Marinas:
The Ipswich Haven Marina (see the photo taken by SY Suwena) and Neptune Marina have now joined together to form the "Ipswich Beacon Marina".
This marina is accessed via a lock - see lock FAQs.
There is a waiting pontoon on the west side of the entrance if needed. When in the marina and intending to leave, most locals will request lock-out before leaving the dock: occasionally it takes a few minutes to cycle the locks. There is also a waiting pontoon to the west of the lock, but local workboats are tied up nearby and it might be hard to see. See more information here.
There are plenty of other marinas to choose from in the area, as well as several anchorages and buoys on the way up the river. But, beware, most of them dry and East Coast mud is notoriously sticky! The river is also home to the well-known "Butt and Oyster" pub at Pin Mill, as well as several traditional sailing barges.
All marinas have 24 hr access.
Last updated: March 2024
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
As a free user of Noonsite you are restricted to viewing 3 country formalities per month. You have viewed 0 formalities this month – but can view the countries you have accessed to date as many times as you want.
Become a Noonsite Member and you can view unlimited formalities each month and enjoy additional member benefits. Membership fees help our team keep country formalities information up-to-date in support of cruisers worldwide.
Find out more about membership levels and Become a Noonsite Member.
Leave a comment
You must Login or Register to submit comments.
Posted on behalf of SV Proteus – Comments on Marinas in Ipswich:
RE: Fox’s Marina. Great marina, but is usually completely full even in the middle of the winter. There is also a pub on site and a hotel directly across the road. While access is available at all tides, some larger yachts (>40ft) might find it difficult to manoeuvre while the tide is out.
RE: Suffolk Yacht Harbour: New dredging operations going on there this winter. Occasionally docks will be out of service or moved. They expect the dredging operations to be complete before Spring 2015 sailing season begins. There is also the venerable East Anglian Sea School on site, which might be worth mentioning.
Posted on behalf of SV Proteus – Prince Philip Lock details:
Because large warships, container ships, and tall ships occasionally use this lock, there is a removable floating pontoon inside the lock. The pontoon makes it very easy for smaller craft or moderately-sized yachts to tie up, which is VERY necessary due to the intense surge while locking through. If you must lock through while this pontoon is out, there is almost no way for a small-ish yacht to tie up to the wall beside the bare chains that normally hold the floating pontoon. I would advise a copious number offenders and hold on tight: the water entering the lock can make the boat shift violently.
In winter 2014 we were wintering in Ipswich and this place is perfect for keeping the boat overwinter in the UK. Ipswich is located ten miles up the river Orwell and this makes it well sheltered even during the most fierce winter storms. We stayed in Ipswich Haven Marina that is located near the city centre. The supermarkets and many restaurants/pubs are all within walking distance.
For boat repairs and upgrades, we were spoilt by choice. After all, both the Oyster Yachts and Fairline boats are commissioned in Ipswich. Any kind of imaginable boat service company is available and local vendors are more than happy to visit the boat or pick you up for getting the business. The easiest is probably just to ask the marina office for contacts. For repairs, we can warmly recommend Fox’s Marina. They really made a professional job for us. There is an excellent chandlery as well.
Andrus
S/Y Suwena – http://www.suwena.net