Moorings in Suffolk coast

The Suffolk coast between Felixstowe and Southwold is cut by three small rivers, the Deben, the Alde and Ore, and the Blyth, each entered over a bar and each with its own mix of moorings. Suffolk coast moorings are mostly swinging and drying moorings in the rivers, with a yacht harbour and boatyards offering pontoon berths further upstream.

The Deben meets the sea at Felixstowe Ferry over shingle banks that winter storms can rearrange, and the ebb can run at up to six knots, so entry needs good timing and settled weather; the harbour master at Felixstowe Ferry, just inside the entrance, can advise first-timers. Inside, the boatyards at Felixstowe Ferry and Waldringfield can help with moorings. At Woodbridge the Tide Mill Yacht Harbour can be entered about an hour either side of high water, and upstream at Melton the Melton Boatyard, formerly the Granary Yacht Harbour, has pontoon berths and swinging moorings, all drying.

The Ore reaches the sea at Orford Haven, at the southern tip of Orford Ness, a shingle spit about 16 kilometres long. The entrance channel keeps changing, is best crossed on a rising tide rather than near low water, and is impossible in strong onshore winds. Inside, the river becomes the Alde as it turns inland past Aldeburgh, and it is tidal up to Snape. There are swinging moorings off Orford, with some visitor moorings just below the quay, and more moorings off Aldeburgh, and the Butley River is a quiet side creek.

Southwold Harbour, on the River Blyth between Southwold and Walberswick, is run by East Suffolk Council. The entrance has a sandbar and strong tidal streams, entry should not be attempted in strong winds from the east, and skippers must contact the harbour master in advance. There is no marina: boats lie on timber staging along Blackshore, on a pontoon by the harbour office or on moorings near the lifeboat station, and some shallow-draught craft are kept on the Walberswick side.