how clost to a sand bar would you sail ?

[simonfraser]

sailed out past colne bar today, runs N/S
wind F5 from E, tide to E, so choppy
i sailed S about half a mile away, on the W side and got wet.
another yacht seemed to sail just about on the W edge of the bar, vvv close.
they knew better ?

 

[sailorman]

its very tricky 1/2 way along Mersea so Im told especially on the spring ebb /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Depends on the weather i'd say... in a F4, i'd be happy getting close, in a F5 i'd be more careful, in a F6 i'd stay well away.... actually, it depneds a bit on sea state and wind direction too.... if its a lee 'shore' then a bit more space, and if its bumpy a bit more space.... conversely if its to windward of me, and the sea is flat, they why not get really close?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

[ QUOTE ]
its very tricky 1/2 way along Mersea so Im told especially on the spring ebb /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[/ QUOTE ]Hee hee..... i'm saying nothing..... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[holly1]

Stay away from the bar there be dragons there.

 

[pyrojames]

There's an inshore passage closer in, that I have used a few times, tide allowing. were they in that?

 

[graham]

I dont know your area but generally if the tide is coming in and the wind is blowing you away from the bank then go in as close as you dare. If the wind is blowing you onto a bank or the tide is falling then give it a very wide berth.

 

[sailorman]

So on a spring ebb would would keep well clear then /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Superflid]

Local knowledge is a great thing!

Most of the time, if I could sail half a mile from a sandbank I would be amazed. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

[ QUOTE ]
So on a spring ebb would would keep well clear then /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]How clear is 'well clear' Roger?....... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[sailorman]

2 [--word removed--] close 4 comfort /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

a whole new meaning to neaps

 

[Bosunof]

I agree with Graham. I was too close to Scrobie Sands last April so I can say with real feeling that his advice is good. Dont trust surface marks nor charts nor chart plotter. Use Mk 1 eyeball and plenty, plenty of caution. Unless racing and you dont care about insurance premiums.
You really cant tell what winter storms, or summer for that matter, will do to a mass of sand. Keep clear. And.... dont follow others their draft may be very different from yours.

 

[FWB]

 

[simonfraser]

great pic, got one on the wall in the local gym, but totally unrealistic, when the next wave hits, the chap with his arms folded and the redhead are in the drink for sure.

p.s. others may 'just' run aground, quite right, check for yourself.

 

[mikejames]

Judging by a trace on the fish finder, up to the point where the keel doesnt quite hit the sandbank and then tack away (Ryde sands ) . The transducer was fitted behind the keel and the depth showed distinctly lower when I turned away . Flat water and wind along the edge of the sandbank.

 

[AliM]

You can go pretty close to Colne Bar - trust your depth sounder, not the chart, though. We usually tack when the depth drops below about draft + 1.5 m, but leave a bit more room when it's choppy.

 

[MoodySabre]

Perhaps the other boat was just following his GPS to the Colne Bar buoy and the tide was taking him down.

I used think that the Colne Bar was to be avoided at all costs but now, if the conditions are OK and there's more than half-tide then I go straight across it. As James said, there is more water in closer to the shore than there is just north of the buoy.

 

[omega2]

We also go straight across, at 1/2 tide, this may assist.

 

[Refueler]

Me ? I've been known to 'drive' my boat over them ! Seriously.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Its only water that isnt deep enough, just view as edge of a narrow channel