Crossing the Tames Estuary from Ipswich to Ramsgate

[tudorsailor]

I am soon (June 27th) to be sailing across the Thames Estuary from Fox's to Ramsgate. The advice from various sources suggest timing the arrival at North Foreland to just as the tide turns to flow south. I was wondering why not arrive a few hours later and have a favourable tide most of the way?

Thanks for any advice

TudorSailor

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Buy the book Crossing the Thames Estuary.

 

[exfinnsailor]

All the answers are in the book

Crossing the Thames Estuary by Roger Gaspar of this Parish

Don't know how long he has spent compiling the data but the book has all the answers to every question

So the answer to your question is .. Buy the Book

I would have thought Foxs Chandlery will have it off the shelf .............

Small price to pay considering the yacht ..

 

[tudorsailor]

OK, so have bought the book (yes from Fox's). Will be returning it as I am not brave enough to take an inside route. On getting it home I then read that it specifically states at the beginning that, for wimps like me, going outside the Kentish Knock etc is not covered. The main thing I have gleaned is to arrive at North Foreland with a south going tide and certainly not risk arriving late and be faced with a northerly tide. This is helpful as some sites say one should arrive at North Foreland just as the turns turns south meaning doing most of the route against the tide. If I understand correctly now, I would be better off sailing mostly with a southerly flow and still get around to Ramsgate.

Maybe I should have bought the East Coast Pilot instead...............

Thanks

TudorSailor

 

[exfinnsailor]

Talk to Rodger in Foxs Yacht Sales. Straight out the Orwell. Keep going. Keep Going. Keep Going. Turn Right. Keep Going. Keep Going. Keep Going. Keep Going. Keep Going. Keep Going. Arrive RAMSGATE

 

[exfinnsailor]

Ps. The inside route is good fun. We lift the keel up for the tricky bits. We saw 4 seals last time we went, Turned out to be the remains of Sunk Beacon. Start worrying when depth gets down to less than 1 meter then I know we have a problem

Swallow Tail springs to mind on a very cold day in December 2010

 

[LittleSister]

The main thing I have gleaned is to arrive at North Foreland with a south going tide and certainly not risk arriving late and be faced with a northerly tide. This is helpful as some sites say one should arrive at North Foreland just as the turns turns south meaning doing most of the route against the tide. If I understand correctly now, I would be better off sailing mostly with a southerly flow and still get around to Ramsgate.

The problem is the tide doesn't flow north/south across most of the estuary, and unless you're in a powerboat, the time it takes to get across you've got to take some adverse tide in some places to get helpful tide elsewhere.

Crossing via the 'standard' inshore routes is not overly challenging, except in big seas or poor visibility, provided you keep track of where you are, and make certain you've got enough depth to get over the sands at the relevant times (bearing in mind depths may have changed a bit from what is shown on the chart - leave a safety margin). I've crossed twice, once with a mate years ago (pre-GPS and with aged uncorrected charts), and more recently single handed (GPS a great comfort), with no drama. But if you feel more comfortable going outside, then why not?

I'd recommend hanging on to your copy of 'Crossing the Thames Estuary', though, because you might later feel emboldened to try an inside route (or use it for trips round to the Essex or Kent rivers). I got a copy for the first time yesterday. I can see that it could all look a bit too daunting if you hadn't been across before, but it's really 'just' an elaborate means of taking out some of the guesswork about balancing tides, together with really useful notes about the main routes and channels. If you work through a couple of examples it really quickly becomes demystified and straightforward.

 

[Cantata]

I don't think you need to be concerned about the last 4 miles from the North Foreland to Ramsgate. The tide doesn't run so hard that it's a problem if it's against you. Wind over tide off the Foreland itself can be 'interesting' if it's blowing hard, but only in quite a small area. I should focus on getting the tides right for the estuary crossing amd not worry too much about the last bit.
And of course you should buy ECP as well!