Blackwater to Gravelines

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bromleybysea

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Planning a dash to Gravelines possibly Calais,from the Blackwater. Dithering about going straight across or via a stop in Ramsgate. Brought the lappy home to do some planning and managed to forget the security fob, so am chartless. This weekend the tides are nice and neapy and I could leave the marina at first light, about an hour before high water. Any thoughts about going straight across or breaking the trip in Ramsgate appreciated. If I go via Ramsgate I'll go via the Sunk and Foulger's but any observations about the route if I go straight across would be appreciated.
 
Not exactly,but I can give you a tip about getting in to Gravelines..don't be late and try and get in when the tide is ebbing out of the channel,the water seems to vanish in a flash. I made this mistake and was very lucky to get a rope around a bollard on the moored lifeboat before a very awkward grounding would have happened a couple of minutes later. I spent the night hanging off the lifeboat,lucky it was dark! I should have diverted to Calais of course. Cheers Jerry.
 
Hi
We normally go via the SW sunk and Fishermans Gat, and plan to go that way at the beginning of June.
Will be watching with interest the results if Tillergirl manages to do a survey there before we go.
For the last two years there was plenty of water (we draw 1.4 metres) and the trip to Ramsgate took between 8 and 10 hours. We stop overnight at Ramsgate to get the best departure time to get the southbound tide which gets us off Calais or Gravelines about an hour before HW. We normally leave Ramsgate at HW Dover + 5 and plan for 4.5 knots.

PM me if you want any other details :D

Regards

Ian
 
If you go into Ramsgate, try and avoid the Northern side of the visitors pontoon. On the last couple of occasions we have stopped there, the commercial traffic didn't slow down very much when coming in through the entrance and you get bounced up and down against the pontoon or, worse still, against someone else if you are rafted (we saw two motorboats do this).
The Southern side is better or, just call up the HM and request use of a vacant finger.
Oh, and try the breakfast at the cafe under the archways, and the Italian restaurant up near the Yacht Club.
 
wingdiver said:
If you go into Ramsgate, try and avoid the Northern side of the visitors pontoon. On the last couple of occasions we have stopped there, the commercial traffic didn't slow down very much when coming in through the entrance and you get bounced up and down against the pontoon or, worse still, against someone else if you are rafted (we saw two motorboats do this).
The Southern side is better or, just call up the HM and request use of a vacant finger.
Oh, and try the breakfast at the cafe under the archways, and the Italian restaurant up near the Yacht Club.
Click to expand...

La Magnolia
 
Have done the trip from Pyefleet to Gravelines without a stop at Ramsgate. I was lucky and had excellent sailing conditions and made it in appx 12 hours. I prefer to avoid the palaver of going in to Ramsgate.

Hope it goes well for you.
 
How soon before HW can you creep up the channel to the Marina at Gravelines? assuming you draw approx 1.5m

We are planning to go there next month. Go into Gravelines for a couple of nights... and then drop down to Calias.
I assuming if you duck out of Gravelines 1 < 2 hrs before HW you can easily make it down to Calias?

Many thanks in advance

Ian
 
Ianqv said:
How soon before HW can you creep up the channel to the Marina at Gravelines? assuming you draw approx 1.5m

We are planning to go there next month. Go into Gravelines for a couple of nights... and then drop down to Calias.
I assuming if you duck out of Gravelines 1 < 2 hrs before HW you can easily make it down to Calias?

Many thanks in advance

Ian
Click to expand...

According to my Bloc Marine, entry/exit is possible HW +/- 3
Caution: Constantly shifting sand banks at entrance to the jetties.
East jetty partly submerged.

Access Basin Vauban:
Tidal gate HW +/- 3 (on average)
Tidal basin
As a rule, a minimum water level of 2m at HW
Ships' bottom bedded in mud
 
philiphurst said:
Have done the trip from Pyefleet to Gravelines without a stop at Ramsgate. I was lucky and had excellent sailing conditions and made it in appx 12 hours. I prefer to avoid the palaver of going in to Ramsgate.

Hope it goes well for you.
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It's a good point, it's only 65 miles from Deben bar to Gravelines which is a pleasant distance if the wind is right, though it relies on a fairly narrow HW window at the destination of between 5&8pm to avoid a very silly start time.
 
Ianqv said:
I assuming if you duck out of Gravelines 1 < 2 hrs before HW you can easily make it down to Calais?
Click to expand...

It is not far (10 / 15 miles cant remember) but you will be against the tide, so if springs that is a couple of knots. Can get into Calais basin HW+2 after that you are on the holding buoys until HW-2 next time round as I doubt there is enough water over the sill in Calais on the HW +3 opening - there is a gauge to the right of the opening.

I have spent the night on the holding buoys out of choice (tight fisted!) and it is OK, bit rolly at times
 
Karouise said:
It is not far (10 / 15 miles cant remember) but you will be against the tide, so if springs that is a couple of knots. Can get into Calais basin HW+2 after that you are on the holding buoys until HW-2 next time round as I doubt there is enough water over the sill in Calais on the HW +3 opening - there is a gauge to the right of the opening.

I have spent the night on the holding buoys out of choice (tight fisted!) and it is OK, bit rolly at times
Click to expand...
Foul tide the troll along to the flesh pots of Dunkerque
 
Nice and neapy is not good for Gravelines. Assuming 1.5m draught and on the first entry of the year, then to be safe I would assume 2 hours before HT to 1.5 hours after HT on a neap.

Best depth at the entrance is usually left of centre as you enter, the sand bar normally is higher on the right. Also be ready for the strong tidal set across the entrance.

If you make the journey let us know if the re-build of the town square is complete, it's been a work in progress for a couple of years.

Paul.
 
Realised my post seemed a bit negative, so would like to add:

Departing Nass Beacon at 0530 BST(1 hour before HT) and passage planning at 5 knots gets you to Gravelines at 1930 local time (BST + 1)......... right on HT and plenty of water. This is via the SW Sunk.

I usually make a decision round about the Elbow North Cardinal (off North Foreland) whether to carry on or divert to Ramsgate.

Maybe a bit hypothetical seeing the latest forecast for the weekend.

Paul.
 
Thanks Paul. That was my thinking having looked at the tides properly- Visitmyharbour.com has on-line tidal atlasses so leaving the plotter on the boat wasn't a huge problem in the end. And if you can't keep up to schedule then diverting to Ramsgate or Calais is an option as you say. But it looks like a combination of crew availability and weather will mean that it's not an option anyway. If we have a summer like the last two I think I'll give up!
 
Thanks for all the info....

So has anyone ever left Gravelines and made it in to Calais on the same tide?

Many thanks

Ian

P.S The thought of rolling around on a buoy outside Calais, would not do wonders for matrimonial bliss onboard!!!
 
It's only about 9 miles from entrance, punch the tide if you have to.....
Ianqv said:
Thanks for all the info....

So has anyone ever left Gravelines and made it in to Calais on the same tide?

Many thanks

Ian

P.S The thought of rolling around on a buoy outside Calais, would not do wonders for matrimonial bliss onboard!!!
Click to expand...
 
Sounds like a better plan!
Out of Calais 2 hours before HW - and then leg it up to Gravelines!!

Are there any good restaurants in Gravelines?? or is it that quiet its a cook on board?

Cheers

Ian

p.s Jim... coffee on the morrow?
 
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