PaulGooch
Well-Known Member
We were out on Sunday, weather was a bit changeable and the forecast was for 10-11 knot + NW winds. Very few angling boats were out. Of the few that did go out, most, if not all, came back early and either gave up, or fished the rivers. We came out of Harwich and headed SE, planning to spend a couple of hours fishing in the Stone Banks area, which should have provided a bit of shelter from the wind. Unfortunately, there was a 2-3 foot swell, which we sat beam on to, so it was uncomfortable to fish. We headed North, where it was still a bit lumpy, but we managed to find a bit of shelter by keep close to a sand bank, which stopped the swell a bit. There were a lot of yotties about and a few mobo's, but all were staying close to the shore, where the conditions were better.
The conditions were far from dangerous, or even rough, but almost all the boats on the water decided to stay close to shore, where conditions were more pleasant than further offshore.
We heard on the VHF that there were a group of 9 kayakers out on the water, they had left Felixstowe Ferry and were heading for Roughs Towers. This was a journey of around 7nm (in a straight line), in winds that developed into 16 knot N Westerlies, with a 3 feet swell fairly close to land, no doubt more the further offshore you went. They would have had to paddle directly across the tidal flow, during a Spring tide. They would have also had to cross the deep water shipping channel for Ipswich/Harwich/Felixstowe and the recommended yacht track alongside of the channel, both of which are the busiest areas on the East Coast. The channel and surrounding area is also used by the pilot boats that escort the ships in (some of the largest ships this country sees, many having crossed directly from China). It also gets a lot of use at the moment from various workboats that are constructing/maintaining the various offshore windfarms in the area, such as a fleet of 16m x 6m cats that cruise at 20knots. As we returned, we stopped for half an hour to put some fishing tackle away and have a cuppa, just inshore of the channel, off Landguard point. In that short time, we were passed by a couple of large ships, several yotties and no less than 5 large cats, all travelling at circa 20 knots.
The area they were travelling through really is the last place you'd expect to find kayaks out for a jolly. Kind of makes one consider that if they want to paddle about in the busiest and fastest shipping area on the entire East Coast, making no attempt to make themselves more visible, then perhaps if they get run down by a fast boat, they only have themselves to blame. Never mind Colregs and lookout and some of the replies in this thread, to be in this area, in these conditions is quite simply reckless, IMO. The North Sea is a big place, there is plenty of room for us all, but everyone should make themselves seen as best they can and stick to sensible areas for the craft they are using. Shipping lanes are for shipping, not canoes.
The conditions were far from dangerous, or even rough, but almost all the boats on the water decided to stay close to shore, where conditions were more pleasant than further offshore.
We heard on the VHF that there were a group of 9 kayakers out on the water, they had left Felixstowe Ferry and were heading for Roughs Towers. This was a journey of around 7nm (in a straight line), in winds that developed into 16 knot N Westerlies, with a 3 feet swell fairly close to land, no doubt more the further offshore you went. They would have had to paddle directly across the tidal flow, during a Spring tide. They would have also had to cross the deep water shipping channel for Ipswich/Harwich/Felixstowe and the recommended yacht track alongside of the channel, both of which are the busiest areas on the East Coast. The channel and surrounding area is also used by the pilot boats that escort the ships in (some of the largest ships this country sees, many having crossed directly from China). It also gets a lot of use at the moment from various workboats that are constructing/maintaining the various offshore windfarms in the area, such as a fleet of 16m x 6m cats that cruise at 20knots. As we returned, we stopped for half an hour to put some fishing tackle away and have a cuppa, just inshore of the channel, off Landguard point. In that short time, we were passed by a couple of large ships, several yotties and no less than 5 large cats, all travelling at circa 20 knots.
The area they were travelling through really is the last place you'd expect to find kayaks out for a jolly. Kind of makes one consider that if they want to paddle about in the busiest and fastest shipping area on the entire East Coast, making no attempt to make themselves more visible, then perhaps if they get run down by a fast boat, they only have themselves to blame. Never mind Colregs and lookout and some of the replies in this thread, to be in this area, in these conditions is quite simply reckless, IMO. The North Sea is a big place, there is plenty of room for us all, but everyone should make themselves seen as best they can and stick to sensible areas for the craft they are using. Shipping lanes are for shipping, not canoes.
