Moorings in Essex rivers

The Essex rivers are the Crouch, the Blackwater and the Colne, three tidal estuaries on the Essex coast north of the Thames, together with the Walton Backwaters between Walton-on-the-Naze and Harwich. Marshy shores, tidal creeks and mudflats shape the sailing here, and moorings on the Essex rivers range from marina pontoons behind sills to swinging and fore-and-aft moorings and half-tide berths that dry at low water.

On the Crouch, the Crouch Harbour Authority is the statutory harbour and navigation authority for both the Crouch and its tributary, the Roach: it marks the channels, makes the byelaws and collects dues on boats kept on the river. Burnham-on-Crouch is the main centre, with Burnham Yacht Harbour and several yacht clubs, among them the Royal Corinthian, the Royal Burnham and the Crouch Yacht Club, and Essex Marina lies across the river on Wallasea Island. Further upriver are Bridgemarsh Marina, Fambridge Yacht Haven, reached through Stow Creek near North Fambridge, which has marina berths and swinging moorings, and Brandy Hole Moorings towards Battlesbridge.

The Blackwater has the widest spread of marinas. Tollesbury Marina, up Woodrolfe Creek, is entered over a sill for only a few hours around high water, while Bradwell Marina on the south shore has no lock and can be reached at most states of the tide by all but the deepest boats, which need care at low water springs. Blackwater Marina at Maylandsea has pontoon berths and swinging moorings. At Heybridge Basin near Maldon, a sea lock worked by a lockkeeper, with passages booked in advance, leads into the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation towards Chelmsford, and the basin itself takes larger seagoing boats. At West Mersea, local boatyards look after moorings and the West Mersea Yacht Club runs a launch service.

On the Colne, Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners run a trust port and are responsible for navigation on the river up to the Roman River, between Wivenhoe and Rowhedge. In Brightlingsea Creek they offer pontoon berths, swinging and fore-and-aft moorings, half-tide berths and marina berths, and the Waterside Marina on the north side of the creek is entered over a sill. To the north, Titchmarsh Marina and the Walton Yacht Basin at Walton-on-the-Naze lie in the Walton Backwaters, the sheltered creeks and mudflats of Hamford Water, where Titchmarsh also has half-tide berths and foreshore moorings for smaller boats.