East Coast Rivers survey no more

Amulet

Amulet

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Have I missed a discussion of this? Brief mention on the East Coast forum but I have seen no more than that. I'm sure this is of concern to people who don't necessarily look at the East Coast forum.

As I understand it, Chris Woods (with diverse support which he acknowledges generously) has produced the invaluable annual charts for the Deben and Ore entrances (and others).

He has indicated he is no longer able to do this.

See: http://www.eastcoastrivers.com/

I am hugely grateful for this service over the time I have been sailing in the east. I suspect many others are too. I have no idea what it would take to get someone to provide some or all of the information previously provided in the chartlets. It is also possible that I am out of touch, and that some other initiative is already under way to try find a solution.

Whatever... there are a hell of a lot of sailors on the East Coast who ought to be able to mobilise in search of a continuation of some sort. Despite my current antipodean location I'm one of them.

Is there action that I am missing?
 
It will be our first time visiting the Ore and the Alde this year, and I was mortified the chartlets were no more, however, those fine chaps over at East Coast Pilot (.com) have published chartlets for 2013! http://www.eastcoastpilot.com/downloads.html. Phew... time I went out and updated my edition I reckon. Thank you east coast pilot!

Mark
www.albinballad.co.uk

Amulet said:
Have I missed a discussion of this? Brief mention on the East Coast forum but I have seen no more than that. I'm sure this is of concern to people who don't necessarily look at the East Coast forum.

As I understand it, Chris Woods (with diverse support which he acknowledges generously) has produced the invaluable annual charts for the Deben and Ore entrances (and others).

He has indicated he is no longer able to do this.

See: http://www.eastcoastrivers.com/

I am hugely grateful for this service over the time I have been sailing in the east. I suspect many others are too. I have no idea what it would take to get someone to provide some or all of the information previously provided in the chartlets. It is also possible that I am out of touch, and that some other initiative is already under way to try find a solution.

Whatever... there are a hell of a lot of sailors on the East Coast who ought to be able to mobilise in search of a continuation of some sort. Despite my current antipodean location I'm one of them.

Is there action that I am missing?
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Please return to the East Coast Forum, you will find the thread and info you need on the first page.
Fear not, chartlets are available.
 
Nothing on there covering the tidal Great Ouse.
Perhaps that's not considered East Coast either...

We tried to get up to Denver Sluice from the Wash and Kings Lynn last year but despite best attempts failed miserably (persistently went aground) and came to the conclusion it's not navigable.

I was singularly unimpressed that GOBA, with combined membership of over 1000 I understand, have not published any information on the tidal Gt Ouse.
Instead, all published information refers to it as "Tidal waters - local knowledge required" i.e. There be dragons, ooeer scary.

By all accounts (Denver lock keeper, Kings Lynn pilot and HM) vessels do successfully navigate it - so they clearly have this "local Knowledge".

So why not make it more widely available? As per e.g. the "East Coast" forum and the TBA Trent and Ouse charts, produced and updated by volunteers using exactly this sort of local knowledge but for the benefit of all boaters.
 
ean_p said:
hardly 'East Coast Rivers' eh...a couple of backwaters on the southern east coast.....
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Dont really understand your point. River Alde/Ore is a few miles south of most Easterly land in UK. Its very important to monitor the situation and have these valuable discussions about the entrances (harbours in local speak). It would be pure guesswork without the bouys, and very tricky without the help of the the depth surveys.
Anybody with sensible questions about coming to my home port please try away, will do my best to answer.
33 years as member of Aldeburgh Yacht Club. Have a go, make my day.
There is a myth that local people tell scary tales of the approaches to this river to keep people out. Take that as you wish!
 
Seashoreman said:
There is a myth that local people tell scary tales of the approaches to this river to keep people out. Take that as you wish!
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Too right it's scary, the Deben entrance will rip your keel off as soon as look at you. If by some miracle you make it up what locals call the 2nd best river on the East Coast, then the murderous kraken at Tidemill will devour your craft and eat all your pies. Best stay at Burnham where the living is easy.
 
Lazy Kipper said:
Too right it's scary, the Deben entrance will rip your keel off as soon as look at you. If by some miracle you make it up what locals call the 2nd best river on the East Coast, then the murderous kraken at Tidemill will devour your craft and eat all your pies. Best stay at Burnham where the living is easy.
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Sure, the Ore/Alde approach is shorter, and possibly more alarming than the Deben. But Kip, I live where I live and I appreciate you have some of the best cruising grounds in UK. Good services here, well actually all I have become accustomed to. Iken/Butley OK for a lazy weekend. But, hoping to head south, down your way soon. Especially taking in in Harwich Nights on the way!
 
My point was that the Alde / Ore are hardly the sum total of or for that matter even a significant proportion of the rivers on the east coast of the UK though to many the east coast seems to stop just about where you're located...maybe a better header would have been Alde/ Ore survey no more eh?
 
Seashoreman said:
Sure, the Ore/Alde approach is shorter, and possibly more alarming than the Deben. But Kip, I live where I live and I appreciate you have some of the best cruising grounds in UK. Good services here, well actually all I have become accustomed to. Iken/Butley OK for a lazy weekend. But, hoping to head south, down your way soon. Especially taking in in Harwich Nights on the way!
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You've mentioned the best place in the country there - Butley Creek and its upper reaches is the finest spot to explore in all the world. Last summer I spent three hours swimming it and it was magical.
 
Lazy Kipper said:
You've mentioned the best place in the country there - Butley Creek and its upper reaches is the finest spot to explore in all the world. Last summer I spent three hours swimming it and it was magical.
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I did see a whole family swimming down the Butley River last summer, would that have been yours Lazy Kipper?

BTW I certainly wouldnt want to cause a rift on the East Coast of Britain, but....East Anglia generally gets designated as 'East' and surely the Wash upwards get called the North East. I am originally from Liverpool via Yorkshire and London so certainly have no north/south/east divide or predudice.
 
ean_p said:
My point was that the Alde / Ore are hardly the sum total of or for that matter even a significant proportion of the rivers on the east coast of the UK though to many the east coast seems to stop just about where you're located...maybe a better header would have been Alde/ Ore survey no more eh?
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The original site did not just provide survey and entry information for the Ore/Alde.

The Deben was well covered and there were also information downloads with chartlets for Southwold, Walton Backwaters and Brightlingsea. So in fact quite a number of what are generally agreed to be East Coast Rivers. The rivers that were not covered were on the whole those with deep water approaches not given to constant change and well buoyed. e.g. Orwell, Blackwater, Crouch.

His efforts will be greatly missed, but East Coast Pilot has at least filled in the gaps for Ore and Deben.

There was some years ago a Pilot book, whose name I can't now recall, that covered the East Coast as far north as the Humber (I think) I have not see it in any chandlers for a long time, and I can't find my old copy.

Edit, I have now found it, dated 1987 Title The East Coast, A pilot-guide from Ramsgate to the Wash, by Derek Bowskill. My memory was at fault, it goes no further north than Gibraltar Point & Wainefleet Haven

Does anyone remember this one?
 
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ean_p said:
My point was that the Alde / Ore are hardly the sum total of or for that matter even a significant proportion of the rivers on the east coast of the UK though to many the east coast seems to stop just about where you're located
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On my charts there is a big warning stating 'there be dragons' once you go north past Norfolk
 
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