Crossing Sunk Sands

[Gitane]

Hoping to cross from Bradwell to Ramsgate later this summer by the shortest route. This will take me across Sunk Sands.

Advise seems to be mixed as to whether to try it now that the Sunk beacon is no more.

Some say, 'don't go near!!. Avoid the area!!! Best go around the sands via the cape of Good Hope, the Southern Ocean and cape Horn', but other show decent depth north and south of the old beacon, making this route quite possible.

I have a 3ft draft, so wet grass will normally do for depths. Has anyone gone acrosss the Sunk Sands recently. Is it OK to go, or is it indeed best to avoid it and go another route?

Thanks
Gitane.

 

[MoodySabre]

Download currentish data for the Sunk Sand Here courtesy of Tillergirl. This is SW Sunk not by the beacon.

 

[tillergirl]

Thanks Roger.

Got launched today so provided the bilge pump works tonight, I shall get down to check out that part of the Sunk Sand again before long and hopefully expand on that chartlet.

Lady Sailor, a Burnham boat crossed close to the former Sunk Beacon a week or so back and had this to say:

"We risked comming back via the Sunk Beacon on Monday 1.5 hours after low water. No sign of the beacon. We spotted it going down on Friday about an hour after low water but there was only about 300mm of it showing. We crossed on a course of 180 degrees approx 50m to the south of it and shallow part was 2.1m. Returned on Monday over reciprocal course had a minimum of 3.4m

If you take a course of 0 degrees passed the Sunk Beacon you come to a shallow part on the chart which is like a long thin finger. On Friday this was visible with seals sunbathing. It appears to extend further North East than shown on the chart and you have to be carefull to make sure you miss the end. You have to hope your GPS is ok."

You have two issues therefore on the old Sunk Beacon crossing - 1 the stump is still there and unmarked; 2, the NE finger of the Middle Sunk has extended to 'close off' the straight north/south passage over the sands at this point. But there is fair water.

There is certainly a half tide passage 'above' the old SW Sunk beacon. I hope to provide more information before the end of the month.

 

[Athene V30]

My normal route is to take the ebb and head east from Swin Spitway close to south of Barrow 3 and Barrow 2 to cross about 51 41.5N 001 24.5E. Usually aim to be there 1 hour after LW (but normally get there about 1 hr before LW and find no less than 2m below my 1.4 keel). Then head south down Black Deep into Foulgers Gat (if windfarm work permits) or Fishermans Gat.

If it is very bumpy dont try it!

 

[johnalison]

It's probably not the most efficient way, but from the Blackwater we used to leave at half flood, so that it was HW over the sands. This has the advantage that it is quite relaxing, especially if it's bumpy, and you have the chance to observe the depths to plan the more difficult return journey.