Deben bar

[forelle541]

I came over the bar yesterday, tide height was 1.85m and never had less than 1.2m Under the 1.5m keel. A lot better than last year, must have had a bit of a scrub out this winter.

 

[CliveG]

I had a play around on the Bar this morning about 11.45.
Predicted tide was 1.44m.
Heading out on the line from green to red buoys I saw a minimum of 1.7m
Coming back in following the old curved line in (sweeping off to port of the direct line red to green) I found the bottom with the keel 1/2 up (about 1m draft)
Looks like a straight approach is the way at the moment.
From the Red buoy the Green seems to be just about in transit with the Martello tower.

George (Ramsholt Harbour Master) tells me that there is a very shallow patch down stream of the Red by the sailing club.
So immediately after the red heading out turn to Starboard and head for the 2nd large port hand beacon and then stay well over towards the beach and the rock armouring on the way to the green.
I saw no less than 3m following that route and over 7m at times.

 

[Marmalade]

Last weekend I made a bit of a cock up - got the clocks going forward thing confused with tide times and in my mind moved the 1330 tide back to 1230 instead of forward to 1430. Don't ask.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, because we were in the Deben and came out at around 1130. Not an hour before high, but half a tide.

Marmalade draws 2m and we saw 0.7 under the keel between the red and greed buoys - not bad for a half tide. That's when I worked out my mistake though!

 

[Oldgeezer]

Many thanks CliveG.
I'm launching in Woodbridge next week - over the bar a dozen times last year without incident so I have a little knowledge. I usually aim for HW-2.
Just to clarify (sorry - I'm confusing myself) are you suggesting the eastcoastrivers map is to be followed as last year, but with a turn sharper to starboard just after passing the red deben buoy on the way out?

http://www.eastcoastrivers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Deben-Entrance-August-2011.pdf

Many thanks
Keith

 

[CliveG]

Keith

Yes.
Apparantly the shallow area shown on the chart has become a lot shallower.
So this needs to be avoilded with a quite sharp turn to starboard after the red Deben buoy.

 

[Santana379]

Keith

Yes.
Apparantly the shallow area shown on the chart has become a lot shallower.
So this needs to be avoilded with a quite sharp turn to starboard after the red Deben buoy.

That's a shame - initially staying close-ish to the port bank prior to the gap provided significant shelter from the flood tide when going out. Not much use if you're aground though!

Staying close to the port side also meant being stbd to stbd with incoming boats, albeit not very close to them, which might have confused if people didn't know why you were doing it.

 

[Jan Harber]

If you take a look at www.eastcoastrivers.com you will see that Chris Woods has just posted two very good and very recent ie. yesterday, aerial photos of the Deben and Ore entrances. I believe Chris is finalising the Deben entrance chart as we speak.
A survey has been done and there has apparently been very little change from last year.

 

[neale]

If you take a look at www.eastcoastrivers.com you will see that Chris Woods has just posted two very good and very recent ie. yesterday, aerial photos of the Deben and Ore entrances. I believe Chris is finalising the Deben entrance chart as we speak.
A survey has been done and there has apparently been very little change from last year.

That's useful. With a bit of luck and good weather I'll be making my first Deben entrance next week. I'll keep an eye out for the latest chartlet.