Help to Navigate the Thames Estuary

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ATCBird

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We are bringing our new boat from Burnham on Crouch to Portsmouth over the next few weeks. We are currenlty trying to plan the trip and especially crossing the Thames Estuary. Does anyone know of a good pilot we can use or have any advice? We have the Almanac, Tidal Atlas and Charts, but could possibly do with a liitle more information?
 
You'll be needing the East Coast Forum! They have nothing but complete mastery of crossing the Thames Estuary including those that have "written the book". It's invaluable (and I speak as a former Thames Estuary sailer).

Good luck with the trip.
 
We are bringing our new boat from Burnham on Crouch to Portsmouth over the next few weeks. We are currenlty trying to plan the trip and especially crossing the Thames Estuary. Does anyone know of a good pilot book we can use or have any advice? We have the Almanac, Tidal Atlas and Charts, but could possibly do with a liitle more information?
 
All I did was re post on the East Coast Forum as suggested by Mike. I don't know how to remove the original thread and have no idea how they have linked!

Sorry if I have caused a problem, not intentional, just wanted some advice.

Tania
 
ATCBird said:
All I did was re post on the East Coast Forum as suggested by Mike. I don't know how to remove the original thread and have no idea how they have linked!

Sorry if I have caused a problem, not intentional, just wanted some advice.

Tania
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Take no notice of some around here...

The ECF used to be a model of tolerance and extremely welcoming of newcomers.

You've already been given the best resource - http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/ and it's straightforward enough if you use common sense. Have fun
 
You can get rest assured the ECF does not care a fig about dual posting and will be happy to assist. After all we will all be sad you are not planning to stay here.

Crossing the Estuary is fun - well not in a gale but from Burnham to North Foreland in a nice SW3/4 will be lovely. The short cut across the Estuary is to cross the Sunk Sand and the SW Sunk swatchway as on my web site is viable. I am not sure how up to date your charts/chart plotter will be; if they are older than 2011, there was completely revised buoyage for the Crouch and the Whitaker and Swallowtail Channels but you can get the download at: http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page29.html (scroll down). And if old, the SW Sunk area may be/will out of date. Use the chartlet at the download page. There are three waypoints for a good, viable track for the swatch. The swatch is about a third of a nautical mile wide; the knoll to the SW is very steep-to, the knoll to the NE much more nicely sloped. It is not necessary to be neurotic about it but the best advice is to stay on the track and don't 'sag' south much of the track. Even up to date, some plotters may not have located the deep water for the swatch accurately enough. Please, please follow the waypoints in preference to the 'blue water' on the screen. Five forumites using the swatch early this season very kindly noted the positions, depths and times to confirm the waypoints.

Once across the swatch you will be able to see the 'entrance' to Fisherman's Gat. This is a 'T' junction: deep shipping stuff in and out of London River will be either up or down the Black Deep or using the Gat to turn into or out of the London end of the Black Deep. Deepest stuff - big container ships etc go up and down the Black Deep and can do at a good lick. 'Shallow' shipping uses the Princes Channel further south but intermediate stuff will use the Fisherman's Gat/Black Deep - it's 2m deeper. The 'T' junction of the Gat where it meets the Black Deep is a Precautionary Zone and it is a sharp corner for something big. Should your timing coincide with something bit, just wait for a while out of the way for the corner to be cleared. Once in the Gat, it is well wide enough to keep clear. Frankly Fisherman's hasn't been as busy as it used to be as a result of Princes Channel being dredged several years ago.

It can be worth monitoring London VTS Ch69 and following the shipping reporting messages to understand the movements esp if the vis is rubbish. Last time returning, the vis was locally very bad because of a squall and I nearly called VTS to see if it was clear to cross. But the vis cleared and so I didn't bother. VTS would respond though.
 
ATCBird said:
Thank you for all the advice and warm welcome from the ECF. We will buy the book and follow 'tillergirls' advice.

Tania
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The book is a work of genius. I extended the planning table slightly for my own needs but everything you need is there.

Keep an eye out for the regular notices to mariners in ECF and check the aforementioned website before you make your trip for any final updates.
 
Thank you to all for your advice we made it safely back to Portsmouth. The book was brilliant and made the slightly daunting trip so much easier - many thanks Tillergirl.
 
ATCBird said:
Thank you to all for your advice we made it safely back to Portsmouth. The book was brilliant and made the slightly daunting trip so much easier - many thanks Tillergirl.
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Well done and thanks for posting an update. It's nice to hear it all worked out.

I will be making this trip probably next year. Can I ask where you stopped after Ramsgit?


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