Along the South Coast to Sandwich

Ti Gitu gently sailed East, we called in at Portland, Poole, Chichester for a few days. Then Brighton and Eastbourne marinas. These are typical expensive South coast marinas which we try to avoid as there is not only the expense but they are pretty boring places. Brighton is particularly bad, being surrounded by a load of Hooray Henry shopping malls.

The problem with this section of coast is the limited number of places to stop to wait the tides, therefore we paid our money.

After that a rather rolly night was spent in Dover at anchor before coming to Sandwich in Kent.

This is a lovely town, really unspoilt and old. It has a long history and many really old buildings without a block of flats in sight. All the recent developments have been in keeping with Mo and I having to look really hard at some buildings to decide if they were old or modern. Hats off to the planners!!

We had contacted James at Highway Marine who is incredibly helpful and found Ti Gitu a partly drying berth alongside the quay close to their offices where we could have electricity and water. James says that it may be possible for fin keel yachts to find a berth at up to 1.5 metres draft. Call James on 01304 613925 to find out if there is a space for you. http://www.highwaymarinegroup.co.uk/

The entrance to the Stour is ‘interesting’ especially so as the first few buoys were missing when we arrived. Hopefully the harbourmaster will have them replaced soon. The tide was still rising so we used our judgement and actually entered without any problems (apart from new batteries for the pacemaker).

Once in the river it is plain motoring up to the bridge which is opened by arrangement. The current is very strong so arriving at high tide is good. We went through the bridge but just before the bridge is the town quay which can also accommodate yachts. There are good instructions on http://www.visitmyharbour.com/harbours/channel-east/sandwich/

Ti Gitu has spent three incredibly pleasant weeks here and we aim to head off to the Walton Backwaters in a few days.