Two day trip to Burnham-on-Crouch

Two day trip to Burnham-on-Crouch A night in Burnham-on-Crouch from Suffolk Yacht Harbour with Chris, Ollie, Mike and Len. 1-2 September 2026 Gathering at Suffolk Yacht Harbour (SYH) in order to leave at 07.30hrs The wind was reasonably light but sufficient to sail coming generally from a S.W. direction. We were able to take the last of the ebb down The Orwell and out to Landguard as the tide started to turn in our favour. We were overtaken initially by two yachts and a larger ketch who, like us were trying to hold a course as close to the wind as we could. It soon became apparent that holding that course just meant actually going sideways in Pennyhole Bay, we identified that and sailed a different course heading out towards the Gunfleet Sands. Our intention (which really paid off was to have about three long tacks to get to The Spitway. Taking this route we very soon overtook the two yachts, the ketch cottoned on and started taking a similar course ahead of us. Mike maintained a great course out to the sands before we went about making towards Clacton. Before Clacton Pier we had left the ketch behind and Olli took the helm as we tacked in towards Jaywick before going about and in this tack getting straight out to The Spitway and onwards to The Whittaker Buoy as we then entered The Whittaker Channel with Chris taking the helm. Chris at helm with Mike and Ollie The rising tide remained in our favour but the light changeable wind meant that motor sailing was the realistic option and so we moved comfortably forward towards Burnham. On nearing Burnham a quick contact with the marina, allocated a suitable berth and very soon we were secured following a text book berthing by Mike. Early morning at Felixstowe Arrived at Burnham-On-Crouch Tied up, overnight fees paid and as if by magic Mike rustled up bacon rolls for us all. With commitments the following day it was here that Len ‘jumped ship’ and having been collected by Julie left Mike, Chris and Olli to enjoy a good evening meal in Burnham before turning in for the night in readiness for the return journey early start. Burnham-on-Crouch And back to SYH Wednesday morning in Burnham saw a change in the weather; Tuesday’s warm sun had given way to grey skies although it was still warm. Len had jumped ship last night so it was just Oli, Mike and me leaving the marina at 8:20 on a falling tide and light westerly wind heading down the river Crouch – which seems to go on for ever before reaching open sea. On the way we saw numbers of seals on the distance basking in the non-sunshine on mud banks. Mike and Chris at Helm We more or less followed yesterday’s outward track other than taking a more inshore route past Clacton and Holland. By the time we were off Walton some distinctly unfriendly weather was gradually catching up with us and the wind picked up so we put in a reef and put our waterproofs on. As it turned out we only had to put up with a few minutes drizzle. The wind had dropped considerably for an uneventful sail back up the river to SYH where the sun was even starting to reappear. A great couple of days sail – thanks to all!. Burnham-on-Crouch to SYH