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Power boat Camp

March 2009

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• Sea Scout Homepage

Leaders and Helpers from Sudbury Sea Scouts met at the Scout HQ around midday on Friday the 27^th March to help get set up for the Sea Scouts first powerboat camp of 2009. We loaded up all the camping kit and food for the weekend, pulled Kingfisher out of the boathouse and prepared her for the road trip ahead. Jeff & Tracy arrived with their boat Rib TC just after 13.30 once we were all sorted we left Sudbury bound for Suffolk Yacht Harbour (SYH) at Levington.

Suffolk Yacht Harbour is the East Coast’s leading independent Marina, with 550 berth, its own boatyard, Chandlery and Sailing School, their is also a brokerage and new boat sales office. The Sea Scouts like visiting Yachtsman received a warm welcome. This is also the home of the famous Lightship, and is the Club house for the Haven Ports Yacht Club. Once the two boats had been launched and moved in to the Marina we set about making camp.

Mean while back at Sudbury Nick & Richard met up with Henry, James, Sam, Jack, Thomas and Elliott the Sea Scouts taking part in this our first powerboat camp using the River Orwell and Crossing the River Stour At Harwich Harbour. Jack Grant was to arrive later on the Friday night and would meet up with everyone at Levington. This gave us just enough time to check out the ship at Levington before meeting everyone else back at the site. With just a few tents left to pitch we made Hot chocolate before turning in for the night.

After a cold and less than comfortable nights sleep everyone was up and about, breakfast was prepared and everyone enjoyed a nice cup of tea with their bacon rolls. After breakfast, we got well kitted up for the day’s Power boating as the forecast was NW winds increasing to 25mph by late evening, showers at times.

The Sea Scouts were fitted up with New life jackets, and were shown how to fit one correctly, before heading down to the marina to get the first glimpse of the boats in the marina. Both crews were given safety briefings on the boats before leaving. Last job before departing was to call the Thames Coastguard and inform them of our trip, this was done using the VHF Radio on board Rib TC.

As we headed out in to the River Orwell we made our way out through Harwich Harbour, calling on the VHF to Harwich VTS as we passed through the port. We followed our route card that we had planned in advance of this trip. Both Kingfisher & Rib TC met up by the Safe Water Mark called Pye End, before making the crossing in front of Dovercourt and across to the Walton Back Waters. The Walton Back Waters are an area of outstanding natural beauty, and have special scientific interest in Essex.

Titchmarch Marina is one of the most attractive harbours on the East Coast and the marina is situated in a unique spot. We followed the port and starboard marks in to the Walton Channel and call up the marina for a berth for over lunch.

During our crossing, we had reports of winds reaching 29mph off Languard Point and knew that our return trip was going to be wet and not too pleasant.  Plenty of hot drinks, food and a trip to the toilets and we were ready to go and face the elements.  With experienced power boaters at the helm we headed back out to sea and crossed back in to the shelter and safety of Harwich Harbour, after a very wet and exciting trip if not a little too much for some.

Once back in the harbour we made our way back to Levington marina and the thought of the hot showers were calling out to everyone. We called Harwich VTS and the Coastguard to let them know we had returned safely.

Arriving back in the marina was a very welcome feeling after being out all day. The use of the marina’s tumble dryer near our camp site was taken over by Jeff and all the sea scouts for about 2hrs stopping only to go and collect the evening meal; Chilli Con Carne and Jacket potatoes from the Ship at Levington. And before long people were turning in for the night, not for getting that the clocks were changing!!

Sunday, having changed the time on my watch and phone I was sure be up on time, everyone was up dressed and breakfast served by 08.15 only to be corrected by Tracy that it was only 07.15.  My phone and watch decided to correct itself. This meant we saved an hour, so we made the most of this and got ready to leave early and get down to the boats. We departed the marina and headed back in to the harbour to get some photos of our trip as today was a much better day sunshine and blue sky. The Sea Scouts got more chance to drive today as we made our way back in to the Orwell and up the river to Ipswich.

Sea Scouts made a good job of the driving and Navigation as we worked our way up to the Orwell Bridge, construction of this magnificent bridge commenced in December 1979 and was completed in December 1982, by the Dutch company Stebbings.

• The main span is 190meters which, at the time of its construction was the longest pre-stressed concrete span in use.

• The total length is 1,287 metres. The width is 24 meters with an air draft of 43 meters.

Leaving the Orwell Bridge behind us, and the gentle slops of the river banks, we made our way to the port of Ipswich, and Fox’s Marina. We called them up asking  for a berth for over lunch time.  Established in 1927, Fox’s marina and boatyard have been providing a full range of services to boat owners for almost 80 years! Fox’s were integrated into the Oyster Group in 1985, and their New Chandlery shop is the largest on the east coast, and is well worth a visit, by car if you like. We enjoyed our lunch sat in the sunshine, and had a look around the Chandlery, whilst dreaming about owning a Yacht.

We made good use of the facilities before making our way back to the boats. Leaving the marina and heading back to Levington to recover the boats at the end of our weekend away. We packed everything back in to the cars and had time for a quick photo in the marina and enjoyed an ice cream from the shop. I would like to thank everyone who helped make this camp a success, special thanks go to SHY and the Ship at Levington.

Rob Palmer 3rd Sudbury Sea Scouts