Annabelle
New Member
hello everyone. i've noted that yachts sometimes cross the swin spitway about 250 metres south west of the line between the bouys. is there some local knowledge at play here?
local knowledge
- Thread starter Annabelle
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FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Stray as far as you dare, then back off toward the buoy line when your bottle goes.
On the North East Side, thats a long way. On the South West side, I would say about 300m around half tide for a 2 and a bit metres.
On the North East Side, thats a long way. On the South West side, I would say about 300m around half tide for a 2 and a bit metres.
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
If you go to my website below you will find a download (on the download page) for the Spitway. This was depths as at last June. I went over the Spitway last Thursday on way to play on the SW Sunk and had the data hoover on. That suggests more water than last year! Perhaps 0.2 of a metre - a positive flood! If you pm me your email address I can send you a plot of the soundings from last thursday to add to the download information.
I am planning a mini survey of the Spitway next week if the weather is kind so I can widen the plot. Christo of this forum who works on the windfarm has indicated that there is a lot more water towards the windfarm than we used to expect.
I am planning a mini survey of the Spitway next week if the weather is kind so I can widen the plot. Christo of this forum who works on the windfarm has indicated that there is a lot more water towards the windfarm than we used to expect.
AliM
Well-Known Member
Yes, as the others have said, it's quite wide and flat, so crossing at an angle, or well north east or a bit SW of the buoys is (usually) OK.
Do the tidal calculation in advance (using Tillergirl's soundings) and so you know what depth to expect, decide at what depth to panic and which way to turn if you do panic, and then plough on across keeping an eye on the depth - you probably won't need to panic.
It'll be fine!!!!
Do the tidal calculation in advance (using Tillergirl's soundings) and so you know what depth to expect, decide at what depth to panic and which way to turn if you do panic, and then plough on across keeping an eye on the depth - you probably won't need to panic.
It'll be fine!!!!
Marmalade
Well-Known Member
recommend Tillergirl's book. I've got a copy you can look at when next around - you can get one online though
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
Bless you Marmalade!
Annabelle. Email sent. For up to date information on the height of tide at the Spitway, listen to Ch 69. Every 30 minutes, the Port of London Authority (London VTS) broadcasts height of tide data at several points in the Estuary on Channel 69. These broadcasts are at 15 minutes to and 15 minutes past the hour. You will hear Channel 69 is relatively busy with ships reporting their movements inward and outward at several points in the Estuary and occasionally the broadcast is delayed by a few minutes to complete such traffic. You can recognise the transmissions in advance as the tide data is always preceded by three pips (broadcast by the PLA; not a DSC warning). They then give four tidal heights starting with the height at Walton on the Naze (e.g. "Walton 1.9"). Other sites given can vary but usually are Margate, Shivering Sands and Sheerness.
You can add the height of tide you hear at Walton to the chart depths to get a pretty safe guide of the actual water at the Spitway. Of course the tide is earlier at Walton than the Spitway (HW is 17 mins approx earlier and LW +30 mins springs +20 mins neaps) but that difference is effectively eliminated by the larger tidal range at the Spitway.
One problem is that London VTS may not be too clear at the Spitway. My reception at that point can be a little mushy at times but sometimes can be improved by opening the Squelch on the VHF during the transmission.
Annabelle. Email sent. For up to date information on the height of tide at the Spitway, listen to Ch 69. Every 30 minutes, the Port of London Authority (London VTS) broadcasts height of tide data at several points in the Estuary on Channel 69. These broadcasts are at 15 minutes to and 15 minutes past the hour. You will hear Channel 69 is relatively busy with ships reporting their movements inward and outward at several points in the Estuary and occasionally the broadcast is delayed by a few minutes to complete such traffic. You can recognise the transmissions in advance as the tide data is always preceded by three pips (broadcast by the PLA; not a DSC warning). They then give four tidal heights starting with the height at Walton on the Naze (e.g. "Walton 1.9"). Other sites given can vary but usually are Margate, Shivering Sands and Sheerness.
You can add the height of tide you hear at Walton to the chart depths to get a pretty safe guide of the actual water at the Spitway. Of course the tide is earlier at Walton than the Spitway (HW is 17 mins approx earlier and LW +30 mins springs +20 mins neaps) but that difference is effectively eliminated by the larger tidal range at the Spitway.
One problem is that London VTS may not be too clear at the Spitway. My reception at that point can be a little mushy at times but sometimes can be improved by opening the Squelch on the VHF during the transmission.
Annabelle
New Member
tillergirl - email received with thanks. book on order. thanks for the tip re ch69. our next trip up to the orwell (from the medway) is planned for week comm. 26 july and i'm looking forward to using the book and website to help my passage planning.