The River Crouch is a marvellous venue for small sailing craft. It is particularly good for protected anchorages, especially for yachts which can take the ground. Most of such locations dry out as soft mud.

Being a west to east river there is often the need for tacking when sailing up-river toward Hullbridge against the prevailing westerly wind. When there are high pressure systems during the early spring, or even into the summer months, one finds the reverse. As the land heats up, wind is drawn off the North Sea.

On those occasions when the worst of a westerly gale has passed, the wind veers to the north west, or sometimes to the north. The river banks shelter the water, but they are not suffiently high to prevent strong wind from reaching the sails, giving fast superb sailing.

The River Crouch is well known for its wonderful sunsets, particularly on those Indian summer evenings of September. Do you remember them?

As river estuaries go, the Crouch needs careful navigation. There are numerous buoys marking a labyrinth of banks, but novices beware, because the effects of fast flowing water over shallows combined with the influence of strong winds can make the estuary a very unpleasant and dangerous place.

There are some good launching sites, but consideration needs to be given to the range of tide which can be as much as 5 metres at Mean High Water Springs. Therefore if one is launching or recovering a boat at Hullbridge or South Woodham Ferrers this is best done near the top of the tide - within an hour either side of H.W.. The ebb can run at 1.5 knots, which for the single-hander could cause difficulty with locating the boat on the trailer. It is best to recover boats at the short stand of high tide which lasts for about 10 minutes.

With heavier types of small craft the Hullbridge public slip at the end of Ferry Road can only be used at high water springs. But this restriction does not apply to light dinghies capable of being man-handled. They are easily launched and recovered up to two hours either side of high water. Beware, however, because the river bed has boulders in it and broken glass is evident. Therefore protection for feet is needed.

The South Woodham Ferrers public slip is long and gently sloping which allows vehicular access. Both the Hullbridge and Woodham Ferrers launching ramps have nearby free car parks where road trailers may be left.

Burnham Yacht Harbour has an excellent concrete slip where dinghies and much larger trailer sailers can be launched. There is a charge for the use of this facility and harbour dues may also be payable.

The Creeksea Sailing Club http://www.creeksea.org.uk to the west of Burnham-on-Crouch welcomes visiting sailors, but point out that their slipway is private and for the use of members.

My favorite anchorages are:

• 1 Just to the west of Fenn Creek in a pool which never dries out, but from which it is difficult to get ashore, although at low water one can wade to the southern bank. This is a peaceful spot, except when racing from local clubs is in operation. (Position on map - measure 7 mm to the west of Fenn Creek entrance.)
  

• 2 To the west of the Fambridge moorings, before Stow Creek, there is a gently shelving area of soft mud on the south side of the River which is exposed at half tide. Either over the mud or almost in mid-stream to the north of it, is usually a quiet spot. The location is superb for watching various wader-type birds, including heron. (Position on map - measure 30 mm to the left from the letter 'R'.)
  

• 3 There is, of course, the mud pool of Brandy Hole, but care needs to be taken not to become fouled up in numerous Yacht Club moorings. (Position on map above - just to the left of centre.)
• 4 Further to the east, about two miles from Burnham-on-Crouch, there is the popular Cliff Reach anchorage. This is good when winds are from north east to east, because it is protected by a bluff of land, but if the wind comes from the west it can be decidedly uncomfortable when the flood runs hard. The holding ground is not too good either, but it is a quiet and picturesque area. Note that the small sandy beach at the east end of the wooded bluff is private and should not be used for barbecues without permission from the local farmer. (Position on map - just to the right of the letter 'h' of Cliff Reach.)
  

• 5 Perhaps the most popular anchorage is snuggled close to the west bank of the entrance to the the River Roach, south and west of the Branklet Spit Buoy. In westerly gales this is totally protected, but there is no easy access ashore. The good holding ground is soft black mud. However, I would advise using a trip line on the anchor. (Position on map - just to the left of 'k' in Branklet.
  

The River Roach itself deserves a mention, but I will leave this for another occasion.

Get-a-map service. All map images reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

• 1 Jack Coote's East Coast Rivers, published by Yachting Monthly.
• 2 The Cruising Association Handbook, available from The Cruising Association, 1, Northey Street, London, E14 8BT. Tel. 0171 537 2828
• 3 The Ordinance Survey Map for Southend-on-Sea, sheet no. 162 is excellent.

  Yacht/Sailing Clubs

• Up River Yacht Club http://www.upriver.org
• Brandy Hole Yacht Club http://www.brandy.hole.clubandyacht.club.ukgateway.net/BHYCWE~1/Homex.html
• Creeksea Sailing Club http://www.creeksea.org.uk
• Crouch Yacht Club http://www.cyc.org.uk/
• Royal Burnham Yacht Club http://www.rbyc.org.uk/
• Royal Corinthian Yacht Club http://www.royalcorinthian.co.uk/burnham.htm

If you would like to submit an account of your favourite UK small boat cruising ground for publication on this Web Site, please drop me a line.BILL SERJEANT All contributors will be acknowledged and articles accredited to them with thanks.

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