Easter Shakedown Cruise: Blackwater Odyssey
Bradwell Marina
Friday 3 April – Monday 6 April
Bradwell Waterside, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex CM0 7RB
Join us for an unforgettable Easter weekend on the water. Whether you’re a seasoned skipper or keen to crew, this is the perfect chance to shake off the winter cobwebs and enjoy great sailing, good company, and stunning scenery.
Weekend Highlights
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Friday (Good Friday)
Arrive at Bradwell Marina and settle in. Evening meal at the Green Man Pub.
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Saturday
Cruise the Blackwater past Maylandsea, Heybridge, and up to Maldon.
Lunch at anchor off Osea Island, then return to Bradwell for dinner at the Harbour Restaurant.
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Sunday
Sail to Mersea Island for a picnic or BBQ at Pyefleet.
Continue to Wivenhoe and berth overnight at Brightlingsea (or anchor in deeper water for an easy Monday departure).
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Monday
Depart for home ports.
Itinerary is flexible—members will have time to make suggestions and changes.
Voyage Briefing
Monday 30 March, 7–8 PM
Get all your questions answered before we set sail.
Notes for Skippers
Your host: Jonathan Harbourne
Questions? Email: eastcoast@gaysailing.org.uk
This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow sailors, share stories, and make lasting memories. Don’t miss it!
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GETTING HELP TO JOIN US
Skippers seeking crew, and crew seeking boats/berths are initially advised to use our WhatsApp channels. If you are unsuccessful contact the event host eastcoast@gaysailing.org.uk.
Land based participants are as always welcome to join for the evening meals.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
- Register your attendance via the S&CA website by 1 March 2026.
- We have at least a couple of boats already that will require crew – please register or email us, or use the WhatsApp channels so we allocate space.
- Upon approach, skippers will be required to contact the harbour/marina by VHF for specific berthing instructions (please state you are part of the Sailing & Cruising Association (S&CA) Rally.
- You can bring along friends, but remember to ‘add guest’ at the point of your registration. Guests can only be added at the time of registration. If you later want to add a guest and the event did not require payment please cancel your registration and re-register adding your guest. If your registration did require payment please contact the event host.
EVENT SAFETY AND ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
We are very much a social club, but participants must please be mindful of the inherent dangers of alcohol consumption and proximity to water. There have been incidents in past events of participants consuming excessive alcohol and falling from pontoons into the water. Each of these events could, but for luck, have resulted in tragic consequences. Please be mindful of your alcohol consumption on club events, and take particular care to ensure that you can get yourself safely back on board at the end of a social evening. We need to look after each other, so if you notice that another participant is showing effects of intoxication, please make other members of their crew aware, and ensure that they are not returning to the boats or pontoons alone.
Please also be aware of the additional risks when using dinghies/tenders, which has also resulted in event participants being unintentionally in the water.
Please use the links below for safety advice from the RYA and RNLI.
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
The club will endeavour to provide full refunds for event charges when cancellations are made by you through the Website and made in good time. Normally, a week before the event is due to take place will be sufficient.
If the club has made third party bookings, paid deposits or made other commitments, it may be that only a partial refund or no refund is offered.
Where a refund is requested due to dissatisfaction with third party goods or services, a refund will only be offered if such refund is also made to the club by the third-party.
Sailing & Cruising Association
