This beautiful river is home to much wildlife and leads to the National Trust's site at Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge. On this trip we will sail from Burnham to historic Harwich before heading the short distance north east to the Deben entrance. After meandering up this lovely river, perhaps anchoring for lunch at a secluded anchorage, we will enjoy an evening ashore in picturesque Woodbridge before making the journey back to the home of East Coast sailing - Burnham. The Deben Estuary is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest; Special Protection Area; and as part of the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Over the 9 miles covering the tidal stretch of the Deben between Felixstowe Ferry at the mouth of the river and Wilford Bridge north of Woodbridge,  the landscape of the estuary ranges through coastal levels, saltmarsh and intertidal flats to estate sandlands.

The estuary mouth is the narrowest section and is protected by the presence of shifting shingle banks or knolls which make this an interesting bit of pilotage.

To get a flavour of our wonderful sailing area and understand why, once visited, many sailors never leave, you can immerse yourself in this wonderful book.

'The Magic of the Swatchways was Maurice Griffiths' favourite book. In the words of John Leather, "few sailing books become classics like this one", and since first publication in 1932 it has lost none of that fresh charm which has endeared it to so many generations of sailing'.