CHICHESTER BAR: WORK STARTED

[ebbtide]

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS No. 4 of 2008

INSTALLATION OF NEW NAVIGATIONAL BEACONS IN THE
APPROACHES TO CHICHESTER HARBOUR

General
1. Mariners are advised that a programme of works is planned to replace and reposition the beacons marking the approach to Chichester Harbour.
2. The scheme will involve the construction of a tripod beacon 2½ cables seaward of the current West Pole Beacon, which will assume the name West Pole Beacon and display the light character Fl.R.5s14m7M, in approximate position:
50º 45´.45 N, 00º 56´.59 W
3. A second single pile beacon will be erected on the Bar, sited midway between the new West Pole Beacon and the harbour entrance. This beacon will be known as the Bar Beacon and will display Fl(2)R.10s10m4M, in approximate position: 50º 46´.03 N, 00º 56´.39 W

Sequence of Works
1. Establish new Bar Beacon. While under construction this will display Fl(2)R.10s4m3M.
2. Old Bar Beacon will display light Fl(2)W.10s7m2M
3. Establish new West Pole Beacon. While under construction this will display Fl(2)W.5s7m3M
4. Remove old West Pole Beacon. The old West Pole Beacon will display Fl(2)W.5s4m3M until its removal.
5. Remove old Bar Beacon

Miscellaneous
1. It is planned to commence work Friday 8 February or soon thereafter. This work will require calm sea conditions and is likely to take several weeks to complete.
2. Work will be undertaken from the 24m Barge Walcon Wizard, which will moor in the Fairway anchorage, within Chichester Harbour.
3. The proposed scheme is illustrated on our website.
4. Mariners are requested to pass the works at low speed and with minimal wash.
5. Further LNTM's will be issued as work progresses and information will be provided on our website: www.conservancy.co.uk

Lt Col JQ Davis OBE
Manager and Harbour Master
7 February 2008

Chichester Harbour Conservancy
Harbour Office
Itchenor
Chichester
PO20 7AW
T: 01243 512301

 

[fireball]

I might just have to have a little look over the weekend ...

I see the conservancy have posted a hydrographic survey from July 2007 .... can't remember when they had the dredging work done ... before or after?

 

[VicS]

The main dredge took place in June and July. A second was made in October "to sweep up the remaining high spots".

See page 19 of the Harbour News and Guide

 

[fireball]

Still quite shallow at LWS then!

 

[Moonshining]

Does anyone know the reasoning behind the new positioning of the beacons? The old ones seemed to make some sense with regards to the water depth. The new ones look a bit random.

It's a shame that the distinctive old stubby bar beacon is no more, too.

 

[Spars]

They used the dredgings to 'replenish' our once sandy beach on the Eastoke peninsula, Hayling Island.
I'll be going out tomorrow so I'll have a look and re-adjust my waypoints.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone know the reasoning behind the new positioning of the beacons

[/ QUOTE ] I don't think i have seen any explanation. There is a bit about them in the Harbour News and Guide (p18) but not an explanation for the changes.

Looking at my first chart of Chichester (1976) it is clear that the West Pole bank has extended further south. In 1976 the Bar Beacon was clear to the south of the drying area but even after dredging last summer it was no longer so. The Bar Beacon has often been criticised for being difficult to spot (in daylight) from far off, although you could, of course, see it long before you absolutely need to. It may well be that it was getting towards the end of its life anyway and would have had to be replaced before much longer. The Westpole beacon was established in 1998 to reflect the fact that the West Pole had extended seawards. IIRC there had been earlier attempts to establish a bouy out there but its position was unreliable and it usually got carried away in severe weather. From 1998 it seemed a bit odd to have the major mark, the Bar Beacon well inshore of the Westpole beacon which is just a single metal pile with a light on it and even more difficult to spot than the Bar Beacon!

I think you will find that all these marks and lights are inspected by Trinity House and maintained to their standards so it is quite possible that there have been some criticism of them from that quarter.

An all round package of improvements IMHO. The major mark will now be the outermost one, well clear of all the shallow bits, easier to spot by day, we are told, and I think a more powerful light at night. It looks as though the inner one is intended to mark the eastern edge of the West Pole being a bit closer inshore than originally or perhaps the shallowest point in the approach.

