Chichester Harbour bar depths

[Sticky Fingers]

What is the current state of Chi bar? We’re spending a couple of days in there shortly, wanted to gain the benefit of any local knowledge.

The boat draws 1.7m and we plan to enter on a rising tide about 3-4 hours before HW, a couple of days after neaps.

 

[Giblets]

The best local knowledge would probably come from the Chichester Harbour Conservancy Board. http://www.conservancy.co.uk/contact

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Have contacted them too, thanks

 

[ip485]

Two hours either side of low water is usually very sound unless perhaps there is a very big swell. (PS that is just a rough but safe rule of thumb, you may well get over the bar with less water, but it is usually possible to plan on this basis).

Be very careful to stay in the channel especially the last 50%, it does shoal quickly on both sides.

Try and have a night on the hook at the beach on the right as you go up to Chi. It is a glorious spot, but make sure you anchor on the very edge of the channel as again it shoals very quickly outside the channel and much further from the shore than you might imagine if you arrive at high tide.

With a tender the public pontoon just before Emsworth is also a lovely spot, and even Emsworth itself if you are able to plan enough water to get over the sill.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

The best local knowledge would probably come from the Chichester Harbour Conservancy Board. http://www.conservancy.co.uk/contact

Most recent published survey data they have is from 2017, which shows a least depth of 1.2m below Chart Datum on the western edge of the channel about 80m north of the Bar Beacon; giving the Bar Beacon a 30m berth and following the line of the channel will find a least depth of 1.5m below Chart Datum throughout the approach channel. Link to survey:
http://www.conservancy.co.uk/assets...hichester_Bar_Survey_June_2017-hHAYvV3Pmw.pdf

I spoke to the Conservancy and the Marina a few minutes ago, they have no more recent "formal" info and nothing anecdotal to add. I guess they need to cover themselves.

So - any local knowledge worth passing on?

 

[ip485]

In terms of local knowledge I have been there many times and drawing 1.6 metres and the last time at a low tide (but cant recall how low) we had 2metres at the low point. As I mentioned earlier if you stray even a little out of the channel grounding at low water is definitely possible.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

In terms of local knowledge I have been there many times and drawing 1.6 metres and the last time at a low tide (but cant recall how low) we had 2 metres at the low point. As I mentioned earlier if you stray even a little out of the channel grounding at low water is definitely possible.

OK thanks. Assume you mean 2 metres of water, not 2 metres under the keel...! I think this will be fine, all info I have plus the planned timings of my arrival and departure indicate I'll have plenty of water.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Chimet gives the current tidal height which I have found useful if arriving a bit nearer low water than I had intended.

 

[DJE]

Came out on Monday 2 hrs before low water with 1.7m draft and had no worries. Don't remember the exact depth sorry but I normally work on a depth of 1.5m at CD and I haven't been surprised recently.

 

[lw395]

It's not usually depth of water you need to worry about, provided you stay in the channel.
It can be rough on the ebb if there is a breeze from the South.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Yes I read that in the pilot.

No intention to move in or out on the ebb at all, but might need to enter an hour or so after after LW.