Crouch to Maldon help

[NUTMEG]

Hi chaps,

I have bought a new (30 years old) boat. A Mk1 Crabber, gaff rigged and very pretty, if a little tatty. Alexandros is up for sale, £4500 ovno by the way.

The problem is this. Our home berth at Maldon is only accessible about an hour or so either side of HW for total peace of mind in a strange boat. The Crabber is in the yacht harbour on the R Crouch.

Plan A was to leave the marina at HW and take the ebb out to the Swin, short run north then catch the flood up the Blackwater to arrive around HW. 35ish miles. Then I got to thinking about the Ray Sand. The Crabber draws about 2.5 feet with the plate up. I don't fancy the Ray Sand on a falling tide, but that would mean a night at Bradwell to catch the flood up to Maldon.

So what route would the panel choose. When to leave? Overnight stop? Available daylight?

All thoughts very welcome.

Steve

 

[Laurin]

Out to the spitway, back up to Maldon with the tide, or at least that's what we've always done.

 

[MoodySabre]

Raysan everytime - especially with short and cold days.

Chartlet here from TG.

I might get tempted with a night in Bradwell - the days are getting very short.

Fair winds with the new boat (name?) and with the sale of Alexandros - plenty of evidence that she sails well.

 

[tillergirl]

Steve

26nm via the Ray Sand, 33 via the Spitway, 7.5nm from the marina entrance to the Ray Sand buoy. It's kind of aukward because you could leave the marina 2 hrs before HW and fight the last of the tide down to the Ray Sand getting there around HW if you can average 4kts over the tide and then there would be ample water on springs to cross the RS on a falling tide, once clear of the northern RS buoy, aim for the 1 degree line and follow it up until you get to the Blackwater, just over 5nm. And there you are in the Blackwater with loads of ebb against you and no water at Maldon even if you could make it up there agains the ebb. Take the ebb down to the Spitway - nice sail, arrive at the Spitway at LW (ample water there for you) and take the flood all the way to Maldon and you have tide all the way and very satisfying but you won't do it all in daylight in winter. First sail in a new craft, I would be tempted to do it all in daylight via Ray Sand and creep over the edge of the Dengie to cheat the tide into Bradwell to wait for the next day. Pick a day with midday tides for Springs, leaving Burnham at a reasonable time to get to the Ray Sand at HW and you'll be in Bradwell by dusk - should be enough water to get in the creek. Leave Bradwell at daybreak the next day to get to Maldon with the flood. All sorts of assumptions in there of course about weather, suitable wind etc.

 

[NUTMEG]

Thanks chaps

As Charles Stock would have said 'work the tides'. New boat and new rig, I think perhaps the longer route out to the Spitway and a night at Bradwell might be prudent. Now need to watch those forecasts!

She is called Tangle at the moment, previosly she was Mistress Puff but I really don't like either. Waiting for that spark of inspiration, perhaps name her after the missus. Lady Jayne? Or something Aubreyish, Nutmeg or Lively I have always liked. Surprise might be a bit grand.

 

[nigelm]

A nice short sail , across Ras'n and into Bradwell got to be favourite this time of year , do as TG says and leave Byh couple hrs before Hw and it be a easy trip , I did it Bradwell to Byh in 4 hrs in my Pegasus 700 once

 

[nortonmotors]

She is called Tangle at the moment

I remember Tangle!
Old Gaffers Race, about 2005 from a Brightlingsea start, first mark was Colne #8 starboard and then up-river to the Molliette, perhaps.
Tangle was inside me as we turned at the mark and a smack ('unknown' to protect the innocent) made a late charge up the inside of Tangle. That smack then poked his bowsprit under the boom of one that had already turned - and there was chaos, literally a tangle of boats. John P., helming Tangle, got a bit of a squeeze between me and the errant smack.
A bit of shouting between smacksmen, naturally, but no damage done.

 

[stuey_two]

A Burnham sailor told me that when the tide is against him, he keeps very close (like 20 yards out) to the north bank of the Crouch east of Burnham.
He said that instead of fighting a 2 or 3 knot current, there is often very little current and that what there is can be favourable.
Can any forumites confirm this - if it is true it could be very helpful to Steve on his delivery trip.

 

[tidclacy]

Steve if you need any help in going round to Maldon more than willing to volunteer. Have done that trip via the Ray Sand many times and now with the safe water marks it is quite easy.

I would agree the North side of the river Crouch is best to stay out of the tide.

The other alternative is to take a slight detour and either go into Brightlingsea or anchor off.

Looking forward to reading about your exploits in the new boat.

 

[NUTMEG]

What lovely people...

... You all are. I really appreciate the advice and offers of help. I will sit down with almanack and chart this eve and pencil in some suitable dates.

Spent spent last night from midnight until 06:00 in A&E with the missus. Thought we were dealing with a heart attack but not so serious. She seems a bit better now and I feel this is a poor excuse to avoid scraping the old paint off of the boat. I even offered her some overalls!

Thanks chaps.

Steve

 

[Burnham Bob]

If you can get through the Raysand Channel on the falling tide it is shorter. I use the tidal curve for Bradwell to see the clearance I would have over the Raysand, but I always feel happier comig back from the Blackwater to the Crouch as I'm on a rising tide and the tide helps me all the way apart from a bit of adverse tide going east from Bradwell. at least I know I'm safe if I go aground but with the new buoys and the chartlet, finding the best water is now quite easy and the Raysand is a viable half tide route going north.

if you do stop at Bradwell, the Green Man was good last time we eat there.

 

[tillergirl]

It occurs to me Steve, that if you are worried about being late at the Ray Sand, i.e. being able to get over the Ray Sand at a reasonable time but then worried about loosing water over the 1 degree line, that there is always the Knoll Swatchway to use. Essex Lad and I have used it a couple of times 'just because it was there' and it is and provides a short cut from having to go round the Knoll if you are late on the tide.

 

[chinita]

... You all are. I really appreciate the advice and offers of help. I will sit down with almanack and chart this eve and pencil in some suitable dates.

Spent spent last night from midnight until 06:00 in A&E with the missus. Thought we were dealing with a heart attack but not so serious. She seems a bit better now and I feel this is a poor excuse to avoid scraping the old paint off of the boat. I even offered her some overalls!

Thanks chaps.

Steve

There's your name 'Ayane'.

 

[NUTMEG]

Like it...

Gave me a grin, thanks.

I reckon Lady Jayne in honour of the missus. Too creepy?

Paid the balance on the Crabber today. Sold Alexandros this afternoon too.

So all systems go for the delivery trip.

Thanks all

 

[Marmalade]

A Burnham sailor told me that when the tide is against him, he keeps very close (like 20 yards out) to the north bank of the Crouch east of Burnham.
He said that instead of fighting a 2 or 3 knot current, there is often very little current and that what there is can be favourable.
Can any forumites confirm this - if it is true it could be very helpful to Steve on his delivery trip.

Certainly the tide will be less close inshore - you'll often see racers clinging to the beach to keep out of a foul tide...

I don't know the crouch, but in the Blackwater back eddies do exist that provide small patches of reverse tide, but they're not reliable enough to plan a trip by...