CREEK ESSENTIALS
Pyefleet Creek
With only a small number of resident moorings the main channel retains water and is a well-known East Coast anchorage where a day’s sailing often ends with a classic sunset. It can get full with sheltering yachts in a blow, and one or two Thames sailing barges anchoring near the Stone. The further up the creek you are prepared to go, by Maydays Marsh, wild seals could be your only neighbours. With low sea walls of around 4ft high and width enough to tack a small yacht like mine into any headwind the channel doesn’t only cater to discerning small-boat sailors. It’s the home of the Colchester Native Oyster Company who farm these muddy waters and withies are placed all around the creek so care must be taken if choosing to drop the hook. Another point worthy of note is that the Langenhoe Marsh to the north is part of Fingringhoe Firing Ranges which operate when red flags are raised on the sea wall.
Rat island and the Geedon creeks
This is an alternative to the Pyefleet. Firing goes on up here so stay away if flags are raised. If you can, take the ground tucked in behind the shelter of Rat Island, near the splintered bones of old Colne wrecks. South Geedon with a nor’easter or so’wester blowing is the place to get away from the madding crowd.
Colne tide Barrier
If we had not fair tide or strong enough favourable wind I wouldn’t attempt to sail through the barrier as the tall walls funnel the wind or can block it completely. I have had to abort a passage through a number of times in the past because of this.