2 yachts aground on the Deben bar in 20 mins

[sailorman]

getting swept to port ( West) on the flood.
The first got off unassisted ( well John talked him off)
The 2nd John White`s mate is hauling off

 

[MoodySabre]

This used to be 1.5hrs before HW then make a run for the Tidemill. Is it becoming a nearer HW passage for the prudent?

 

[Athene V30]

Not tried it yet this season. The chartlett didn't look all that nice. Too much shallow stuff!!

 

[Bru]

Have to say I set course for the entrance with my heart in my mouth and afterwards wondered what all the fuss was about. And we were early enough on the tide to make it up to the Tide Mill before HW

Just check the details, get lined up right and watch out for the tidal set. You do have to get quite close to the shingle but being forewarned that that was the case it didn't cause my overmuch concern

 

[sailorman]

Have to say I set course for the entrance with my heart in my mouth and afterwards wondered what all the fuss was about. And we were early enough on the tide to make it up to the Tide Mill before HW

Just check the details, get lined up right and watch out for the tidal set. You do have to get quite close to the shingle but being forewarned that that was the case it didn't cause my overmuch concern

it seems there is a mark upon the beach as a transit with the green by

 

[Sinbad1951]

Slightly puzzled. Tide floods broadly from North to South tho at Deben entrance the flood swings inshore and proceeds North. Between the red and green buoys (lying mainly east-west) the flood sets you south then north as you close the green.

Where are these boats grounding and where and how can they be set West?

 

[Oldgeezer]

I've been in and out a few times this year.

I stick very carefully to the transit (left of Martello / mid knoll) and always see plenty of water. I aim for about HW-2
It is very disconcerting to pass so close to the easterly knolls (I'm sure if I leant out with the boathook I could nearly touch them!)
BUT I stick to the transit and am not swayed by thinking they are too close - so far so good!

The currents cannot be forecast due to the knolls (I think) but what ever way I get pushed I just get back on the transit.

 

[LittleSister]

It's an ancient tradition to ground on the Deben Bar, going back to Maurice Griffiths and beyond. In these days of GPS, instant multi-day forecasts, and reliable, powerful engines, what else would one have to talk about in the yacht club bar?

 

[michael_w]

Flood tide sweeps to the west, thus inward bound boats tend to push the outward bound ones a bit close to the shallows.

 

[sailorman]

It's an ancient tradition to ground on the Deben Bar, going back to Maurice Griffiths and beyond. In these days of GPS, instant multi-day forecasts, and reliable, powerful engines, what else would one have to talk about in the yacht club bar?

bring back the Meets i say

 

[Leighb]

Flood tide sweeps to the west, thus inward bound boats tend to push the outward bound ones a bit close to the shallows.

My experience is the opposite, outward bound boats tend to hug the Knolls forcing inbound to choose between passing green to green or going aground.
I have always assumed it was a local variation of the Colregs.

 

[sailorman]

My experience is the opposite, outward bound boats tend to hug the Knolls forcing inbound to choose between passing green to green or going aground.
I have always assumed it was a local variation of the Colregs.

These 2 were in bound & from what i heard somewhat inexperienced in negotiating the Deben Bar

 

[Hadenough]

My experience is the opposite, outward bound boats tend to hug the Knolls forcing inbound to choose between passing green to green or going aground.
I have always assumed it was a local variation of the Colregs.

+1 but it is hellish narrow this year, needs a set of traffic lights

 

[sailorman]

+1 but it is hellish narrow this year, needs a set of traffic lights

a tw at was coming in today (on the flood) as we were going out, hard up to the east side before the green & he wanted to pass my port side, between me & the shingle, he had deep water + the tide with him

 

[Otter]

It is narrow this year, but plenty of water in the channel, we draw 4'6" and a good 3 feet under us at HW-3. We shall miss the Deben river but not the bar, it's a right pain if you want to go south as you fight the tide out and then only have a short flood down the coast before the ebb in the wallet gets you.

 

[thalassa]

We went through the entrance last week, three hrs before HW Woodbridge . No problems, as said enough water but rather narrow.
Last time I did this was 12 yrs ago; a month later a friend of my son went with a C&C 30, grounded, and had a rupture next to the keel. They managed to return to Antwerp pumping. The boat was declared total loss.

 

[Capt Popeye]

We went through the entrance last week, three hrs before HW Woodbridge . No problems, as said enough water but rather narrow.
Last time I did this was 12 yrs ago; a month later a friend of my son went with a C&C 30, grounded, and had a rupture next to the keel. They managed to return to Antwerp pumping. The boat was declared total loss.

Can I ask if the HM still does Pilotage on request through the Deben bar, as would be a lot better than running the 'gauntlet' of sand banks, narrow channels, unknown course, other incoming /outgoing craft, oh and the prospect of meeting 'sailorman' on the wrong tack

 

[sailorman]

Can I ask if the HM still does Pilotage on request through the Deben bar, as would be a lot better than running the 'gauntlet' of sand banks, narrow channels, unknown course, other incoming /outgoing craft, oh and the prospect of meeting 'sailorman' on the wrong tack

John White is HM call Odd Times on Ch 08.
There is no sand,only shifting shingle, you do not req pilotage if you pay attention to whats going on about you.
If you in negotiate the Bar successfully, you may borrow my mooring @ Ramsholt for the night

 

[Capt Popeye]

John White is HM call Odd Times on Ch 08.
There is no sand,only shifting shingle, you do not req pilotage if you pay attention to whats going on about you.
If you in negotiate the Bar successfully, you may borrow my mooring @ Ramsholt for the night

You are indeed a generous man, sailorman; yep I know JW is present HM, he and his family have lived at the Ferry since as long as I can remember; as an aside though, I (we) went to the same local school for a while and used to rake over the sandbank for shells and clay pipes, in (good ole) the days gone by
Mind you though, in those far off days, some of the Yachts on the Deben were much larger than possibly now, they had crews (paid) and wore white trousers and caps.
The Ferry Boat transported Aircraftsmen to and fro Bawdsey for the Manor and the foreshore on Bawdsey side was barbwire off for National Security.
Oh and the Deben entrance was very different over the times, at one time there was a way in over on Bawdsey side.
A Uncle used to lay Crab /Lobster pots in the entrance, a very good place so to fish

 

[Cantata]

Can I ask if the HM still does Pilotage on request through the Deben bar, as would be a lot better than running the 'gauntlet' of sand banks, narrow channels, unknown course, other incoming /outgoing craft, oh and the prospect of meeting 'sailorman' on the wrong tack

As Sailorman says, John is always willing to help on the phone, or come out to you if he's free. But the entrance really isn't tricky provided you don't take liberties with the weather, or the time of entry, and keep in a dead straight line between the West Knoll and Mid Knoll buoys. In case you didn't realise, the chart from the Trinity House survey is available for free download and printing here: http://www.eastcoastpilot.com/downloads.html .