From our base on the River Orwell we can provide a full range of sailing experiences in an area which still has a relatively undiscovered feel about it. Yet the River Orwell is only 1 – 1/2 hours by car or train from London and most parts of Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Norfolk.

This is your opportunity to explore the peaceful rivers and coastlines which inspired Arthur Ransome’s novels ‘Secret Water’ and ‘We Didn’t Mean To Go To Sea’.

The yacht Emma is moored at Woolverstone Marina, which is on the Orwell between Ipswich and Felixstowe, 5 minutes by car from the A14 at Ipswich. It takes about 1 1/2 hours by river to reach the North Sea at Felixstowe and Harwich, and, in the other direction, around 45 minutes to reach the quays at Ipswich.

One great advantage of sailing on the UK’s East Coast is its sheer variety. You can spend many happy days experiencing both river and coastal sailing on its uncrowded waters. You can watch other yachts, traditional sailing barges, dredgers, fishing boats, container ships, cruise liners and ferries going about their business. You can glide past the rolling parklands, farmlands and woodlands that border the rivers, meeting seals, seabirds and the occasional school of porpoises.

We also offer days out to give you a close-up view of local events such as the Pin Mill Sailing Barge Match, or the Clacton Airshow. And there are numerous harbours, marinas and remote anchorages to visit, and many villages, waterside pubs, restaurants and shops a short walk or dinghy ride away.

If you prefer to venture a little further afield, the Thames, the Medway, the Kent coast, and the Continent are all within easy reach.