 76MW. The towers and turbines were delivered by sea late summer 2004. Ray Glaister, September 2004 For short stay tie up at Town Quay alongside Town Hall and just below bascule bridge leading to Broads and marina. Two or three yachts can tie up alongside steam drifter Lydia Eva (open free during day) and use convenient gangway and steps over river wall. No facilities but free! Excellent restaurant in Star Hotel overlooking quay. Babaji, 11/8/98 Contrary to your report of 11/8/98, the Town Hall Quay is not necessarily free! We were foolish enough to tie up there a couple of weeks ago for 15 mins to wait for the bridge and were charged £10 (ten pounds!) "Port Entry Fee". It seems totally arbitrary as we have been in and out several times during the last couple of years with and without tying up and this is the first time we have been charged, though the chap collecting the cash assured us that they collect "whenever possible" and we did get an official receipt. Anthony Barber, 5/9/98 Southern North Sea - Off Gt. Yarmouth – Wreck "GUDRUN” Latitude 52 deg 33'.47N., Longitude 002 deg 32'.70E (WGS 84 datum). The two lighted buoys (formerly 090 and 270 degs about 200 metres from wreck) now discontinued. NM.6/12/04 Brancaster Staithe – HM: Mr Mervyn Nodds, 01485 210638. Brancaster Staithe Sailing Club offer facilities to non members. Peter Beck, HLR, 31/1/05 Wells-next-the-Sea - HM gives great welcome and directs you to an alongside berth (some positions dry, ladder loaned) if called on VHF. Swift tide but quite manageable at springs. Water hose. Diesel. Have to use public WCs. Inexpensive slipping service. Fish and chip shops opposite! Babaji,10/8/98 HM: Bob Smith 01328 711646, mobile: 07775 507284. Wells Sailing Club offer facilities to non members Peter Beck, HLR 31/1/05 Diesel & rubbish disposal available, showers at Pinewoods Caravan site. Hoist up to 7.5 tons. HM mobile:07775 507284. Useful website: www.wellsharbour.co.uk Increased pontoon berths planned for 2005. Ed. 11/3/05 Grimsby CA Al. (p.106) - When the lock gates are opened into the Fish Dock, beware of the sudden large flow of water. The Humber Cruising Association have new showers and clubhouse. Visitors berth on long pontoon immediately to port after the travel hoist. John Calver 6/5/04 Yacht: Mardi Gras Spurn Head - popular anchorage between the two lighthouses in line and yellow buoy, but nearer latter, saves an hour (plus lockage etc) into Grimsby which is aptly named (sorry Grimsby!). Keep clear of pilot launch mooring (not used). Babaji, 9/8/98 Whitby – CA Al. (p.107) - Harbour dues make up half fees and the pontoon is much more comfortable with water, electricity and showers (£3 deposit for key). Shepherd Purse restaurant discreetly hidden behind delightful delicatessen does excellent fish and vegetarian dishes with fascinating decor (high ceiling hidden by suspended canoes, skis, etc.!). For real celebration try Bagdale Hall, or good food in real Yorkshire pub Duke of York. Whitby is always worth a second night! Babaji, 7/8/98 Hartlepool CA Al. (p.109)- huge marina with excellent facilities. Entry easily identified as mole to port is concrete blocks and to starboard dark stone.. Diesel (pump immediately to s'bd after lock), 21p/litre. Visitors moor alongside penultimate East pontoon, electricity, water. Super showers. Restaurants, YC, shops (Church St), and Asda nearby. Access key. Lock opens on demand HW±5 (not ±4.5 as per Macmillan). Babaji, 6/8/98 North Shields CA Al. p110 – Royal Quays Marina expect to have 50 new fully-serviced berths by Easter 2005 giving > 300 total. Ed. 11/3/05 Blyth (Royal Northumberland YC) CA Al.(p. 110) - A warm welcome to this brand new marina with 70m of visitors berth can be guaranteed.. Electricity and hoses on visitors’ pontoon. Showers in H/Y Tyne which has now been moved alongside central pier. Access card (£10 deposit) needed to get back in and for access to H/Y for showers (luxuriously refurbished). Payphone. Babaji, 5/8/98 Seahouses (North Sunderland) - £7 per night for nothing but a drying mooring! HM is Brian Graham. Water tap on pier. Babaji, 4/8/98 Brian Graham due to retire May 2005 and tells us that flags no longer flown at pier end when entry dangerous – lights still used as advised in almanacs. O’night fee is still £7. Ed.11/3/05 Berwick-on-Tweed CA Al. (p.114) -. Tap on quay. Supermarket (07(Sun 08)-20), PO and chippie near dock.. A freighter from Rostock still comes regularly (fertiliser in, crushed red stone out), also cement carriers, but strictly at HW. Third largest colony of swans in country, 450 resident but others fly in to moult and have to grow new feathers before they can fly out, so last census counted 650. Coble-fishing for salmon off reef in river at LW. Babaji, 2/8/98 WEST COAST OF ENGLAND & WALES (inc. N.Coast Devon/Cornwall) Please note that the sequence of ports now follows that used in the Almanac. Whitehaven
