Long Sand crossing to north of wind farm?

[LittleSister]

Browsing a limited selection of charts to hand, there appears to be a potential crossing of Long Sand NW of Foulgers and Fishermans, just NW of the wind farm - i.e. due east of Black Deep No.3, and roughly 51degrees 40 N.

According to Navionics free web chart viewer it's min depth 2m, but marked nearby 'Less water 2016'; according to a small scale late 1990s Stanfords chart its mainly >2m, but narrow section at western end <2m.

Boat draws 1m, and I am considering a potential cautious crossing in calm condition, and with regard to tide height/flow, etc. I am aware that Long Sand is said to be more noticeably mobile than the inner banks.

Any knowledge/comments?

 

[Plum]

Browsing a limited selection of charts to hand, there appears to be a potential crossing of Long Sand NW of Foulgers and Fishermans, just NW of the wind farm - i.e. due east of Barrow Deep, and roughly 51degrees 40 N.

According to Navionics free web chart viewer it's min depth 2m, but marked nearby 'Less water 2016'; according to a small scale late 1990s Stanfords chart its mainly >2m, but narrow section at western end <2m.

Boat draws 1m, and I am considering a potential cautious crossing in calm condition, and with regard to tide height/flow, etc. I am aware that Long Sand is said to be more noticeably mobile than the inner banks.

Any knowledge/comments?

I use waypoint 51 41.3n 1 24.2e which works well if using foulgers gat and you will have 3m below chart datum. I went through there yesterday at low water getting the new flood to help me to Ramsgate.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[tillergirl]

I think he is talking about the Long Sand not the Sunk Sand which is one of the standard crossings (the Little Sunk). I think he is referring to the Black Deep not Barrow Deep to the NW of the Wind Farm where the 'Less water 2016' chart notation is located. I think it was a forumite who had reported the 'Less water' back in 2016 because we had a thread about it.

I am not sure what the advantage is, of crossing NW of the Wind Farm rather than the Little Sunk/Foulger's Gat.

 

[Plum]

I think he is talking about the Long Sand not the Sunk Sand which is one of the standard crossings (the Little Sunk). I think he is referring to the Black Deep not Barrow Deep to the NW of the Wind Farm where the 'Less water 2016' chart notation is located. I think it was a forumite who had reported the 'Less water' back in 2016 because we had a thread about it.

I am not sure what the advantage is, of crossing NW of the Wind Farm rather than the Little Sunk/Foulger's Gat.

Oops my mistake. I was thrown by the latitude quoed by the op and assumed the wrong windfarm (there are soooo many of them!)

 

[LittleSister]

I think he is talking about the Long Sand not the Sunk Sand which is one of the standard crossings (the Little Sunk). I think he is referring to the Black Deep not Barrow Deep to the NW of the Wind Farm where the 'Less water 2016' chart notation is located. I think it was a forumite who had reported the 'Less water' back in 2016 because we had a thread about it.

I am not sure what the advantage is, of crossing NW of the Wind Farm rather than the Little Sunk/Foulger's Gat.

Well spotted, Roger - yes, I meant to write Black Deep No. 3 (apologies for confusion - now corrected in OP).

The advantage is (a) more direct line (ignoring tide flow) between Harwich and Gravelines, and (b) change of scenery.

P.S. Does it have a name?

 

[tillergirl]

I would have thought it would be better to go round the Long Sand Head, down the two-way route. You have some rules to follow across the TSS so you can't go direct (aka straight line). Whether it is feasible to cross the Long Sand I don't know and I haven't heard of that point since 2016. Bear in mind going across the Kentish Knock will be 'challenging' as well.

No name as far as I know.

 

[Marmalade]

It was I who reported the "less water" in 2016 - for some reason I eschewed our usual route through Foulgers and tried to use the route you describe. I was able to send the UKHO a screenshot of my track from the ipad which clearly showed us in 2m+ - but we draw 2m and we were stuck for about half an hour until the tide lifted us off. Didn't dare push on through the gap so ended up coming back through the wind farm and through Foulgers. More haste, less speed as they say. There's a thread on here somewhere from that time as I was grumpy about it.

 

[tillergirl]

It were you! I couldn't remember who it was. I thought your report to the UKHO was evidence of the value that the UKHO value (sic) receiving yachtsmen's reports (sic). There are many places we go that are never professionally surveyed.

 

[LittleSister]

No name as far as I know.

It was I who reported the "less water" in 2016 - for some reason I eschewed our usual route through Foulgers and tried to use the route you describe. I was able to send the UKHO a screenshot of my track from the ipad which clearly showed us in 2m+ - but we draw 2m and we were stuck for about half an hour until the tide lifted us off. Didn't dare push on through the gap so ended up coming back through the wind farm and through Foulgers. More haste, less speed as they say. There's a thread on here somewhere from that time as I was grumpy about it.

Marmalade’s Gat it is, then!