Is there a water depth where you are "safe" from dreaded Pot Buoys?

[MagicalArmchair]

I am delivering Mirage back at the end of the week to the Medway. A trip I have made a number of times with an overnight element to the passage.

The segment below will be made under the cover of darkness, note the predicted times of arrival in red (I've factored five knots in as an average speed, I think we'll do somewhat better). I'd prefer not to cross Dover until the false dawn, however I think I'm going to be there an couple of hours before first light. With our AIS transponder and Radar, I am content to tread very carefully, potentially putting in a VHF call to Dover to request permission to cross the port. What worries me more is pot buoys at night. In the night segment, I am mostly in 20m plus of water - does that offer some protection from pot buoys? Clearly we will be keeping a good watch, and the moon is nearly full, so visibility will hopefully be good if the clouds keep away.

Any areas in the above, any hot spots, where we should take extra care? Clearly off Selsey Bill and going down the Street (that will be in the light, at least) is one place we will keep a very vigilant look out and have someone on the bow.

 

[Lucky Duck]

I seem to recall pot markers in the vicinity of Dungeness

 

[AntarcticPilot]

There is no depth where you are safe from pot buoys. In the Clyde and West Coast of Scotland, it isn't unusual to encounter them in water more than 50 metres deep.

 

[Boathook]

I seem to remember seeing one in the middle of the English Channel in the traffic separation zone once. I think the only place they aren't put is where big ships operate on a regular basis.

 

[dunedin]

There is no depth where you are safe from pot buoys. In the Clyde and West Coast of Scotland, it isn't unusual to encounter them in water more than 50 metres deep.

Yes, encountered some in around 100 metres

 

[Old Harry]

My word, thats a lot of waypoints

 

[MagicalArmchair]

I seem to recall pot markers in the vicinity of Dungeness

Thank you, I'll stand off Dungeness a bit more than I had planned and increase lookout at that point in time. I seem to remember seeing a greater frequency off Deal, it's been some years since I've done this passage though.

Yes, encountered some in around 100 metres

Yikes, so nowhere is safe , thanks all for the information. On the other passages I've done overnight, its that alarming sensation as a pot buoy goes streaming past, ten meters away, that you had no idea was there until it has gone by .

My word, thats a lot of waypoints

My passage plan itself only picks out a few and my e7 downloads all of the route from Navionics so there is no manual intervention or typing in lats and longs as I used to do on my old GPS

 

[wizard]

Around Rye bay and its environs the pros use big black flags on the buoys. Not so good at night though.

Generally when coasting you really do need to keep a good lookout.

 

[scottie]

Black was supposed to be easier to see at night as there is more likely to be some lighter shades so a solid black actually stands out

 

[pvb]

......potentially putting in a VHF call to Dover to request permission to cross the port.

You should always call Dover Port Control on Ch 74 when you're a couple of miles away, and tell them your intentions, even if you're just going straight past. They'll log you in their system and keep an eye on you, calling you if necessary with info about ferry traffic. They're very helpful people. Have a good trip!

 

[dolabriform]

Black was supposed to be easier to see at night as there is more likely to be some lighter shades so a solid black actually stands out

From Wikipedia:
Lobsters are caught using baited one-way traps with a color-coded marker buoy to mark cages. Lobster is fished in water between 2 and 900 metres

 

[MagicalArmchair]

You should always call Dover Port Control on Ch 74 when you're a couple of miles away, and tell them your intentions, even if you're just going straight past. They'll log you in their system and keep an eye on you, calling you if necessary with info about ferry traffic. They're very helpful people. Have a good trip!

Thanks pvb, that's saved me the job of squinting at the pilot book tonight. I've added this to my passage plan.

From Wikipedia:
Lobsters are caught using baited one-way traps with a color-coded marker buoy to mark cages. Lobster is fished in water between 2 and 900 metres

Yikes... now to plan a route with only depths over 900 metres....

 

[dolabriform]

Thanks pvb, that's saved me the job of squinting at the pilot book tonight. I've added this to my passage plan.



Yikes... now to plan a route with only depths over 900 metres....

Or under 2 ?

 

[Leighb]

From Wikipedia:
Lobsters are caught using baited one-way traps with a color-coded marker buoy to mark cages. Lobster is fished in water between 2 and 900 metres

My one experience of sailing down the Portuguese coast on a friend’s boat showed this. We saw pot buoys, albeit very well marked with small radar reflectors, in over 300 metres if I recall correctly. As we were in thick fog for part of one day it was reassuring to see their clear radar targets, but we had someone on the bow as well.

 

[wizard]

Black was supposed to be easier to see at night as there is more likely to be some lighter shades so a solid black actually stands out

Stretches of the coast are very dark along there.
If there is a moon or you aline with shore lights, (where possible) no problem.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

My one experience of sailing down the Portuguese coast on a friend’s boat showed this. We saw pot buoys, albeit very well marked with small radar reflectors, in over 300 metres if I recall correctly. As we were in thick fog for part of one day it was reassuring to see their clear radar targets, but we had someone on the bow as well.

It'll be fascinating to see if our radar picks up the smaller pot buoys. I'll run the radar during the day to see how it does.

It is forecast to be a clear night with a near full moon, so that will help. Looking forward to a night passage actually.

 

[Amlov]

Interestingly, it seems like there are far fewer pot buoys out at the moment and almost none during Lockdown.

I would like to think it is the lobster holiday period, but I suspect it is more to do with the downturn in markets.

But keep you eyes peeled.

Andy

 

[pvb]

I would like to think it is the lobster holiday period, but I suspect it is more to do with the downturn in markets.

I reckon you're right, with restaurants closed there was no outlet for stuff like lobsters. It was the same with expensive meat - our local restaurant ended up doing takeaways including Wagyu beef burgers!

 

[fisherman]

Lobster fishing is as normal here. Pots are worked in any depth of water. In deeper water, and where there is tide, and bigger boats work, they use dahnfenders or buffs with heavy leaded rope which will stand vertically and tight (to try to avoid ships cutting them off), they are difficult to pick up with a gaff let alone in the prop.....unless the boat is working a 'tailer', a small float on a floaty stray, which IMO should be banned. There are other ways to do it.

 

[Beneteau381]

I reckon you're right, with restaurants closed there was no outlet for stuff like lobsters. It was the same with expensive meat - our local restaurant ended up doing takeaways including Wagyu beef burgers!

Ive been buying Wagyu beef burgers from Aldi, very nice too!