Harbour ref BA chart 2013. 8th ed Handbook
p176 Peel – Isle of Man – New cill to harbour installed cuts swell when wind from the West and gives a retained water level of 2.5m just inside harbour entrance. This is part of a plan that concentrates on safety. Shoaling means only the smallest boats are floating at the inner extremity. The basin will be dredged at a later date. Cill expected to open HW +/- 1.5 at neaps, +/- 2.5 at springs. Hold on buoys or against Harbour wall. Footbridge across entrance: call on VHF 12 to open. Water and power are available on E and W walls. Isle of Man offer a “rover” ticket for all harbours on the island. See: www.gov.im or call Douglas HM 01624 686628. Ed.27/04/05 Liverpool – Fiddlers Ferry Yacht Haven – 13 miles up river from the Liverpool pier head a sea lock gives access to this inexpensive lay up option. Annual charges are £9.50/ foot. A Spring tide is needed for access. A 25 tin crane is available for lift out. Tel: 01925 727519. Ed. 07/08/05 Deganwy a new 200 berth marina has opened on the N shore of the Deganwy River. Access is restricted to about half-tide. No dedicated visitors berths so call 01492 593000. Ed. 16/02/05 Contact detail for Deganwy Marina: Deganwy marina Tel. No. 01492 57688 Or ch. 80 vhf. Email: . Ed. 31/3/05 Bardsey Island is a super place, well worth visiting. The walk over the hill, down to the abbey and calling in on the ornithology base is one of the highlights of our sailing season. The bay on the eastern side is OK in any winds from S round to N, but best holding is not inside the bay, so S winds may prove uncomfortable. The bay has one mooring, used by the warden, advise you do not use it except by agreement, as he comes and goes at irregular intervals. Anchor just about on the chord of the bay but it may take a couple of attempts. The bay rocks are usually full of seals (24 last time we were there). Landing is no problem at the small slipway at the N end of the bay. In reasonable conditions overnight anchoring is very comfortable and risk free. David Box,YM Scuttlebutt, 17/2/98 Porthmadog - 22 permanent pontoon berths have been provided with six berths for visitors. They all dry. Some fin and long keeled boats can be accommodated in the pool and against the harbour wall. Oil and garbage disposal facilities are provided while the Yacht Club has a licensed restaurant, shower & laundry as well as free internet access and is open six days a week. Call YC on “M†or 01766 512976. Ed. August, 2006 Swansea – The new National Waterfront Museum opened recently that houses the largest collection of Welsh maritime and industrial artefacts. It has major gallery space, a café, shop and education facilities. Entry is free. Details available on 01792 638950 or www.nmgw.av.uk Ed., 15/11/05 Bristol Channel - The Bristol Channel Yachting Association recently launched a new edition of its useful Bristol Channel Handbook. This contains extensive valuable pilotage information in A5 format. Available at £6 including postage: ring 02920 553352. Ed.16/02/05 Sharpness to Bristol – Passage notes available via National Association of Boat Owners to NABO members. Cruising notes for Gloucester and Sharpness Canal also. See NABO web: www.nabo.org.uk Free booklet available from HM Bristol at 0117 903 1484. Stephen Peters, HLR, 31/12/04 Portishead: The Marina has a new 20-ton lift and has made improvements to winter storage. The manager, Keith Berry, tells us that the aim to have ultimately 400 berths available. Portishead Cruising Club is reputedly having a boost to membership. Ed. 26/10/05 Padstow - Information available at its relatively new website: www.padstow-harbour.co.uk This includes a virtual tour of the harbour with its improved facilities for boating visitors as well as full navigation directions to the inner harbour which is available 90 minutes either side of High Water. Ed. 16/02/05St Ives – Smeaton’s Pier now has upgraded facilities: new lighting and ladders, to improve access to fuel. Ed. 24/06/05 |
Page reformatted 7 May 2000 Update 27/10/05
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