{"id":92285,"date":"2026-02-17T07:21:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T10:21:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shipping.einnews.com\/article\/893017389"},"modified":"2026-02-17T07:21:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T10:21:32","slug":"sailing-the-shipping-forecast-unlocking-the-secrets-of-the-thames","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/17\/sailing-the-shipping-forecast-unlocking-the-secrets-of-the-thames\/","title":{"rendered":"Sailing the shipping forecast: Unlocking the secrets of the Thames"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Beyond the shifting sands and windfarms lies a cruiser’s paradise. From London\u2019s heart to Suffolk\u2019s quiet mudflats, discover the magic<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Thames sea area extends from the northeast corner of Norfolk to the Kent coast at Deal and across to the continental coast between Petten in North Holland and Oostende in Belgium.<\/p>\n

To the uninitiated, the whole of the area may seem characterised by shoal water, shifting sandbanks, windfarm developments, busy shipping routes, significant tidal streams and short, steep and uncomfortable seas. However, to those who know it better, it is a wonderful and varied cruising ground in relatively protected waters, with a multitude of harbours and anchorages.<\/p>\n

On the English coast there is a whole series of rivers and creeks to be explored, necessitating only brief excursions out into the Thames estuary. The mightiest of the rivers is, of course, the Thames itself. A passage up the Thames is a passage through time into the heart of London.<\/p>\n

Crossings of the Thames Estuary are totally dominated by the currents and the shallows.<\/p>\n

In poor visibility or with strong wind against tide it can, indeed, become pretty unpleasant. But prevailing winds are off the land and inside the protecting shoals swell is minimal. The currents can be harnessed in your favour, flooding southwest towards London or Dover and ebbing north-eastwards.<\/p>\n

The continental coast is less indented but gives access to a maze of interconnected inland waterways, including mast-up routes from the Schelde northwards all the way to Delfzijl on the Eems, and southwards to Gent or Antwerp and Brussels. In Belgium there is a mast-up canal linking Zeebrugge to Brugge.<\/p>\n

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Following a very early start, The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club at Lowestoft had seemed a good place to pause to celebrate being back in our home waters of the Thames shipping area. A call to Lowestoft Port Control had reassured us through the blind corner at the entrance, and the Royal Norfolk Harbourmaster had helped us to tie up on one of the finger berths.<\/p>\n

Showers and a good meal in the clubhouse soon restored our sense of equilibrium.<\/p>\n

The following morning, we motored out at low water, taking care not to cut any corners between the buoys marking the sands. Past East Barnard the wind began to fill from the northeast and we were soon ghosting southwards with mainsail and cruising chute.<\/p>\n

With the flood under us, we hastened past the lighthouse and beach huts of Southwold. Soon, Sizewell power station loomed large from the gentle green landscape around it. Off Thorpeness, the wind veered more easterly and we switched back to our genoa to hold the angle. Close along the outside of Aldeburgh Ridge, a small daysailer stole a march on us down the inside of the shoal, but past Orford Ness, now bereft of its lighthouse, we freed off again and overtook them.<\/p>\n

At the Orford Haven buoy the daysailer turned in towards Shingle Street and then headed up the Ore.<\/p>\n

It was tempting to follow them up to Orford.<\/p>\n

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Aldeburgh Beach Lookout. Photo: Jason Wells \/ Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tinfish is too big for the visitor moorings there, but we\u2019ve had many tranquil nights at anchor in Short Gull. It\u2019s only a slightly longer dinghy ride to Orford Quay, the Jolly Sailor pub, and delicious Pinneys smoked fish.<\/p>\n

With enough of the flood still to make it, the smaller boat might be going on up to Aldeburgh or even all the way to Snape. Aldeburgh visitor buoys are another favourite spot for Tinfish, and a walk up the beachfront to the Scallop sculpture and back is well rewarded with fish and chips. With shallow enough draught, it\u2019s a great adventure to follow the withies up to Snape Maltings on the tide.<\/p>\n

