Planned passage to Barry

[Graham_Wright]

I am scheduled to depart Lydney on Saturday's morning tide. It is neaps with only 5.8 metres at Sharpness. I draw 1.6.

Will I be able to safely cross Saniger sands to the channel?
The winds is forecast to be northerly which makes it worse.
Perhaps catch the end of the flood and cross towards Sharpness?

 

[bitbaltic]

Bit sad that the cruising knowledge of the upper channel is now so poor that there were no replies to this question. Did you make the passage?

 

[Birdseye]

Is there much sailing activity at Lydney and Thornbury these days?

 

[Graham_Wright]

Bit sad that the cruising knowledge of the upper channel is now so poor that there were no replies to this question. Did you make the passage?

We waited a day which gave us a bit more clearance. However, the engine died on the way out of the basin and we drove onto the mud hill. Fortunately, a few more minutes of tide and a restarted engine got us clear. The slope of the mud at that point (I checked on returning to the harbour (by car)) would have been catastrophic on the falling tide.

The passage reveals the angriest set of water motions anyone would wish to see.

The welcome at Barry was great and the facilities of the yard, the friendliness and the abundant advice have caused us to stay.

We expected to wash off the fouling and then epoxy and copper coat. It wasn't like that! The fouling was so hard it needed sanding off which took six days. Not having been anti fouled previously, I expected a challenge but not that big a challenge!