Janet Harber presents the East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion page
As part of our collaboration with Wiley Nautical, Janet Harber, the author of the East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion has generously agreed to provide updates and exclusive features in relation to her excellent guide.
These exclusive contributions alongside book updates can be found on our new East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion page which can be found by clicking here. You can also pre-order your copy of this essential guide from ECRbookshop.com, our sister website from which proceeds go toward maintaining this website and service so your support is much appreciated.
Gunfleet Wind Farm works commence
The installation of 48 turbines on the Gunfleet Sands off Clacton, Essex, started on August 25 and is due to be fully operational late 2010.
A 500-metre safety zone has been established around the Gunfleet Sands and yachts are advised to keep well clear, except in an emergency. Working boats will have extremely long anchor cables out. Weekly notices of operations will be posted within our notices to mariners page. For more information, click to visit contractors website or to discuss, visit our forum.
Shop news
Our bookshop is pleased to now include the stunning East Coast 2009 and Classic Yacht 2009 Calendars by renowned local photographer Den Phillips. We are also extremely pleased to be able to offer the excellent series of local interest books by Robert Simper at a fantastic 20% Discount throughout November & December. All this in time for Christmas.
Please remember that purchases on ecrbookshop help directly fund the free services offered by this website. Your support of our shop is therefore greatly appreciated. Remember, we also sell charts !
Ipswich Wet Dock Lock Closure
Change of Date to Wet Dock Lock Closure Mariners and Port Users are advised that due to the fitting of new floodgates, the Wet Dock Lock will be closed to all marine traffic between 0600 hrs Monday 24th November to 1800 hrs Friday 28th November 08.
The road bridge over the Wet Dock will be closed on Monday 24th
and Tuesday 25th November during the installation of the
floodgates. These times are reliant on the new floodgates arriving by barge from Holland and the work proceeding without any unexpected hold-ups. Should there be any major delays, and subject to the agreement with the Contractors, there will be some restricted openings of the lock outside of the advertised closure times. The lock may be back in operation before 1800 hrs on Friday 28th, please contact the Lock Master on 01473 213526 or on VHF 68 for details of when the lock is re-opening, or for any information on extended delays.
Ipswich Harbour Master
16th October 2008
Bawdsey East Lane Sea Defence Works
Sea defences works in the vicinity of East Lane, Bawdsey are being carried out into December 2008.
The works will involve the transfer of stone in the position
51º 58.60N 001º 26.20E using the stone barges Latric Rock and Charlie Rock.
The stone will be deposited in a temporary position between:
52º 00.631 N 001º 26. 185E
52º 00.367 N 001º 25. 990E
During the works there will be shore activity supported by high intensity lights and reflection seawards will be visible to shipping.
All vessels involved in the works will exhibit the lights and shapes as required by Collision Regulations and a listening watch will be maintained on VHF Channel 16 and VHF Channel 71.
Approaches to Brightlingsea
The leading lights into Brightlingsea have been discontinued due to conflicting background light pollution from the shore
Felixstowe South Reconfiguration works - Phase II
Mariners are advised that Phase II of the works will involve:
Demolition works with work barges and construction craft,
a safety boat will be on station and all demolition craft will be illuminated.
Dredging operations within the Felixstowe South Reconfiguration Works Area.
Pile removal operations with a heavy lift barge and construction craft.
Details of demolition, pile removal and dredging operations can be obtained from Harwich VTS on VHF Channel 71.
All Mariners are advised to maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 71 (Harwich VTS) for regular broadcasts and any specific Operational or Navigational requirements.
We have been advised the the beach replenishment works off Felixstowe have now been completed.
Imray publications now available at ecrbookshop.com
Imray have made their catalogue of excellent sailing publications, pilot guides and charts available to our new online book and gift shop.
This allows us to expand our range of publications to include the extremely popular East Coast Pilot, now in it's second edition. Additionally we can offer extremely relevant books such as Roger Gaspars 'Crossing the Thames Estuary'
Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol Rescue Service is on duty every summer weekend, patrolling Felixstowe seafront and neighbouring rivers, manned by confident and competent volunteers responding to all kinds of safety issues.
