Crouch to Blackwater

[Bristolfashion]

Just planning this trip and debating the Ray Sand channel vs Spitway. Anyone got any recent experience?

We have the charts, East Coast Pilot etc.

Sorry - 29' bilge keeler drawing 1.1m.

 

[MoodySabre]

I wouldn't think of going any other way than the Raysand.
I draw 1.7m and plan to get there a couple of hours before HW so as to have some helpful tide once you get through. You could do three hours before HW. This means plugging the tide out to the Rays'n buoy or doing it on a falling tide (not my idea of relaxed!).
Look here for Tillergirl's survey Downloads

 

[Bristolfashion]

I wouldn't think of going any other way than the Raysand.
I draw 1.7m and plan to get there a couple of hours before HW so as to have some helpful tide once you get through. You could do three hours before HW. This means plugging the tide out to the Rays'n buoy or doing it on a falling tide (not my idea of relaxed!).
Look here for Tillergirl's survey Downloads

Thank you.

 

[Bristolfashion]

And to conclude this thread, we did this passage very successfully today. Left Burnham at HW-4.5, motored out against flow then turned across at Buxey No2 at HW -2.5. Sailed very slowly at first, but good depths all the way AND the wind came up!

As we were heading for the Colne, we steered a bit more East than the chartlet, without issues.

Tomorrow,the maintenance posts at Brightlingsea, 'cos we really clonked something on the trip over!

 

[tillergirl]

Clonked where? Over the Knoll?

 

[Bristolfashion]

Clonked where? Over the Knoll?

No, South of there before starting the run across the drying land Something in the water rather than hitting the bottom - just past the red & green which are to the west of buxey No 2 - I'm suspecting a rope which was cut by the rope stripper but has remained partially attached, but it could be a bit of wood, pot or something else. Hopefully we'll find out on the posts tomorrow.

Position approx : 51.38.882N 0.59.173E

 

[tillergirl]

Bad luck. Not a place I would expect anything. The posts at Brightlingsea are probably the best on the coast.

 

[Daydream believer]

If you are a bilge keeler you do not need to go against poles. You could beach just in front of Stone sailing club on the hard.( if you are in the Blackwater & want to save time going to Brightlingsea) We beach boats for recovery/launching all the time & it is perfectly safe if you do not have an onshore wind. Just nose into the shore & keep the engine in tickover for 15 mins as the tide drops & you will settle quite easily square to the shore. The slope is concrete for the first part & shallows out at mid tide & then is slowly sloping sand. No need for ropes, anchors etc.