Havengore & tides - again....

MikeBz

MikeBz

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I've trawled various threads on the subject and generally it's advised that you need at least a 5m tide yo consider the havengore route. But a 5m tide where? Harwich? Sheerness? Dover?
 
MikeBz said:
I've trawled various threads on the subject and generally it's advised that you need at least a 5m tide yo consider the havengore route. But a 5m tide where? Harwich? Sheerness? Dover?
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I have been told that a height in metres at Southend gives the same height in feet over the shallowest part of the Havengore crossing. Thus 4 meters of tide height at Southend gives 4 feet of tide height over the Havengore route.

This worked for me when I crossed two years ago. I draw 3 feet and waited for a predicted 4 meters at Southend and I had indeed about a foot to spare over the Havengore crossing. However it did go on a rising tide, just in case this rule did not work.

Gitane
 
Gitane said:
I have been told that a height in metres at Southend gives the same height in feet over the shallowest part of the Havengore crossing. Thus 4 meters of tide height at Southend gives 4 feet of tide height over the Havengore route.

This worked for me when I crossed two years ago. I draw 3 feet and waited for a predicted 4 meters at Southend and I had indeed about a foot to spare over the Havengore crossing. However it did go on a rising tide, just in case this rule did not work.

Gitane
Click to expand...

That's a very handy rule of thumb!
 
The RSA guide is useful but doesn't have any info on tide heights. We are contemplating the outward route this Sunday, springs +1 day, HW 4.8m at Whitaker Beacon, HW 5.7m at Southend. The "Southend m/ft rule-of-thumb" gives that as 1.7m total depth or about 0.8 under our keel which seems like plenty.
 
I wouldn't rely on predicted tidal heghts. Listen on Ch69 to the PLA broadcast at H+15 and H+45 when they list current tidal heights including Southend.
There's what I think is a pretty full description of routes across the flats to Havengore, including a chartlet, in a pilot book that I could mention but won't in case I'm accused of advertising.
 
Cantata said:
I wouldn't rely on predicted tidal heghts. Listen on Ch69 to the PLA broadcast at H+15 and H+45 when they list current tidal heights including Southend.
There's what I think is a pretty full description of routes across the flats to Havengore, including a chartlet, in a pilot book that I could mention but won't in case I'm accused of advertising.
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That seems like good advice. Alternatively he could look in the East Coast Pilot published by Imray (no connection to me) ;)
 
MikeBz said:
The RSA guide is useful but doesn't have any info on tide heights. We are contemplating the outward route this Sunday, springs +1 day, HW 4.8m at Whitaker Beacon, HW 5.7m at Southend. The "Southend m/ft rule-of-thumb" gives that as 1.7m total depth or about 0.8 under our keel which seems like plenty.
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Telephone the Bridge - they will give you heights...
 
You obviously need a new copy on board, then you can keep the older one at home :encouragement:; the 3rd edition was the first to include all that extra Havengore detail, I think.
 
Oh that is so non-current. Possibly 1000 detail changes since then (seriously), plus all the other extra stuff. Go on, buy a new one, it's only a few beer tokens.....
 
I've just spoken with the bridge operator who was very helpful. Asked our draft, looked up his tide info and reckons we'll be fine. So we'll keep an eye on the weather/tidal surge predictions and if it looks good will head across the Rays'n tomorrow and lay up in the Yolkesfleet on Saturday night with the intention of doing some Maplin Sands-scraping on Sunday.
 
Success! Brief report as tipping on pony not my string pint. HW Southend 15:30, 5.7m predicted. In reality about 0.25m short of that. Through bridge at 15:05. Only 2 withies to be seen, took both close to P, min depth 1.3m. Turned to S at 2nd withy, headed for row of 4 posts. Min depth 1.3m between first 2 posts, thereafter depth increased. Headed for wreck marker halfway between 3rd & 4th posts, depth 2.4m. At wreck marker turned to P heading for artificial island, but shortly after in plenty of depth headed straight for the Medway passing just SW of the obstructions beyond Shoebury Boom. Now have Sharfleet Vreek to ourselves in the evening sun.
 
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