THE ONLY practicable approach to the River Crouch for most craft is from the north-east down the Whitaker Channel. Coming from the south you buoy-hop along the edge of Maplin Sands until you reach the S. Whitaker buoy and then turn to port across the shallow water between there and the north cardinal buoy Whitaker No.6, taking care not to be drifted south on to the sand. At this point you are almost equidistant from the Blackwater and the Crouch.

In theory there is an alternative and more direct approach across the sands to Havengore Creek. As HW approaches, turn left between the S. Shoebury and Blacktail Spit buoys and head across the sand with your heart in your mouth to the entrance to Havengore, having first ascertained that the military are not using the Shoeburyness Firing Range (T 01702 292271). Once inside the Creek, which like the sands outside dries over 2 metres, you will have to wait for the Havengore Bridge to be raised (same tel). This approach is only practicable (if at all) for shallow draft craft.

Despite the circuitous approach if coming from the south, the Crouch is well worth a visit. The entrance channel is well buoyed and although the long haul down the Whitaker Channel is fairly boring until you are into the river itself, Burnham is an attractive town which has long been closely linked with the sport of yachting. Indeed Burnham is the East Coast yachting centre which most nearly aspires to the kind of blazered boating associated with Cowes and similar places on the South Coast. But don’t let that put you off.

About a couple of miles after you enter the river, and the same distance before you get to Burnham, you will find the entrance to the River Roach opening to port. If the moment suits, it’s fun to divert for a while into the river and anchor somewhere beyond the first bend to enjoy the peace and quiet along with some refreshment. Under the mud on the north side lie the remains of no less a vessel than HMS Beagle, the 10-gun brig in which Darwin and Fitzroy circumnavigated the world in the 1830s.

Burnham itself has two marina options. On the north side is Burnham Yacht Harbour with all facilities including fuel and a restaurant and accessible at all states of the tide. It has the advantage of being on the same side as the town making exploration easy.

On the south side almost opposite is Essex Marina also well endowed with facilities including fuel and restaurant. The pontoons here are on the river rather than in a purpose dug pit with the advantages and disadvantages that implies.

Many visitors to the Crouch get no further than Burnham, but that’s a pity as further up the river is extremely attractive with several low hills, wooded areas and small creeks. Anchoring is possible in some areas and there are two modest marinas. A couple of miles upstream from Burnham, Althorne Creek opens to starboard on the northern side of Bridgemarsh Island leading to Bridgemarsh Marina. About four miles further on on the same side you will find Stow Creek leading to Fambridge Yacht Haven (from which it is a short walk to the well known Ferry Boat Inn). Access up Stow Creek is now said to be rather better than when we were last there, with a minimum of 1m LAT.

© 2008 Yachtpilot