Is the Portsmouth Swashway becoming shallow?

[emsworthy]

Rule of thumb that Sunsail skippers use. Sunfast 37s draw 2.2m.

Hmmm, interesting! Having recently spent a week on a Sunsail owned Sunfast 37 and being assured it drew just 1.9m (I had my doubts when we touched a couple of times), you've now confirmed my suspicions!

 

[Twister_Ken]

"Never mind the entrance at Bembridge: we ended up in the mud tied to the pontoon! "

Been like that for at least 9 years, at LWS.

 

[jellyellie]

I work with 0.3m CD on the inner swashway, as does the almanac. Very good sea school I know with a First 36.7 which draws 2.2m use a similar rule of thumb to flaming - when the metal corrugated bit around the entrance is covered, there's enough water.

There is also a leading bearing to the round tower, as shown in the almanac and on charts. It's 35 degrees, which should take you in nicely from Gilkicker.

 

[KristiferColumbus]

My imagination always runs riot at the thought of those"numerous obstructions."
Does anybody know what they are....bits of old wreckage/shot down aircraft from the bombing raids on Portsmouth docks during world war 2 & beyond?Electricity cables????

I ran aground on the inner swashway a few years ago & just bumped along merrily until the increasing tide carried me through.We bilge keelers can do that sort of thing