The authors are Colin Jarman, Garth Cooper and Dick Holness. “The first East Coast Pilot came out in 2005 and this second edition in 2008 has given us the chance to update, re-design and revise it,” explained Colin. “The whole principal of it is that it’s a pilot designed to be used by the helmsman as a guide into a strange port or harbour. It is not concerned with the facilities ashore but focuses on actual pilotage information.”

This is a colourful publication with plenty of photographs to illuminate the text and it includes charts for the creeks, harbours and rivers between Lowestoft and Ramsgate. “We all sail on the East Coast and work together on a national sailing magazine,” said Garth Cooper. “We divided the area into three main sections to compile the pilot and a new feature of this edition is that we’ve pointed a series of honourary port pilots such as marina managers and harbour masters. They provide us with up to date boat information which we can then feed into our website.”

The website www.eastcoastpilot.com features the latest updates, news and other information. This is run by Dick, who sums up what attracts so many sailors to the East Coast: “I think it’s to do with solitude, peace and quiet and all the interesting little creeks and inlets. There’s also the challenge of getting across the shallows and sandbanks,” … and of course the odd stretch or two of legendary East Coast mud.