Shifting sands stump sailors

Harbourmaster John White says there's often now way in

Huge banks of shifting shingle are making sailing into the harbour at Felixstowe Ferry in Suffolk difficult and dangerous.

Even for skilled sailors getting in and out has always been a tricky manoeuvre.

Now navigating waters round the harbour at the mouth of the River Deben is even more testing.

Few people know the waters better than harbourmaster John White.

No way in

He said the build-up of shingle was now so severe that at low tide there is often no way in.

"In the last two seasons it has been very awkward, mainly because it's so narrow and elongated, yachts have had difficulty finding the entrance."

While the existing channel is slowly clogging up, a new entrance to the harbour is naturally forming. Some boats are using it already.

Trinity House, which is responsible for the approach, has already surveyed the site and has said it will study what changes need to be made.