Bradwell tide heights

[MoodySabre]

Having taken lots of soundings along the creek I was going to make this all complicated with a comparative heights chartlet. But then I thought that newcomers might prefer it to be simple.

Approaching the creek there is a North Cardinal post with a tide height gauge. Leaving that to Stbd you will find that the depth drops gradually until between the 2nd and 3rd red (orange) buoys you will have lost 0.8 mtrs (2'6") from the height on the gauge. Depths then increase and are deepest by the green buoy where a sharp turn to Stbd takes you up through the trots. The lane that leaves the biggest boats to Stbd is the deepest water. It never gets shallower than the creek low point and there is as much water over the cill as there is by the NC post.

So - if you can cope with 2 or 3 feet less than the post gauge then come in.

The silting in the creek is very soft and is caused by the mud dredged out of the marina and pumped into the creek. There is a rumour that they are going to get a dredging rake (or whatever you call it) so they can clear the hump in the creek and make the silt disperse down the river. Don't expect this to happen any time soon!

 

[stevebrassett]

As all my nav stuff is on the boat, do you happen to know the depth at the tide gauge at LAT?

 

[MoodySabre]

Yesterday it was showing 16ft at 1400 and there was still 12 ft to drop (according to Belfield). At the September springs there was almost 3 feet less than yesterday's low so that leaves just 1 foot. That must be close to LAT.

Not many people can actually see it that low!

 

[stevebrassett]

Interesting. I go into Bradwell occasionally, and draw 0.8m. I could probably get in at most states of the tide if I avoid low water springs. Ta for that.

 

[MoodySabre]

My previous boat only drew 2'9" and I could manage most states except LWS.

 

[alec]

Have you gone the back way to St Lawrence yet ?

Some years ago my mate and I laid withies along the route.

It's an interesting trip. Turn left outside of the marina and follow the moorings.

Go at about half flood before the mud banks have gone and you will see the way. Saves lot's of time for a day sail to Maldon and back. Should be at least 2 metres of water then. We used to draw 6 feet at the time.

You've got to do it !

 

[tillergirl]

I had a play with this route on a windless day last year trying to recreate my first days sail on the Blackwater and its an excellent way to save quite a distance. As I recall there was a point just beyond the end of the moorings where presumably a couple of withies had gone or the tide was too big. Good fun! On my first day's sail nigh on 30 years ago, we got taken in from the top by the (then) workshop manager at Bradwell who had done a survey for me. He judged it from the position of shore objects. On the way back the Stuart Turner wasn't strong enough to push us against the wind and we had to turn back and go out the usual way - and missed the tide. In those days there was a line of ships laid up off Bradwell turning with the tide!

Well done for marking the creek.

 

[MoodySabre]

No, I haven't done it. I draw 1.7 metres and thought it would be risky. On a rising spring tide I'll give it go. Didn't know there were withies down there.

 

[ianc1200]

I had a go at Easter in my Mirror Dinghy. I'd go from the creek out into the river several times previously, but at times when the tide was high enough to go anywhere. From the road where there's a dip, and the road signs say St Lawarence/Bradwell (depending on which way you're going) I've seen at lowish tide the creek snaking out into the main river, and this is what I was trying to come in by. This is much further up towards the Stone than the end of the moorings, and was at about half tide. I did get in, but had to retrace my steps a few times, and then came to a point where I could see a line of wooden stakes just under the water, a bit scary. There were buoys (not withies) marking the way in off the river, but I could make out buoys in the creek itself, and nothing to lead away from the stakes.

Up to last year there was a large (50' or so) steel ketch moored at the very top end of the moorings in the creek, a long way up from the rest of the boats (it spent a long time alongside the brick workshop building at the marina being painted, and now I think it's at the back of the hardstanding). An old chap said he built it himself many years ago, and would come down on his bike, and I got chatting to him last year. He said he laid the buoys out of the top end of the creek many years ago.

IanC

(Sea Moon, Bradwell Marina berth A8)

 

[alec]

Hi Roger, Ian and Tillergirl,

Yes Jim (Ferro Hartley design) and I were mates. I laid a couple of very basic buoys and then Jim and I erected one withie which we found on the bank one day.

I got to know a chap form W. Mersea who used to anchor in the creek and said he could get some withies. Jim and I went over there and got them. It then developed from there. It was great fun !

Have no idea if anything is left but I believe Jim is still doing fine. He was a very fit man and was a pro speedway rider.

If you fancy trying it, this is a VERY rough guide . But you need to do it when the banks are still showing :-

Down the creek to the end of the mooring buoys. Fairy sharp turn to starboard for about 75m.

Sharp turn to port thereafter. Longish straight run for about a mile. Sweeping turn then to starboard for about 200m. Then you are in the Blackwater main. Our old mate Charles Stock uses it,and probably new the way a long before all of us.

Best to find your own way using the 'touch and go ' bargeman method , as mentioned, on springs. People sailing in the main river give you a weird look when you 'pop out' and want to know where you came from.

Regards,