Channel crossing

Otter

Otter

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I've never really sorted out a definitive answer to this one. When we cross the English Channel (usually Ramsgate to Gravelines or Nieuwpoort) we head straight accross over the 'banks' as it takes a big chunk of miles off. We draw 0.8m so the charted minimum depth of 5m isn't an issue. I have seen some scary swirling water and I hate it when the shallow depth alarm screams when some weed goes under it - but what do you do about the route?
 
Ramsgate - Calais I used to go round the top of Goodwin leaving at about slack water then take the gravy train on the port beam across the lanes. Gone to Graveline same way too.

Last time slack was a bit early in morning so took last couple of hours of southerly flow down inshore of Goodwins and crossed down towards Dover as tide turned to bring me up to Calais which was quicker.

First time in 21' first boat I nearly got on top of the Goodwins with 4' 6" fin. Noticed depth shoaling in time and went north very slowly (against tide). Since then have kept a back bearing on the chymneys near Sandwich to keep me in deep enough water.
 
En route from Ramsgate to Dunkirk or Nieuwpoort I have often carried the flood tide right across to the Sandettie LV (a Lanby now) then swung left towards Dunkirk West, and along the coast on the edge of the inshore channel. Looks a lot further, but if the wind serves and you get the tides right, the distance through the water, and therefore passage time, is almost exactly the same. And you cross no shallows at all.
As Flipper has mentioned, you have to be very careful of the N end of the Goodwins, the flood runs hard towards it. Ramsgate lifeboat plucks yachts off there several times a year. An awful place, and terminal in bad conditions. Remember, it was called the 'Shippe Swallower' !
 
That's a relief. I don't know why we worry about 'only' 5m of depth when we'd be glad for that half the time here! We've always headed out parallel with the ferry route out of Ramsgate until Goodwin Knoll to avoid the sands and then straight over letting the tide do some XTE. Mind you, first time crossing we gave everything a massive wide berth - the course looked like a drunken sailor at 2am.
 
There's a lot to be said for going over some of the 5 metre banks in calm or moderate weather. Some of them can create quite a popple in the tide, and give you some idea of what they might be like when it blows as well.
 
INteresting topic and for the replies. I used to sail from Ramsgate many years ago, and ended up playing the annual cricket match on the goodwins at low water.

My imppressions were that the goodwins was home to a lot of sunk vessels and debris, much not market on the chart, so I would never take the chance of sailing across them and risking fouling such hazards, which are not charted. Has no one else noted the mast sticking out of the water at low tide???

Going round is prudent, cutting the edge exciting, going straight over...welll wow!!! not for me.
 
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