All of the crews, sea and shore based, provide their time freely for both operational and training sessions. Every year, this valuable marine rescue service requires funding in excess of £16,000 in order to operate, relying entirely on donations. In August this year 'Volunteer' was nearly taken out of service due to lack of funding but was given a last minute reprieve by two members of the Haven Ports Yacht Club by way of a £2,000 donation which has allowed the service to continue into September. Here is a typical weekend log:
Saturday 9th August
11.40 Thames Coastguard reported swimmer in difficulties off Cobbolds Point. Harwich ILB and Volunteer both tasked.
11.59 Stood down when swimmer reported safely ashore
13.50 Volunteer at Felixstowe Ferry advised of Kite Surfer in difficulties off Deben Bar.
13.52 On scene, the male surfer cold and tired was taken on aboard Volunteer after his kite had fouled the Mid Knoll Buoy and become entangled. All his equipment was recovered and he was taken ashore to his young son who had witnessed the incedent.
15.50 Volunteer on patrol in the River Orwell prior to returning to the seafront went to the aid of a 14' broken down speed boat with four persons and a dog on board which was towed into Suffolk Yacht Harbour.
Sunday 10th August
13.25 Volunteer at Felixstowe Ferry asked to assist capsized sailing dinghy with two people in the water off Pin Mill
16.15 Volunteer retuning to seafront went to the assistance of a 36' sloop in difficulties off Fagbury Point on the River Orwell. The 11 ton sloop with five persons on board had a jammed rudder and was being blown ashore in gale force winds. The vessel was taken in tow back to the Ipswich Haven Marina.
Please support this excellent sevice by contacting the Felixstowe Coast Patrol by
email
. You can vist their website by clicking here.
07/08/08 Ore Entrance - Weir & Oxley moved
Following reports made on our message board, the placement of the Weir & Oxley buoys in the Ore entrance have been reviewed.
We've finally had a chance to reinstate the gallery pages which are more user friendly and faster.
If you have pictures you'd like to share with users of this site, simply contact us and we'll reply with an email address to send your files to. Take a look ...
Oliver Hicks prepares his boat on the Deben
At the end of 2008, Oliver Hicks will attempt to become the first person to row solo around the world.
He aims to travel east along the 50´ South line of latitude which will take him from New Zealand heading east passing to the south of Cape Horn and then far below the Cape of Good Hope and finally returning to New Zealand about two years later. His boat is nearing completion with the final fitting out taking place at Robertsons Boatyard in Woodbridge. Speaking to Oliver he explained that the boat is unique in that it has a wet compartment and water tight dry compartment, is 24´ long and has space for up to 1 years provisions. If you come across his boat during trials on our rivers, be sure to give him room as the boat is steered by autopilot makinging it quite a handful in congested waters. You can find out more by clicking this link to virginglobalrow.com.
Brightlingsea Sketchmap for 2009
Following positive discussions with the Brightlingsea Harbour Authority, we have been asked to include Brighlingsea in our portfolio of Sketchmaps.
In order to make this happen we are looking for sponsors for this publication. If you would like more information, please contact us.
Package of sponsors for Southwold Sketchmap confirmed
We are pleased to announce that we now have sufficient sponsors to produce a sketchmap for the Southwold approaches.
Harbour Marine Services, Anglia Sea Ventures, Temple Marine and Deben Media have confirmed their backing for the project which will allow the commissioning of a bathymetric survey of the shoals just outside of the piers and inside the harbour up to and just beyond the 'Knuckle'.
A couple of small advertising panels are still available.
Temple Marine Relocate to Southwold
Temple Marine (Brokerage) are pleased to confirm they are continuing to trade and offering full brokerage service to all those afloat on the East Coast, after the relocation of their office to nearby Wickham Market and hardstanding for sale boats to Harbour Marine Services of Southwold.
This follows tremendous support from friends, past customers and marine traders based in the Woodbridge area and East Anglia in general. This also means that Temple Marine will continue to sponsor eastcoastrivers.com on the forthcoming Southwold Entrance Sketchmap.You can visit Temple Marine's Website here.
