How do I get to Harwich?

[Wunja]

I'm doing the route plan for the trip to Harwich/Shotley in April and I'm wondering what the best route is, leaving Holland via the Slijkgat.

Reading Reed's Eastern Almanac, the route advised in the chapter on Holland is north of the North Hinder South TSS, but picking that up in the chapter on Eastern England, they advise crossing in the middle of N. Hinder S. TSS, near the Garden City buoy. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

My own thoughts would be to go North of N. Hinder S. TSS; North of the Sunk TSS N.; down to S. Shipwash; across to Cork Sand and then join the buoyed channel.

Having said that, this is my first North Sea crossing, so I'm willing to take any advise I can get!

Many thanks.

 

[CPD]

Hi Vince, I will try to have a look later tonight but there are others here with far more experience than myself who I am sure will be along to help.

Looking forward to meeting you at last /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

 

[Artemis_C2121]

Perhaps vinch we be reconsidering his trip since you have just come out MR TINK


/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Hell of a long way north to avoid the TSS.....

We've always crossed using the Graden City area of the TSS.....

Basically, i'd pick the most direct route that avoids converging TSS's

 

[Stork_III]

From Garden City, Long Sands Head, Trinity, Roughs Towers, Cork Sands yacht Beacon, then Bouyed channel into Harwich. This will clear Sunk TSS roundabout on south and cross Southbound TSS at rt angles.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Yep..... prefer the Cork Sands YB route to going up the Naze side of Cork Sands as its well bouyed and easier when tired, or its dark....

 

[Wunja]

OK. That raises some questions for me...

Do you take a direct line between Garden City and Long Sands Head? That would seem to cross the Sunk Outer precautionary zone diagonally... is that allowed? Or were you intending to cross to Kentish Knock and go north along the Long Sands Head Two Way Route.

To me, Garden City would make sense if I were coming from Vlissingen, however, Slijkgat is 20 nm further north which is why I was considering crossing the first TSS between the NHR-SE and NHR-S buoys. NHR-S is nearly due east of Harwich, so it isn't too much further north to clear the roundabout and north part of the TSS.

I like the approach to the west of the Sunk TSS. Would crossing the N.H.S. TSS at Birkenfels, then due west to S. Galloper to re-join your route make sense?

There are too many red lines on the chart to make it simple! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

The Sunk Precuationary zone is a bit of a red herring.... there is no more traffic there than before, only now you can have a good guess at which way it is going, and for yachts, the zone is advisory, not compulsory....

I'd not even contemplate going as far South as Kentish KNock, just the most direct route to LSH

If your starting point makes it easy to miss the TSS by being north of it, and the direct route from there avoids the Sunk Roundabout, then all the better...

If I am crossing to Vlissingen, then after LSH, I cross the TSS 'leg' that heads towards Kentish Knock at roughly right angles, and this takes you not far off course for West Hinder... however, once I clear NHS TSS, then I put some North in the course to head towards Vlissingen.... if you are 20nm nth of Vlissingen, then it still seems to me that you are still going a long way north to clear the TSS... perhaps cross by Birkenfels?

Bare in mind that traffic is more predictable in a TSS.....

 

[davidfox]

I always go via Birkenfels, but just go as straight as you can, it makes no real difference in the traffic that you will encounter, that will be what it will be on the day.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Wow,

All too much complexity. May I suggest - in the interest of seeing anything en route, other than masses of waypoints and charts - you head for the Shipwash at your leisure and arrive on a rising tide. How you cross the N sea is best left to the breeze.

You can pilot around the south end of the Shipwash and head inshore away from the main channel. It's narrow there and well buoyed, so easy to steer through the traffic.

You don't want to go anywhere near the Cork.

Head on south towards Languard Point, keeping the point at least 300m on your RHS, and approach the green starboard buoys. The shipping channel here is narrow on the bend into the Orwell and you can choose your moment to hop over. Be aware the approach to landguard will run to shallows, but assuming a 2m draft and close on HW you will pass without grounding.

On the south side of the shipping channel now, stay close to the channel because it's shallow towards Harwich on your LHS.
Then make for your destination, and a well deserved refresher!

Further detail - PM me.

PWG

 

[sailorman]

From the Slijkgat.
from memory -
you will set a course of approx 90 deg T ( & will go no where Nr the Garden City By )
this will keep you North of the Galloper
you will then pick up the North Shipwash By & turn to port towards Harwich.

( dependent on wind / tide from North Galloper you might make S.Shipwash By)


i will check my charts this w/e for more detail

 

[Wunja]

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm a bit concerned that if I sailed 90 degrees true, then I would end up in Dordrecht, but I take your point!