Departing Lowestoft going south

[ianc1200]

I'm looking to move my Cornish Crabber back to Walton from Lowestoft. There may be an opportunity early next week, lightish NW winds. Leaving at LW, or just before, in the light, instead of going outside of the Newcome sands (as I came in, by using Stanford channel) looks like I could hug the shore. If motoring the first part with my plate up, I'm drawing 2' 6". Would be a sound strategy to save a mile or two?

 

[LittleSister]

I'm not very familiar with that stretch, but from the chart looks OK if winds are light, particularly as at beginning of week I think there's best part of a metre at low water, but I'm not sure there's really that much difference distance-wise.

 

[Javelin]

I run back and forth from Southwold to Lowestoft on a regular basis and up until a couple of years ago I would use the inner channel in anything that drew less than a couple of meters.
Not any longer though.
You only need to take a walk down the front at Kessingland at LW to see how small the gap is these days.
Add to that the big easterlies we've had over the last few weeks and discretion should in my eyes be weighted way above valor certainly until the bottom has stopped moving around so much.

I hear we have a secondary bar formed off Southwold in the last few days but given a good southerly this is likely to move.
Also the Aldburgh ridge is still moving South, well beyond the red can, so care is needed here as well, although I did deliver a boat inside the ridge last month with no problem, albeit in calm, flat conditions close to HW.

Point being, if you really want to take the inshore route, follow somebody else, just make sure they draw more than you do!
Otherwise use the Stanford channel.

Also the tide will be much more help in the deep channel than it would be close in.

 

[ianc1200]

Many thanks Javelin -I think you've convinced me!