Deben tide speeds

[Machew1992]

Hi all, I had a search and couldn’t find a thread relating to this.

I’m helping a friend out moving is boat from Melton boatyard down to Martlesham Creek, a short passage and one that he has done many a time, but being the budding navigator that I am I was looking at tides and wind etc. I can’t seem to find any literature, be it on tide atlas’s or forums, about the speed of the tide in the River Deben. So mostly academic but can anyone with local knowledge shed any light on tide speeds (especially around the Tide Mill and Kyson point) or give some advice on where I might find the info?

We are leaving Melton an hour before HW so I realise as it gets closer to HW it will slow but I put the question to you all the same.

Thanks in adavance
M

 

[matthewriches]

I take the kayak down and launch near the tide mill. The worst I've seen I'd guess is approx 4 knots ish? I'd compare it very much like the river Blyth further up where it narrows. Not done the Deben in the big boat though.

 

[Leighb]

It gets pretty fast at Felixstowe Ferry especially on a spring ebb, maybe 4 or 5 knots but at the Tidemill I would have thought not that much.

 

[LittleSister]

The tides up that far are not that strong. At an hour before HW Tidemill I would expect it to be virtually slack at Tidemill. Won't be a lot by the time you get down to the entrance of Martlesham Creek.

I don't think there's much 'navigation' to be done in advance, you just need to be observing what's happening around you.

If it were me I'd be leaving Melton earlier, if you've got the depth, rather than getting to the shallowest bits of Martlesham Creek while the water's on its way out. But perhaps that's because I'm more familiar with the channel up to Melton than that at Martlesham.

 

[CliveG]

I keep Sirenia at Martlesham over the winter.
I have never noticed any significant tide flow in the area.
I would recommend planning to be going up Martlesham Creak on a rising tide if possible.
Do make sure you follow all the buoys without missing any out or you will end up on the putty.
For one or two of them you have to nearly turn back on yourself.

 

[Machew1992]

Thanks for the responses and advice. Much appreciated ?

 

[Kukri]

As a guide to the tide in the river as a whole, for 28 years we could cross the bar two hours before HW and arrive at Woodbridge (latterly, arrive at our buoy in Methersgate Reach) an hour before HW in a 38 ft gaff cutter, under sail the whole way the with the usual summer sea breeze.

I agree with Clive G; the tricky bit is the Martlesham Creek part. I very strongly recommend that you "case the joint" at low water from the sea wall and make notes. Better still, row up the creek in the dinghy as early as possible on the tide.

 

[johnalison]

I very strongly recommend that you "case the joint" at low water from the sea wall and make notes. Better still, row up the creek in the dinghy as early as possible on the tide.

And if in doubt, don't do it on springs.

 

[Machew1992]

Everything went well with the launch and as it happens the mooring was just outside the creek, so after locating that we decided to make the most of the northerly and headed down to Felixstowe under sail, then motored back up against the tide getting about 1-2 knots out of Sea Shran.

By the time we had picked up the mooring, packed up, and jumped in the tender it was about 2hours after HW.

Made it to the jetty at the Deben yacht club with just enough water to get the tender out without getting too muddy

 

[LittleSister]

Glad it went well.