Any sand?

[Pye_End]

Whitstable, Tankerton, Herne Bay, all sand. If you come out of the Medway on the ebb then you will get to most of these places with less than half tide, so if you want to be near the shoreline you will need to wait till it comes back in. Anchor holding is decent (with new gen or something like a Danforth type) whilst you wait. Herne Bay, at the Hampton Pier end, there are a few small lumps of rock in the sand, so if you went for that end you will need to take a little care. Not many, so little chance of landing on them, but even so you will probably not want to dry out on one. Mid bay to the pier side is good (there is a rock sea defence right next to the pier). Bottom is sometimes a little soft for a few yards near the shingle, but not deep and not only a few yards.

 

[stu9000]

Whitstable, Tankerton, Herne Bay, all sand. If you come out of the Medway on the ebb then you will get to most of these places with less than half tide, so if you want to be near the shoreline you will need to wait till it comes back in. Anchor holding is decent (with new gen or something like a Danforth type) whilst you wait. Herne Bay, at the Hampton Pier end, there are a few small lumps of rock in the sand, so if you went for that end you will need to take a little care. Not many, so little chance of landing on them, but even so you will probably not want to dry out on one. Mid bay to the pier side is good (there is a rock sea defence right next to the pier). Bottom is sometimes a little soft for a few yards near the shingle, but not deep and not only a few yards.

Very useful. Thanks.

At what point does the sand give way to mud along the beach at whitstable? Hard to measure I know but if you were looking at the beach at low tide.?

 

[stu9000]

What about Southend beach half a mile or so east of the pier, miles of flat hard sand, close to where you're based, just chose the weather, but there's loads of BKs moored there all summer so i assume by the time they're touching they are sheltered by half a mile of sand to windward in a southerly.

Thanks. Looks like a good option .

 

[Pye_End]

Very useful. Thanks.

At what point does the sand give way to mud along the beach at whitstable? Hard to measure I know but if you were looking at the beach at low tide.?

I havn't anchored there, but walking round at low water, there are softer patches (perhaps worse early in the season?), but I can't recall anything particularly gloopy. Cantata probably knows that section better for drying out.

 

[Lucky Duck]

I think you are confused. Brightlingsea is on the Colne and the beach north of Bradwell is called Mersea Island

Brightlingsea is indeed on the Colne and while Mersea Island is North of Bradwell Power station so is the adjacent shore line

 

[MikeBz]

Very useful. Thanks.

At what point does the sand give way to mud along the beach at whitstable? Hard to measure I know but if you were looking at the beach at low tide.?

It seems pretty firm all the way down to LW mark in front of the Yacht club - fine for launching dinghies without a hint of the trolley wheels sinking in.

 

[CalicoJack]

A couple of times last year I saw a bilge Keeler dried out on the N. bank just down stream from Medway YC. There is a bit by the fallen pill box that they were using.

 

[Cantata]

You could sit on the old barge hard at Whitstable, in front of the yacht club, about 25m SW of the club-racing distance pole. This is compacted shingle over mud, so no sand. I scrub there most years.
At Herne Bay, I suggest in front of Herne Bay SC, at the East Cliff. You'd sit on hard sand there.
But with either place I would strongly recommend you pay a visit by road first at LW so you can pick your spot. And needless to say you need to pick quiet weather.

 

[stu9000]

Thanks very much. Lots here for me to cogitate on. Ybw does it again.

 

[Spuddy]

Stu, you could use your membership of HNYC and go on the scrubbing dock - use of petrol jet washer included. Not that adventurous though and good to have a mission for a passage. Ages ago I went onto the Margate sands, the kids played footie and we had a wade next to the seals (making sure not to get between them and the sea). Needs the right weather of course. I've heard of cricket match on Shivering Sands but I rather fancy a picnic instead; need to recruit my chum with lift keel as 5'6" fin on mine won't allow