Looking at the old chart also reminded me that there was, in those days, a sectored light at Treloar Hospital a little north of the Eastoke beacon.

I predict though that there will be a few who ignore the West Pole beacon and come to grief on the West Pole bank as result of the Bar Beacon having been shifted shorewards!

 

[castaway]

I am always amazed how slavishly yachtsmen departing Chi even with plenty of rise of tide sail right out and around the West Pole beacon before hardening up into the (usual) SW breeze to beat up to the Solent.

Given that most of 'em are Chi regulars and even given a reasonable rise of tide and light weather.... very few take the sort cut !

Regards Nick

 

[Victorious]

Maybe some or the locals know just how far some of the sand west of the channel can move .. How shallow it can get in places (even close to HW).. And how hard the sand can be when a wave or wash bumps yer boat down onto it.
But you can cut across.. some do.. very few get into any problems.

 

[fireball]

I got shouted at a number of years ago ....
I cut inside Chi bar beacon on my way in ... in a MacWester Rowan 22 .... stupid thing is, if I'd hit the bottom I could get out and push !!

Now, with a 6' keel to contend with I don't cut inside west pole unless it is calm and high water ...

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
But you can cut across

[/ QUOTE ] A good few years ago now I know but I once watched someone sail in in a straight line from out in Hayling bay through the old swashway off Eastoke point and then across the Winner to East head. Spinnaker set as well. Either he new it well or was a pr@t.

 

[castaway]

I suspect that people don't want to be 'shouted at' like Fireball' says.

In the correct conditions I always 'cut the corner' but always keep a good eye on the depth clock and am not too proud to do a 180 and exit back the way I came.

I should say that this is almost always only on the way <u>out</u> not on the way in !!

All best Nick

 

[brianhumber]

Re: CHICHESTER BAR: Corner Cutter and Sandbank movements

Must confess I was usually a corner cutter sometimes north of the old beacon itself, this was easy to judge cause you could judge the depth by the amount of timber showing on the old bar beacon cross timbers. Have get new markers now it seems.

Sand has been moving south since I first had yacht in the harbour in early 1990s but on the other side the cut off on the East Head side ( leading line approx Thorney Island hangers with Nab) has been getting deeper as nature tries to shift the channel eastwards and close off the current channel at the winner starboard bouys. Coming out of the harbour when rounding the red cans off east head you used to be able to head almost to the inshore lifeboat station , now you have aim quite a bit north for the Fishery south cardinal to get round the gravel bank.
Its not until you look at some of your old nav notes you realise how much things are actually moving over time.

I am hoping to have a Saturday jolly next weekend,present weather forecast indicates will be able to get a feel for things as they are this year.

Brian

 

[Seanick]

On a big spring tide you can easily get over that lot...in my Debutante it was a good trick, and I did do it once with my spinnaker up...and yes I got shouted at!
The 'inside' passage at Eastoke Point is still dooable, but you really have to hug the markers on the groynes for a long way along Hayling beach. With 5'6" draft I will only do this if its almost HW springs, low pressure, low swell, and my fingers crossed. However, one of my customers, whos boat draws 6'7", does it more often than not, and just cranks her up and heels her over.......

 

[castaway]

I have to say i don't think I would take the 'inside inside' passage in my boat.

I'm always happy the take a short cut ..so long as I have a 'get out'. ie on the way out of the harbour I usually cut across the area of sand that is exposed at low water to the West of the channel.

I figure if I clear that, then I'm okay for the rest of the transit over the sands.

If anything went wrong in the channel just south of the groynes one would be well stuffed!

All best Nick

 

[Chris_Robb]

I had a Sadler 25 in those days - and often would leave and return by this the swashway. I think I was a bit wreckless in those days because I often used to just bump over a ridge as you made it back to the main channel. You would be coming in with fireballs and solos - and they always yelled - you can't come here. Oh yes I can! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I have lost my appetite for exploring exactly where the bottom is these days! so use the main channel - real chicken now!