Littlehampton entrance

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richardabeattie

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I know that the recommendation is to enter Littlehampton between HW-2 and HW+1 but are there tidal hours when, even in fair weather, entrance should not be attempted? I have a 27ft twin keel Sabre drawing 1m. Grateful for any comments.
 
That is not a helpful or friendly reply. I can read a tide table. What I am looking for is helpful advice base on local knowledge - for example about the strength of the stream inside the narrrows.
 
richardabeattie said:
I know that the recommendation is to enter Littlehampton between HW-2 and HW+1 but are there tidal hours when, even in fair weather, entrance should not be attempted? I have a 27ft twin keel Sabre drawing 1m. Grateful for any comments.
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I think there will be enough water for appreciably longer than that but the entrance does dry 0.8 m so you will need a height of 1.8m plus a safety margin.

As Sailorman says do the arithmetic to determine the exact time limits on the day in question

However
At spring tides the ebb runs very fast so entry may not be possible for long after HW in a slow yacht. 1 hour maybe the sensible limit but longer at neaps.

richardabeattie said:
That is not a helpful or friendly reply. I can read a tide table. What I am looking for is helpful advice base on local knowledge - for example about the strength of the stream inside the narrrows.
Click to expand...

Not so grateful for any comments after all
 
I have only been in a few times but each time went in on the flood (a few hours before HW)..

I seem to remember the flood is rather strong so once you are committed to going in it would not be easy to turn back - Suggest waiting until you are very sure there is enough depth.
 
I went to Littlehampton for the first time recently and followed the advice, actually entered a bit after HW+1 and had plenty of depth at 1.4M draft, the HM said they recommend the HW-2 to HW+1 so newcomers dont get caught out but local boats were coming in well after that, quite substantial fishing boats that must have to worry about their props and stern gear. I think it is the current as much as the depth that is the issue. I left at HW-2 to get the westerly tide to Portsmouth and the flood was sluicing in and needed plenty of power plus a firm hand on the helm to avoid being swept onto the training wall. once in there is a linear pontoon so you can berth against the tide, there was rafting as two rallies in but the HM said usuallyplenty of space but will advise on CH14. Nice place, cosy in the gents showers if more than one however good friends you are, plenty of eateries, recomend the all day breakfast at the Harbour Lights1
 
Also bear in mind there are Easterly/Westerly streams running across the entrance, obviously building towards peaks at mid-tides and springs. Westerly from about HW -1/1.5 to HW +4. Easterly from c.LW -1.5 to HW-2.

The facilities are actually in the HMs Offices, alongside the pontoon. Visitors pontoon is a little open to the passing populous, but we found it OK. East & West Beach Cafes both good & interesting locations. Always intended to take a day out and take the dinghy on the flood tide up to Arundel, but not got around to it yet thus far on visits there, tho went on the train this year!
 
20+ years ago a pair of speedboats ran Rides out of Littlehampton. Powered by Castoldi jets they could operate on the plane in less than a foot of water which meant they could run almost any state of tide.

Quite frequently other power boats seeing them coming and going would try to follow them in, to the considerable detriment of stern gear and outdrives!

The real problem at Littlehampton is as others have said, is the speed of the current between the pierheads on a big tide which can be over 5knots at times. If you know the water you can choose your own timing, but otherwise you really should follow follow HMs advice: HW -2h to HW+1.
 
oldharry said:
20+ years ago a pair of speedboats ran Rides out of Littlehampton. Powered by Castoldi jets they could operate on the plane in less than a foot of water which meant they could run almost any state of tide.

Quite frequently other power boats seeing them coming and going would try to follow them in, to the considerable detriment of stern gear and outdrives!

The real problem at Littlehampton is as others have said, is the speed of the current between the pierheads on a big tide which can be over 5knots at times. If you know the water you can choose your own timing, but otherwise you really should follow follow HMs advice: HW -2h to HW+1.
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I know someone who started out with a ghastly old plywood cabin cruiser, big ancient outboard on the back.

He tried entering Littlehampton at a less than optimum state of the tide ( which he knew nothing about ) grounded the outboard at high speed, and ripped the whole transom off; it was only the grp sheathing which kept it afloat long enough to make the shore.
 
Grew up there, many a weekend spent going up that channel in a family friend's fishing boat.

I remember back as a young lad, sitting on West Beach with the Parents Rancho using the bonnet mounted searchlights to pick out my stepdad sitting in the "Dorfy" on the sandbar waiting to refloat after they decided to head in at the wrong state of tide.... :p It's not very forgiving....
 
First time in there in the early 80s we had to wait until after dark for the tide to come up enough - all planned.

But didn't realise that going when the tide was still flooding in also meant that sideways movement and managed to get the boat on the top of the groyne on the starbaord side with me hanging onto one of the posts trying to get the boat off the groyne. Took about 5 minutes before the tide rose enough and we swing round backwards into the channel.

For at least 10 years afterwards I could identify the post by the way it leant over much more than the others.

The boat was fine it was an old wooden triple keeler with a foot wide flat iron keel which just crunched the wooden groyne.
 
In my youth I had an old tore out and sailed in and out around high water.I recall a very deep drafted engineless French yacht leaning on the east pier where if there is little wind it dies completetly.The west pier was the scene of my first ship wreak when thw sailing club launch couldnt make it against the tide an let me go and the boat cartwheeled with the tide till we got a rope on the west works.As a general guide two ours each side of the high water makes for a trouble free navigation.
 
Thanks to (almost) everybody for such good advice. I think the feeling of the meeting is to do it as the harbourmaster advises! I do remember taking a Westerly 22 in there using an outboard. It took quite a lot of time!
 
You do need to keep well away from the west wall when coming through the entrance if you are at all unsure about your depth clearance. The shingle does build up on that side. At least the east wall is marked by posts!
 
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