Crossing SW Sunk

[Sheff]

Have started a new thread so as not to cause thread drift on the "Crossing the Sunk" post.

Has anyone crossed the SW Sunk this year at the point shown on the chartlet courtesy of "Crossing the Thames Estuary"? Are the depths approx. the same??

Departing from the Blackwater I previously used to cross at the Sunk Beacon until it's demise and have since crossed near Barrow no.6 dropping through Foulgers. With the wind farm work around Foulgers I thought it may be beneficial to cross at SW Sunk and through Fishermans.

As I have never crossed at SW Sunk any advice on the route from the Spitway to Fishermans via SW Sunk would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Paul.

 

[exfinnsailor]

..

 

[tillergirl]

Not sure there is much to add to the other post at the moment. There are three crossing points. The most relaxed as Peter (Karouise) says on the other thread is to cross adjacent to the Barrow No 2. The disadvantage for the only way is Essex Rivers yachts is that it is the longest, especially as the windfarm works probably mean that Foulgers is unavailable and a track back to Fishermans is necessary. Not something you would want to do against the strongest of the ebb in the Black Deep.

Lady Sailor's post shows that there is sufficient water past the ruins of the old Sunk Beacon and that aligns you very neatly with Fishermans Gat. Disadvantage is this extention of the Middle Sunk which is now due north of the ruined beacon and the fact that the stump of the old beacon is still there 'awash' and unmarked. At the moment, I do not know the extent of the detour necessary to pass to the East of the Middle Sunk spur but you will see from the other post that Lady Sailor managed it fine.

The third option is the SW Sunk, well clear of the wreckage of the old SW Sunk beacon. As said before I have not done this yet having launched only yesterday but assuming some settled weather and some tightening of seams (!), I shall try to expand on the existing chartlet. I would be surprised if it has changed much since last year as the trend seems to be for the Middle Sunk to build NE - but that's no guarantee.

 

[Sheff]

Thanks for the reply Tillergirl.

The probable beat against wind and tide from crossing at Barrow no.2 (don't know why I put no.6 in original post!) down to Fisherman's is what I want to avoid.

Don't really fancy risking the Sunk Beacon route as I used to pass quite close to it before it collapsed.

I should be heading that way 27/28th May so look forward to any update you are able to make on the SW Sunk data.

Paul.

 

[tillergirl]

I'll give it a go. At the moment the forecasts are perfect for doing it next week.

 

[MoodySabre]

Just spoken to a friend who came across SW Sunk following TG's deepest line. This was at midday today so about half-tide. He had more than 2.5m under his 1.14 keel.

 

[tillergirl]

Thanks Roger. I am convinced there may be more water further to the South-West but well clear still of the wreckage. I guess we'll see.