Dover to Swale - still the Copperas route?

[Otter]

It's ten years since we did this last, but we plan to head from Dover to the Swale. We always used the Copperas channel and I remember the port and starboard buoys making a neat narrow gate near the owers. Looking at the chart it still all seems fine but what do others thing of the route? We plan to make for the Thames after a couple of days in the Swale, what's the situation with the rail/road bridge?

Thanks

 

[FulmarJeddo]

The buoys have changed in the last 10 years. The exit is via Reculver and Copperass now. Have a look at Tillergirl's chartlet on Crossing the Thames Estuary, the old gap has closed up.
I haven't heard of any problems with the bridge this year other than the upgrade to the motors didn't go ahead due to the contractors pulling out due to the value of the pound. It will only open at about 10 mins past the hour subject to rail traffic.

 

[Cantata]

The two buoys were reassigned about 3 years ago, and now mark each end of the shallow part of the Copperas Channel, and they are about a mile apart. First up on approach from the Foreland is the port-hand buoy, leave this about 50 yards to port for the best water, and head straight for the stbd-hand buoy in the distance.

 

[Aurai]

We have

Completed an out and back trip through the Copperas Channel in the last three weeks, and plenty of water for us even at LW Spring, draft 5'9" for us. While the Kingsferry Bridge operation was quietly efficient last week!

 

[Otter]

Thanks everyone.