Depths at the Spitway

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tillergirl

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Dear all

With the help of Colin Jarman (East Coast Pilot), we did some runs over the Spitway several days ago. The results can be found here:

http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page6.html

The good news is that there appears to be a little more water than charted and there is more room to the East. I admit that we could have done another couple of passes further over the Gunfleet (there was still plenty of room before the exclusion zone for the Farm) and if I get a suitable chance I will add to this.

I intend to do something similar at the Sunk Sand (anywhere else?) when we can get the right combination of tide and placid weather (no good lurching up and down while trying to do this!). It would help if the d**m easterlies would go away.

Feedback always appreciated (be gentle) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.
 
Good stuff Roger.

I didn't know about the broadcast tidal heights - presumably that info could also be applied elsewhere e.g across the Colne Bar? I know that the depths across the bar vary considerably. I crossed the Colne Bar at dead low water on Thursday about 1/2 a mile south of the Inner Bench Head. LWN at 1.5m and I had 0.6m under my 1.7m keel. All as predicted to my crew in advance /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
You will have no problem buying a decent boat with that budget. This is a very good sea-boat at a good price.

http://www.andyseedhouse.co.uk/sales/boatlist2008.php?cat=1

If you want to spend some more money there are other bargins available, and loads of overpriced ones as well. If you just try making some very low bids on boats you like I think you will be surprised at the reaction. Don't be put off by brokers talking about "unreralistic low offers", get them to put your offer to the owner.
 
Well if it gets any deeper around here, I will buy a fin keeler. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif


Now then what about looking at the inside of the Whitaker Beacon , over the Foulness?
 
Thanks chaps for the kind words and encouragement. I suppose I get a bit casual with depths at times; it never really dawned on me that we were trundling around in parts with 2 to 3 foot under the keel - apart from the bit where we had to back off the Buxey. Given that LWS springs at Walton can be as low as 0.1m, I guess the swallowest bit between the buoys at 1.9m is not vast, indeed certainly not enough if its bouncy.

Yes Roger, you could do that quick reckoning for the Colne Bar. LWS at the Bar is about 37 minutes after Walton, LWN is about 12 minutes after so there should in theory be a little more water on the Bar than broadcast until LW Walton and of course the range is slightly higher. So its a reasonable ready guide. The Height given is above chart datum. Let me know when you are crossing the bar at LWS! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Flipper - how's that search going for a wooden boat?
 
Crossed there this morning and my family air loom said there was nothing to be frightened of.

The new high tech underwater thingy didnt arrive so the guy with the fedex van can prob tell how far my parcel is off the ground
 
Went through at half tide on Saturday and again on Monday, in pretty flat conditions. I had 3.6m (reduced to soundings) predicted on Clacton tides. I saw a minimum of 3.4 corrected on my depth gauge. That's within my safety margin. But thanks for the info; very useful to know how wide the shallow area is.

Regards, Mudhook
 
Thanks, as regular crossers of the Spitway, we've found the depths slightly deeper than charted this year, but it's good to see a proper survey.

We crossed Ray Sand on Sunday, and it seemed to be 20 (+/-10) cm deeper than your survey last year. Our track followed your shallowest transit (due south on 59.60'E) and the shallowest part of the sand may have moved north a cable or two.

The Environment agency buoy at Batchelor Spit has been removed and there is a small orange buoy with an orange flag in its place - impossible to see until very close.
 
It's a bit difficult to do an accurate reflection without specific times and info on whether the tide on the day was up/down or on prediction. We had the advantage on the day that the tides were spot on prediction which simplified the maths. I guess as a ready reckoner, exactly half tide on Saturday would have given a minimum depth of 4.1

AliM - we plan a little trip to the Raysn shortly. In fact last week we intended to do that 'on the way back' but we couldn't wait for the tide and get back into Mersea Quarters for the last club launch back to the causeway. Thanks for the info regarding the EA buoy. I'll amend the Raysn download.
 
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