Aldeburgh, Suffolk
180ยบ panoramic shot from the bank of the estury
Map overlooking the sailing area, and local information
Small.jpg)
Flat Water: YES
Wind Chop: Small
Waves: Not on the estury!
Beach: Mud (estury) / Shingle (beach)
Wind Direction: SE-NE / E
Car Parking: YES (free)
Toilets: NO
Cafe: In town
Nearby Windsurfing Shop:
- None
Local Weather Stations:
- Unknown
Tide Times:
Aldeburgh is located on the East Coast, about 20 miles North-East of Ipswich. Access is via the A12 and A1094. Turn right when you get into Aldeburgh and follow the road until it turns into a shingle track alongside the seafront. Follow the shingle track as far as the Martello tower, and launch onto the estury from there.
The sailing area of the estury is basically the 'Home Reach' section shown on the map, but the sea is sailable too, but usually with a nasty shore-break. If you are a fairly confident sailor, I would strongly recommend trying out Felixstowe as an alternative unless the wind is offshore. Keep away from the mooring bouys when sailing, as they are attached to large concrete blocks that are obviously not good for your fin... You also need to avoid the join between the channel and the surrounding marshland at mid-tide, as the marshland right up to the shingle drive can get covered at high-tide.
Launching area is shown by the red arrow.
Further Information
As can been seen from the aerial photo, you have a choice of sailing on the estuary or on the sea itself. Most people sail on the estuary as there are better locations nearby for sea-sailing (see Felixstowe and Walberswick). The beauty of this location is that it works in one shape or form in all wind directions, and is especially useful because the prevailing winds in this area tend to be offshore.
Aldeburgh is a lovely town with plenty of nice pubs and cafes, so all is not lost if the sailing turns out to be cr*p!