Only a few miles more down the coast and now the temptation to turn into the Deben. Like the Ore, it\u2019s essential to have the most recent, seasonal chartlet for the entrance here. Electronic charts take a while to catch up and it is amazing to witness the effect these entrances have on dedicated screen junkies.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll have downloaded the Imray chartlet and we\u2019ll be following the actual, seasonally laid, buoys. But on the screen we might, apparently, be sailing straight into a solid green drying bank. It\u2019s unnerving to the first timer, but it\u2019s worth it \u2013 there is magic within.<\/p>\n

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Heading up the River Orwell is always a good homecoming for the crew of Tinfish II<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The moorings at the Ramsholt Arms are a popular spot. We usually go a bit further up and anchor at The Rocks under Ramsholt Cliff, then stretch our legs back down to the pub from there. We\u2019re too big for the visitor moorings at Waldringfield, where there\u2019s another busy pub, but we sometimes anchor just above them. All the way up to the Tide Mill at Woodbridge is too tidally restricted for us over a weekend, but with more time, try to be there close enough to springs to have enough water over the cill to stay a day or two. Especially for visiting Sutton Hoo.<\/p>\n

But we were homeward bound, so on we pressed on into Harwich past Landguard Point, keeping a good lookout for shipping in the channel. We were running out of tide, but with the wind veering south of east we carried on past Halfpenny Pier and up the Stour.<\/p>\n

We anchored south of the channel in Copperas Bay. Here, at last, we cracked open the beers gifted a few days previously by the lovely members of the Humber Cruising Association. We gazed over the rolling pastures along our most familiar and lovely shoreline and savoured the completion of our Round Britain.<\/p>\n

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Snape Maltings arts centre on the River Alde. Photo: Paul Weston \/ Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tomorrow would bring a return to our mooring under the woodland on the Orwell. Then convergence with normality on the muddy hard at Pin Mill where we would unload the dinghy amidst the bustle of visitors to the Butt & Oyster.<\/p>\n

As with any prolonged voyage, we felt the time warp that we had sailed all the way around Britain yet seemed to have set out only yesterday. It seemed no time at all since we had dropped the mooring and taken the last of the ebb downriver and out past the cranes of Felixstowe.<\/p>\n

That morning had dawned crisp but bright and we ran out across the Thames Estuary under just our genoa in a fresh wind from the north-northwest.<\/p>\n

Our course was set towards Ramsgate, but to starboard were all the places that we sail to so often at weekends or for summer weeks.<\/p>\n

The Walton Backwaters have been a favourite since the children were small. We would anchor at Stone Point and go ashore to play \u2013 jumping into the water off the steep-edged shingle or \u2018splatching\u2019 in the mud patch that lagoons for a while at high tide. Inspired by Ransome\u2019s Secret Water we circumnavigated the island in dinghies and explored in kayaks.<\/p>\n

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Woodbridge harbour and Tide Mill beyond on the River Deben, Suffolk. Photo: Paul Weston \/ Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

We walked the long way up to the Naze Tower, or cheated in dinghies up to Walton and Frinton Yacht Club and into town for ice creams. Even now, the Backwaters sunsets always seem sublime and the calls of the oystercatchers aid the transition into relaxation. Just one night there always feels like a chance to recharge.<\/p>\n

On down the coast, past the Naze and along the Wallet inside Gunfleet Sands and windfarm, the anchorage at the entrance to Pyefleet Creek on the Colne is another place for swimming and walks ashore, just a dinghy ride from the bustle of Brightlingsea.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s one of the spots where Thames barges and other sailing workboats gather. The usually stately progress of the barges is a common sight around the Thames Estuary and rivers.<\/p>\n

In racing mode they reveal their magnificence, thundering past under full sail.<\/p>\n

From Pyefleet we might potter across Mersea Flats to the other end of Mersea Island and pick up a mooring at West Mersea. Ashore, a barefoot feel with everyone in holiday mode. Or we might sail up the Blackwater to anchor at Osea Island \u2013 often a beat but helped by the tide.<\/p>\n