April 2008 Ore Entrance Sketchmap
The latest edition of the Ore entrance sketchmap is now available for download ...Click for download page
This year we have improved our coastline data set by walking not only the Shingle Street and Oxley Marsh beaches but also North Weir Point which shows a substantial recession to the north by some 350m. The channel at the Weir buoy has deepened and narrowed requiring one to pass close to it. From seaward, the approach hasn't changed much from 2007. Particular thanks to Anglia Sea Ventures who have comitted to both the Ore and Southwold sketchmaps. We have yet to survey the Southwold entrance but will add this within the next month.
April 2008 Deben Entrance Sketchmap
Following a substantial technical delay (main hard drive failure) we are pleased to provide the latest Deben Entrance Sketchmap for download. Click for download page.
Several improvements have been made in the way the sketchmaps are being presented this year, primarily by collaborating more closeley with Marine Surveys East & Soth Ltd. and also processing our own data with some back to basics data collection by walking beaches alongside geo-referencing. We would also like to welcome new sponsors, Suffolk Sails which are based in Woodbridge and as their name suggests, offer excellent sailmaking services with a new vibrant team. Thank you also to our existing loyal sponsors, Fox's, Seamark Nunn, Tidemill, Atlantic Rigging, Marine Surveys and Deben Inns Ltd.
You can also find a 3d rendering of the entrance on our message board here.
I wish to extend heartfelt thanks to the Woodbridge Cruising club for inviting me to give a talk at their excellent venue.
The event was very well supported despite awful weather. I was made very welcome and enjoyed the rare opportunity to meet the users of this website in person.
Thank you to John White for providing a valuable analysis of the current Deben Bar situation along with his unrivalled historical knowledge of the Bar.
Below you can view one of the presentation pieces from the talk allowing you to view a sequence of bank positions from 1995 to 2007.
THE ABOVE IS NOT A CURRENT DEBEN ENTRANCE SKETCHMAP !
Thank you to John & Terry
The original inspiration for this service was provided by John White, Harbourmaster at Felixstowe Ferry and Terry Clarke of Small Craft Deliveries.
For many years they produced the printed Deben entrance sketchmap we are all so familiar with which was sold through SCD and photocopied by many.They have chosen not to produce their sketchmap this year in favour of the service provided by this website but we would like to express our sincere appreciation to both of them for the work they have done over the years and the inspiration they have provided.
You can visit Terrys SCD website here and John White remains Harbourmaster at the Ferry and also operates river trips on 'Odd Times' for bookings call 01394 270106 or 07803 476621.
Click below for sketchmaps 
As part of our collaboration with Wiley Nautical, Janet Harber, the author of the East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion has generously agreed to provide updates and exclusive features in relation to her excellent guide.
The installation of 48 turbines on the Gunfleet Sands off Clacton, Essex, started on August 25 and is due to be fully operational late 2010.
Our bookshop is pleased to now include the stunning East Coast 2009 and Classic Yacht 2009 Calendars by renowned local photographer Den Phillips. We are also extremely pleased to be able to offer the excellent series of local interest books by Robert Simper at a fantastic 20% Discount throughout November & December. All this in time for Christmas.
Change of Date to Wet Dock Lock Closure Mariners and Port Users are advised that due to the fitting of new floodgates, the Wet Dock Lock will be closed to all marine traffic between 0600 hrs Monday 24th November to 1800 hrs Friday 28th November 08.
Sea defences works in the vicinity of East Lane, Bawdsey are being carried out into December 2008.
Imray have made their catalogue of excellent sailing publications, pilot guides and charts available to our new online book and gift shop.
Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol Rescue Service is on duty every summer weekend, patrolling Felixstowe seafront and neighbouring rivers, manned by confident and competent volunteers responding to all kinds of safety issues.
At the end of 2008, Oliver Hicks will attempt to become the first person to row solo around the world.
The latest edition of the Ore entrance sketchmap is now available for download ...Click for download page
Following a substantial technical delay (main hard drive failure) we are pleased to provide the latest Deben Entrance Sketchmap for download.
As an extension of our sketchmap an information service, you can now download the new Walton Backwaters approaches sketchmap by clicking here
