navrep
Active Member
Not done this sail this way before, thinking of going this Saturday, but wondering how lumpy the wind over the tide might be through Wallet? What is your experience? Thanks
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Blackwater to Orwell
- Thread starter navrep
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PeterWright
Well-Known Member
Hi,
Like any other water, the Wallet gets a bit lumpier with wind over tide, but its a fairly friendly bit of water in anything up to F6. As with the whole East Coast, it's best to work the tides, so plan to be at Stone Banks, or thereabouts at low water - same rule for the homeward passage. Keep a good look out for often poorly marked fish traps, particularly when you get past Walton Pier.
Peter.
Like any other water, the Wallet gets a bit lumpier with wind over tide, but its a fairly friendly bit of water in anything up to F6. As with the whole East Coast, it's best to work the tides, so plan to be at Stone Banks, or thereabouts at low water - same rule for the homeward passage. Keep a good look out for often poorly marked fish traps, particularly when you get past Walton Pier.
Peter.
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nigelm
Well-Known Member
Leave the blackwater around 10:30 ish , keep the land on the left , as Pete says watch out for pot markers , don’t cut the corner to much after the Naze and keep out the way of big ships
Have a great day !
Have a great day !
Malish
Well-Known Member
There has been the occasional drift net set in the Wallet, variably monitored by a fishing boat and usually during the working week. Not something to be overly worried about but worth keeping the VHF on as there will be some chatter if there is one out there.
WF36
Well-Known Member
Also on AIS I believe
johnalison
Well-Known Member
The Wallet should be no problem to anyone accustomed to going round Cape Horn. A lot depends on the boat. Anything much under 30ft will tend to find the waves a problem if on the nose and F5 or more, but there is plenty of current and you will eventually get there. The current seems to change about 1/2hr before L or HW at Walton pier but otherwise is predictable. A passage close inshore can be useful for smaller boats in the Wallet, when the waves will be less but there are some shallows south of Clacton.
As well as pot markers off the Naze there are also sometimes some inside and outside the Harwich breakwater mostly close in. Going into the Orwell you may wish to follow close to the yacht track and pass north of the yacht cardinal buoy, but this is not necessary above half tide.
As well as pot markers off the Naze there are also sometimes some inside and outside the Harwich breakwater mostly close in. Going into the Orwell you may wish to follow close to the yacht track and pass north of the yacht cardinal buoy, but this is not necessary above half tide.
Marmalade
Well-Known Member
You may wish to observe the navigation marks. Don't sail into Thirslet spit, Cocum Hills, Colne Bar, the Eagle etc. the buoys will keep you safe...
nigelm
Well-Known Member
Minor details ...?
Tomahawk
Well-Known Member
If you do bump the putty, don't forget to prepare a full incident log in preparation for the forthcoming Marine Guidance Note.
navrep
Active Member
Thanks all - happy with my passage plan - head East then North then West (roughly) 
Was just concerned on the wind over tide bit as will have a novice sailor with me. I see the forecast is currently down to a light puff so less to be concerned about.
Was just concerned on the wind over tide bit as will have a novice sailor with me. I see the forecast is currently down to a light puff so less to be concerned about.
Leighb
Well-Known Member
Not forgetting the Harwich Shelf buoy inside the harbour. A lot of yachts have done so over the years and spent some time regretting it, as you will be coming with the ebb the tide will be lowish when you get there, so very important!
PeterWright
Well-Known Member
Not that it's an excuse to miss the Shelf buoy, but if you follow my advice to go for LW at Stone Banks, the flood will be set by the time you get to the Shelf.
Peter.
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johnalison
Well-Known Member
There won't be much water over the shelf in the hour it might take from Stone Banks. I regard it as a half-tide passage, though I will happily cut inside the buoy.
North of the Naze, the whole area is pretty flat and although there are shallows there aren't any that should catch you out if you have a sounder on.
Marmalade
Well-Known Member
The shelf is seductive as you see the harbour opening out before you!
I always think...
Stone banks - Languard Point and follow the yacht track. I admit I cut the corners and trespass in the deep water channel but not when anything's moving in there!
You can flirt with the shallows as much as your nerves allow... when we're day sailing we play fast and loose with the depth. At the end of a long sail, when you're tired, I find following the channel leaves the brain free to do other things!
I always think...
Stone banks - Languard Point and follow the yacht track. I admit I cut the corners and trespass in the deep water channel but not when anything's moving in there!
You can flirt with the shallows as much as your nerves allow... when we're day sailing we play fast and loose with the depth. At the end of a long sail, when you're tired, I find following the channel leaves the brain free to do other things!
johnalison
Well-Known Member
I must be something of a flirt in that case. The only place around there that I am cautious of is just off the Naze, where depths can change by nearly a metre in a short distance, presumably due to wave/current action on the bottom. The other easy short cut is to No 2 buoy into the Backwaters coming from the south, which you can do at all but low water, when you wouldn't be there anyway. West of No 2 is a bit shallower but passable near HW.
Aquaboy
Well-Known Member
I think this Saturday you will find the wind right on the nose so allow plenty of time.
If you are late off Walton pier you'll find the flood rushing around the Naze at quite a rate. I would leave as early a poss. as it would be better to be off Dover Court early rather than latter. I've done the trip both ways in the Drascombe several times tho as I haven't a lot of weight to punch upwind I don't suppose I would bother this weekend. (unless had to)
If you are late off Walton pier you'll find the flood rushing around the Naze at quite a rate. I would leave as early a poss. as it would be better to be off Dover Court early rather than latter. I've done the trip both ways in the Drascombe several times tho as I haven't a lot of weight to punch upwind I don't suppose I would bother this weekend. (unless had to)
navrep
Active Member
For those interested in my original query the wind over tide was a non issue both on the way up and the way back.
I had a lovely trip, albeit longer in the way home due to fight the tide, but I knew this from my passage planning.
I had a lovely trip, albeit longer in the way home due to fight the tide, but I knew this from my passage planning.
