The River Roach winds it's way from the River Crouch to Rochford, with a second entry point for intrepid shoal draft sailors via Havengore Lifting Bridge.

It is a largely unspoiled and desolate looking area but is home to a couple of boatyards and one yacht club.

Perhaps one of it's best advantages is that the deepest part of it in the region of Quay Reach runs north-south direction thus affording good shelter for deep draft craft to anchor. The River Crouch runs East/West and can get a bit exposed for anchoring unless deep within... ... read more

Only the very shallowest shoal draft craft can tackle the backdoor entrance to the River Roach via Havengore. If coming from the Southend area this shortcut can save a good many miles at sea however.The maximum draught for even attempting this would be about 1.5 m at high water springs, while at neaps there is unlikely to be more than 0.5 m available.

Havengore Bridge and the surrounding areas are under the control of the MOD who operate an active firing range. Permission is required to approach the Bridge from seawards across the sands, and during weekdays this needs 24 hours notice. At weekends however the bridge is manned two hours either side of high water.

Further Pilotage Directions including entry to the River Roach from the River Crouch... ... read more

Anchorages within the River Roach are now described...

As Quay Reach turns westwards into Devil's Reach the best water is found on the outside of the bend, and there is a yellow racing buoy "Roach" moored in deep water that should be left to port.

The yellow buoys found in Roach (and the Crouch) are normally laid from March to December, and are much in use by members of the Burnham yacht clubs during the summer as racing marks.

Further into Devil's Reach Yokesfleet Creek branches off to port (leading to Havengore), while the main run of the Roach continues westwards and then swings to the South West.In this stretch there may be found oyster crates, generally around the low water springs mark and indicated by small green buoys or withies... they need to be avoided. The south-westerly swing is in the area where Paglesham Pool branches off to the North, and harbour authority green and red buoys commence marking the channel in Paglesham Reach.

In the area described above there are a couple of anchoring opportunities firstly in Quay Reach as already mentioned, at Horseshoe Corner just past the yellow Roach Buoy on the southern side of the River, in the entrance to Yokesfleet Creek, and in the entrance to Paglesham Pool.

Further Details... ... read more