If you are looking to charter a yacht in the Medway, Thames or East Coast, why not consider membership of SailTime and enjoy flexible chartering all year round? With SailTime membership at Chatham or Ipswich, you book your boat online and spend the minimum amount of time arranging your sailing – just point, click and sail! Since all UK SailTime yachts are less than 4 years old, and equipped to the same high standard, you can be confident of a quality experience. Membership guarantees a minimum of 6 weeks sailing a year with unlimited bookings within 24 hours. You can sail at short notice, book up to 12 months in advance, and can re-arrange your bookings with no penalties. In addition to membership on your chosen yacht, you can charter boats at over 60 European & US SailTime bases. 

Closer to home we have the following great places to visit:

Pin Mill
Only a short sail downriver from Woolverstone, the waterside hamlet of Pin Mill is a must see and featured in the BBC TV Series 'Lovejoy'. It was also the setting for Arthur Ransome's book 'We Didn't Mean To Go To Sea'. The riverside is lined by old houseboats and a visit to the 16th century pub The Butt & Oyster is essential. www.thebuttandoyster.com

River Stour
The River Stour has a marked channel which leads up to the town quay of Mistley some 8.5 miles inland. You can moor here at high tide, and go ashore to explore the lovely town. A visit to the Mistly Thorn which is mentioned in the Michelin Guide is highly recommended.
www.mistleythorn.co.uk

The River Deben, Alde and Ore
Heading North from Harwich will bring you to the River Deben. With its shingle banks at the entrance making way to an enchanting river that provides varied sailing all the way to the old Suffolk town of Woodbridge with its coffee shops, art galleries and restaurants.
http://www.visit-woodbridge.co.uk/

A little further up the coast are the Rivers Alde and Ore, where the fast tide takes you past the Havergate Island and Orfordness up to the old town of Orford with its historic castle.
www.vist-orford.co.uk

Southwold
Continuing North along the coast, Southwold is a charming seaside town and the home of Adnam’s brewery. Southwold harbour is to the South-West of the town, visitors moorings available on the quay by The Harbour Inn.
www.southwoldharbour.co.uk/harbinn.htm

Hamford Water/Walton Backwaters
Heading South from Harwich the Hamford River and Walton Backwaters were the setting for Arthur Ransome’s book ‘Secret Water’ and provide many navigable creeks to explore and perhaps anchor overnight. Titchmarsh Marina provides visitors berths and by arrangement Walton Yacht Basin can accommodate visitors. Walton on the Naze and the Naze Tower can be explored from here.
www.walton-on-the-naze.com

River Blackwater
Along the Blackwater you can sail as far as Maldon to visit the old Thames Barges in front of the 'Jolly Sailor' pub and shop in the town a short walk from the quay.
www.jollysailor.com

Burnham on Crouch
A few miles further South you can sail up the River Crouch to the world famous sailing town of Burnham on Crouch with it’s annual sailing festival Burnham Week. A walk along the waterfront will bring you past the doors of yacht clubs and hostelries.
www.burnhamweek.org.uk  

Local Businesses

Fox’s Marina & Boatyard
Established in 1927, Fox’s Marina and Boatyard have been providing a full range of services to yachtsmen and boat owners for almost 80 years. The chandlery, the largest on the East Coast, is open seven days a week and maintains stocks of practically everything you could need for boating.
www.foxsmarina.com

Fox's Yacht Sales
Fox's Yacht Sales are main UK agents for Beneteau yachts and Beneteau Power craft.  They are the largest boat sales outlet and yacht broker on the East Coast of the UK with three prime marina sites in Ipswich, Shotley and Lowestoft.
www.foxsyachts.co.uk

Seamark Nunn
The one stop shop for all your boating equipment needs and services. Seamark Nunn have been in business since 1961 and have over 20,000 products in stock at highly competitive prices and offer a secure on-line ordering system.
www.seamarknunn.com

AngliaAfloat
AngliaAfloat is the only boating magazine for Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. Boaters, power and sail, young and old, inland and coastal and offshore; plus "the trade" will find AngliaAfloat stimulating, educational and informative. www.angliaafloat.co.uk