colhel
Well-Known Member
A Local Notice To Mariners makes interesting reading.
http://www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk/local_notice_to_mariners_no_06_of_2018
http://www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk/local_notice_to_mariners_no_06_of_2018
Cowes Tidal stream update
- Thread starter colhel
- Start date
harry potter
Well-Known Member
Particlarly this bit. We were well over leaving the harbour, hugging the reds, but were buzzed by the Red Funnel coming up behind, forcing us out of the main channel. Thought the Red Funnel was having a bad day, but now see the reason for it.
'Small craft should be prepared to alter their heading so as not to be set across the fairway when transiting this area and be aware that large commercial vessels may transit this area on the eastern side of the channel (close to the red buoys) to reduce the risk of being set onto the western shore. In any case, all small craft shall avoid impeding the safe passage of commercial shipping and ferries.'
'Small craft should be prepared to alter their heading so as not to be set across the fairway when transiting this area and be aware that large commercial vessels may transit this area on the eastern side of the channel (close to the red buoys) to reduce the risk of being set onto the western shore. In any case, all small craft shall avoid impeding the safe passage of commercial shipping and ferries.'
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LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
It might be more advantageous to come in from the East end of the breakwater now!
harry potter
Well-Known Member
Hey, LadyinBed, you have a point there! Particularly attempting to gain entry into Cowes at night from the Needles, high tide, when the lights are confusing and that Green moves alarmingly to port, due to the westward counter current. Who knew Cowes could be so exciting?
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Well-Known Member
To come in from the East its good, but since the the construction of the breakwater, the depth of the water has changed, making the East small craft channel more shallow than shown on the charts; this is my personal experience in the last couple of years (not this season) on a few occasions where I should be having 1.5 m below my keel and to my surprise, I was scraping the bottom. Perhaps they have dredged it this year.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
I would have thought, though I don't know as I've never used it, that the way the tide sets now it would scour out the East channel.
colhel
Well-Known Member
The local River gossip is saying the River is silting up due to it not flushing out as much, and the hw-lw stand is a lot longer since the breakwater.
harry potter
Well-Known Member
In view of this, and seeing that UKSA and other sailing schools ( eg Girls 4 Sail) need to exit and enter the Medina at all stages of the tide, including for night passage, what is their advice on this contentious topic? Perhaps there could be a subset of the R Y A qualifications devoted solely to negotiaton of Cowes traffic , not forgetting the infamous Floating Bridge, which is proving Uffaly Foxy.
colhel
Well-Known Member
Well yes, before UKSA, East Cowes Marina was access all times, but now there's (I think) a charted depth of 1.5m over the Chain Ferry chains at certain Spring Tides, one of the reasons the Harbour Commission was keen to pull the Chain Ferry out of service last year. Weather they've managed to resolve it now I don't know. Are they still stopping the service at Low Water Springs?
harry potter
Well-Known Member
Gawd, I forgot East Cowes Marina! 7knot tides on the ebb. We've seen them go past, very slowly.
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colhel
Well-Known Member
It was only for short periods at very low tides and it may since have been resolved since the re-introduction of the Chain Ferry service.
