Now in it's nineteeth edition, Janet Harbers essential East Coast cruising companion is due for publication this September. You will be able to purchase your copy here.
This area of the website will show the latest news and promotions offered by our sponsors to users of eastcoastrivers.com This area of the website will show the latest news and promotions offered by our sponsors to users of eastcoastrivers.com
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.
Collaboration with East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion
As part of the continued enhancement of this web site we are pleased to announce an independent collaboration with the author and publishers of the forthcoming East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion.
We have agreed to host updates to this essential cruising guide along with related news items, book extracts and unique features.
An online book shop will also be launched stocking a strictly limited and relevant selection of titles including a selection of books from Robert Simper.
The nineteenth edition of the East Coast Cruising Companion is due for publication this September through Wiley Nautical.
Website up and running
Welcome to the updated eastcoastrivers.com
With the expansion of this website, we have improved navigation and employed subtle changes in layout and presentation which should make this website more accessible.
There are many new features in the pipeline, one give-away being the 'shop' button which will come online over the next few weeks. For now, the most obvious changes are the river specific pages including the sketchmap downloads on those pages. We have also implemented a contact page to minimise the deluge of unsolicited mails we receive and if successful, will resume the email update service.
There will of couse be occasional glitches in the site for a short time so if you see something that needs fixing, try our new contact page and let us know.
Printed Sketchmaps now available
We have just received the laminated printed issues or the Walton Backwaters, Deben and Ore Sketchmaps
They are currently being distributed across the East Coast and so far have been dropped off at
Titchmarsh Marina Office
Westwater Yacht Sales, Titchmarsh Marina
Marinestore Chandlery, Titchmash Marina
Frank Halls, Walton
Bedwell & Co, Walton
Walton & Frinton Yacht Club
Brightlingsea Harbourmaster/Tourist Office
French Marine Motors, Brightlingsea
Morgan Marine, Brightlingsea
Foxs Marina Chandlery and Marina Office, Ipswich
Seamark Nunn, Trimley St Martin
Felixstowe Ferry Yacht Club
Haven Marina, Ipswich
Neptune Marina, Ipswich
Woolverstone Marina Harbour office & Chandlery
Pin Mill Sailing Club, Pin Mill
Butt & Oyster Public House, Pin Mill
Shotley Point Marina
Suffolk Yacht Harbour, Levington
Haven Ports Yacht Club, Levington
Maybush Public House, Waldringfield
Tidemill Marina, Woodbridge
Suffolk Sails, Woodbridge
Atlantic Rigging, Melton
Small Craft Deliveries, Melton
Woodbridge Cruising Club, Woodbridge
We'll be making our way north up to Lowestoft via Aldeburgh and Southwold in the next couple of days.
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.
It is advised that you pass close to the Weir Buoy which is now located closer to the beach than in previous years.
(28/04/08)Deben Entrance - Mid Knoll moved
The Mid Knoll Buoy (Green) has been repaired following recent storm damage and reinstated in a new position.
Mid Knoll 51º 58.735N - 01º 23.427E
(26/03/08) Felixstowe Coastal Defence Works
Mariners are advised that on or about 1st April 2008 Coastal Defence Works will be in progress along Felixstowe Beach from the vicinity of Languard Fort to 200 metres north east of Felixstowe Pier.
This will involve beach replenishment and groyne construction for a period of approximately four months. The beach replenishment works will involve pumping shingle supplied by the dredgers Sand Harrier and Sand Weaver via a moored booster station Sliedrecht 27 through a 1.1n mile pipeline to Felixstowe beach.
The booster station Sliedrecht 27 will be moored in position 51º 56’.11N 001º 21’.60E and will display the lights and shapes as required by the Collision Regulations and maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 71. Work craft and marked anchors will be encountered with in the vicinity of the Sliedrecht 27. Click here to download the relevant notice to mariners from the Harwich Haven Authority website
Thanks to Leighb forum member for informing us.
Thank you Woodbridge Cruising Club
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 
At the end of 2008, Oliver Hicks will attempt to become the first person to row solo around the world.
As part of the continued enhancement of this web site we are pleased to announce an independent collaboration with the author and publishers of the forthcoming East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion.
