Chichester Marina very low water today

[Fenders]

Went down to the boat this morning, planning on a sail to Beaulieu and back. Good tides for the trip. Sorted out the boat, engine checks, etc., etc. Called the lock keeper for a lock out. All ok. Started engine, released the warps and applied gentle forward power. No movement. Tried a tad more power but still no forward movement. Water being pushed backwards so prop ok and no obstructions. Looked at depth display....0.0m.
It seems that we were stuck in the mud on our berth. We draw 1.8m. We called the lock keeper to cancel our lock out and gave the reason.
Apparently, quite a few boats have had the same experience today.
It seems that the last tide wasn't high enough to enable replenishment of the water lost when the lock is used.
A staff member has advised that water is being pumped in and that on the next high water this evening they will extend free flow.

We have never experienced this in Chichester before.

 

[lustyd]

Did they forget to close the gate again?

 

[savageseadog]

It's global warming

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Beaulieu from Chichester, you say. Today? You dodged a bullet, mate. On our boat, in East Cowes marina, we saw 42kn of wind at one point. We didn’t think of going for a sail.

 

[mjcoon]

Beaulieu from Chichester, you say. Today? You dodged a bullet, mate. On our boat, in East Cowes marina, we saw 42kn of wind at one point. We didn’t think of going for a sail.

Funny you say that. Here in Berkshire this morning the BBC forecast showed a wind warning for the afternoon and speeds in black. An hour later after an update all that had vanished...

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Funny you say that. Here in Berkshire this morning the BBC forecast showed a wind warning for the afternoon and speeds in black. An hour later after an update all that had vanished...

All the forecast models for the Solent show over 30kn for today, still, and they were all right. Racing at RSYC was cancelled this evening, still 29kn at 1800

 

[Giblets]

31kn recorded by NCI Gosport at Portsmouth Harbour entrance 16:00 today.

 

[Stemar]

The forecast was 4, gusting 6 today but when I looked at SolentMet, it was a steady 6. Doable, but not what I want for a first trip out, Hope the forecast's more accurate today!

 

[Giblets]

This may be of use: Weather Conditions at NCI Gosport Station

 

[dslittle]

All the forecast models for the Solent show over 30kn for today, still, and they were all right. Racing at RSYC was cancelled this evening, still 29kn at 1800

We did Lymington to the Hamble and fairly flew.. Wind rarely dropped below 30kn but was behind us. The biggest worry was the vis which dropped quite a lot until we made the entrance to Southampton Water. I wouldn’t have wanted a beat though.

All in all an exhilarating sail with very few yachts out.

 

[Fenders]

Before leaving home we checked the Inshore Waters forecast issued at 0600z. It forecast Southwest 4 or 5 increasing 6, then veering west or northwest 3 to 5.
Before we were about to slip we also looked at Chimet which was reporting 17-19kts.

So, based on the above we were happy to go but keep an eye out for worsening conditions with a view to divert enroute. We always have a plan B.

Fortunately for us the low water in the marina stopped our departure, otherwise we may have had to night stop down route.

 

[Rotordude]

Pumping water in you say? Unless things have changed dramatically there is no back pump system for marina top up...I can't imagine for a moment the PML would have coughed up for one. So somebody making it up there. The only water comes from the inward flow top ups at free flow. First thing to keep in mind is the average lock full is around 400K litres over the span I lot more bout 1.3m at LW springs to nothing at all near free flow. Now, if you have a period of time where high pressure, northerly winds (like we've have for most of the month) and neaps coincide and chuck in a weekend the basin level drops...a lot...on a busy weekend morning you could expect it to fall by as much as half a metre...not a problem with a big spring tide the night guy tops it up to higher than standard - you consume the excess water before FF and then repeat the process overnight....but the reverse yep it happens probably 3-5 times a season.

 

[XDC]

31kn recorded by NCI Gosport at Portsmouth Harbour entrance 16:00 today.

My mistake

 

[Boathook]

@XDC giblets posted on the 12th May 2022.

 

[XDC]

@XDC giblets posted on the 12th May 2022.

Thanks, it does look like a useful link … now saved to my bookmarks