christchurch with 1.22m draft

N

niccapotamus

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 Aug 2013
Messages
559
Visit site
what do you recon. not that we are going this weekend as it looks a trifle windy

but thinking about making an attempt on the solent's version of the Eiger and getting into Christchurch,

Bilge keeler 1.22 (call it 1.3 for safety)m draft

hints, tips, experiences, or just keep orf my harbour advice?

cheers
 
It was our first visit only last weekend in our Konsort, twin keel, 1m draft. We got to the outer channel at about 17.30 on Saturday and left about the same time on Sunday. Christchurch sailing club have got tide tables on their website but don't think it shows the range.
On our approach from the West I Hengitsbury Head about talk a mile off and once round the Groyne thingy I headed for Avon Beach where I I could then follow the bouyed channel into The Run and continued following the channel (don't deviate!) Until the river splits into 2 like a T junction with the Sailing Club almost dead ahead. We stayed at Elkins Boatyard but Rossiters and the Sailing Club have a visitor pontoon and bouys too.
We loved the place and will definitely be back for a return visit.
 
1.3m is probably going to get you admitted the Christchurch Harbour ploughing club at some point :). Once you get in the harbour there is also a bar at Blackberry Point to negotiate, it's some years since I've been in as my current boat draws over 1.5m and I'm chicken. Have a look at the navigation notes and tide tables on CSC website (http://www.christchurchsailingclub.co.uk/?page_id=21 and http://www.christchurchsailingclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Tides-2016-2017.pdf) as they show which of the double tides give the greater depth - it varies between first and second HW over the springs/neaps range...
 
Our new boat draws 1.1 metres but is 12 metres long.

We would like to give it a go sometime-some members of Christchurch Sailing Club invited us to visit in 2014 while we were ordering at the poisoniere counter in Carfour in Cherbourg.

Are the moorings suitable for a 12 metre boat?
 
I should think 12 metres will fit somewhere with enough notice. I'm not sure how Elkins Boatyard allocate available moorings as our friends who moor there permanently sorted out a place for us. They have a 42 mobo which draws 4'3" (1.3m). I can't remember the size of the Club pontoons I'm afraid. Some pretty big boats dotted around the river though.
 
Thanks-I will do some investigations-Christchurch sounds a cool place.

We went into Wexford a couple of years ago-almost a six mile really shallow twisting approach through sandbanks but deep once in the river proper. That was nice.
 
I guess being so tidal restricted has kept it a bit special. It's only 2-3 hours from Poole but it's reputation has put me off venturing in sooner. I haven't checked the tides for approaching from the Solent, but would you be on a falling tide at Christchurch if you caught the fair tide at Hurst? And visa versa for going back and catching the last of the flood heading back into the Solent? Coming from the West is less problematic I reckon.
 
colhel said:
I guess being so tidal restricted has kept it a bit special. It's only 2-3 hours from Poole but it's reputation has put me off venturing in sooner. I haven't checked the tides for approaching from the Solent, but would you be on a falling tide at Christchurch if you caught the fair tide at Hurst? And visa versa for going back and catching the last of the flood heading back into the Solent? Coming from the West is less problematic I reckon.
Click to expand...
Tides not good from the Solent for Christchurch but at least you can wait and go in on a rising tide. Coming back I used to stop off on the IW side, in Totland usually, for a while and wait for the tide to ease off before heading back up to Cowes.
 
Last edited:
l'escargot said:
1.3m is probably going to get you admitted the Christchurch Harbour ploughing club at some point :). Once you get in the harbour there is also a bar at Blackberry Point to negotiate, it's some years since I've been in as my current boat draws over 1.5m and I'm chicken. Have a look at the navigation notes and tide tables on CSC website (http://www.christchurchsailingclub.co.uk/?page_id=21 and http://www.christchurchsailingclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Tides-2016-2017.pdf) as they show which of the double tides give the greater depth - it varies between first and second HW over the springs/neaps range...
Click to expand...

thanks they aren't encouraging!! -

on both the flood and, especially, the ebb can be very strong but rarely in excess of 4 to 5 knots. As a general rule, boats drawing 3’6″ should be able to enter/leave for at least 1 hour either side of the higher of the 2 tides given in the tide-table.
Mariners should be aware that there are several factors that may affect the depth of water in the Run and, especially, the harbour. During periods of high pressure the depth of water could be reduced by a foot or more. With a normal range of only about 3 to 5 feet, this can dramatically reduce the available depth.
 
I was there last week on a bucket & spade car excursion with a 5 year old and took the ferry from Mudeford Quay across to Mudeford spit. It was hightide as we were waiting for the return ferry and I saw some midsized yachts coming in with 1m or so drafts. Their course was interesting, past the narrow entrance at the quay the main channel sweeps south close to the north shore the spit. You would pass very close to the ferry land stage, so close I think some confused tourists might jump aboard and try to pay for their ferry ticket.
 
The old ferries that run from Mudeford sandbank up to Christchurch and Tuckton (not the modern one that goes to Mudeford quay) were built especially for the river back in the 30's - they only draw about 18" fully laden. I remember walking across the channel to the sandbanks at LW springs as a kid and you could walk all across the harbour to Christchurch.
 
niccapotamus said:
thanks they aren't encouraging!! -

on both the flood and, especially, the ebb can be very strong but rarely in excess of 4 to 5 knots. As a general rule, boats drawing 3’6″ should be able to enter/leave for at least 1 hour either side of the higher of the 2 tides given in the tide-table.
Mariners should be aware that there are several factors that may affect the depth of water in the Run and, especially, the harbour. During periods of high pressure the depth of water could be reduced by a foot or more. With a normal range of only about 3 to 5 feet, this can dramatically reduce the available depth.
Click to expand...


The tide only runs at that speed for a short distance at the entrance the draft is marginal. You definitely need to be careful about which day you choose - any more draft than that and, whilst you may get in and out, it'd be more to prove a point as you'd need to get the timing spot on. As L'escargot says there's a bar at blackberry point to consider as well so you would need to time it for being at the mid point bang on high water at some point near springs and with weather that doesn't knock the water level back any. Add in the fact that the exact position of the deepest part of the channel isn't obvious and I'd go in a couple of times with someone who knows it first. Not that many of the berths or moorings have that sort of depth at LWS either so you'd want to check that carefully and book your slot I reckon.

Charlie Rossiter used to reckon that 3'8" was the maximum draft you could get away with in Christchurch, which is why the Curlew is 1.12 metres. The extra 10 cm is OK for a one off but needs careful managing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top