New Ray Sand Buoys!!!!!!!!!!!

[FullCircle]

From Crouch Harbour Authority......


NOTICE TO MARINERS No 6 of 2011

Raysand Channel – New SWM Buoys

Please take notice that two additional buoys have been installed
marking the Raysand swatchway.
Based on recent survey information the best depth over the Raysand
Channel is found by following the E 00 deg 59.500’ meridian. On this
course the Raysand passage dries to -1.4m LAT.
Two new Unlit buoys have been installed on this meridian, character
Safe Water Mark (vertical red and white stripes). The northern buoy
(Raysand North) is a tall pillar buoy. The middle Buoy (Raysand Middle)
is a smaller/lower unit.
The Traditional yellow spherical Raysand Buoy is retained at the south
end of the channel.
These new buoys are intended particularly to assist in locating the
Raysand when approaching from the north and are experimental. Feedback
as to whether they are useful will be welcome.

Mark Wakelin
Harbour Master
25th August 2011

 

[tillergirl]

The northerly buoy is in the 'funnel' of the Ray Sand Channel at 51.40.700N, 000.59.500E lying in 1.5m of water CD

The 'mid-sands' buoy is at 51.40.000N, 000.59.500E, dries 1.3m. CD

I have updated my chart at http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page6.html if you care to download.

If you are coming from the north, down the 001E meridian from the Blackwater you still see the Buxey Beacon first in the distance just to port of your bow. About halfway to the Ray Sand, the new 'funnel' buoy (my description) becomes visible. From this buoy the mid-sands buoy, a squat low thing looking like a dinghy from the distance is visible. The Ray Sand as ever remains elusive from the mid-sands buoy.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Well done Crouch Harbour Authority !

Thanks for the info boys.

 

[Bru]

Top marks (sorry!) to the CHA - maybe I'll pluck up the courage to tackle the Rays'n at last next time out (12 days and counting)

 

[tillergirl]

Worth passing on your positive comments to Mark Wakelin at mwakelin@crouchharbour.org.uk. He has asked for feedback and has gone to some trouble on our behalf.

 

[Cantata]

It's well done Tillergirl as well, as the CHA have only buoyed the Raysn following the result of Roger's survey.

 

[Saguday]

Good stuff & thanks to everyone involved - now we have no excuse not to venture south and visit the oiks on the Crouch

 

[Bru]

I was wondering why I missed this NM when I was updating my charts the other day, just checked and it's not up on the CHA web site

How to you get 'em when they're issued if they're not published on the website PDQ? (Bearing in mind I live over 100 miles away from the boat)

 

[Bru]

A further comment - looking at the chart on East Coast Pilot web site, it seems to me that the best water is on the 1°00' meridian, rather than at 0°59.5'? Am I missing something?

Edit: Looking again, I think I'd be inclined to steer somewhat to the East side of the new buoys

 

[Kilter]

I 'parked up' on the Ray Sand once

 

[philiphurst]

Well, that's taken the fun out of it!

More seriously, well done and thanks to all involved.

 

[creeksailor]

This has to be good news for all users of the swatchway. Although I enjoyed the challenge of navigating to that elusive solitary gobstopper, the yellow Ray buoy. Being a small-boater it will always be my prefered route to the Crouch. For those that will now never get to experience what it was like in the old days, here is a report of a passage made just recentlyhttp://creeksailor.blogspot.com/search/label/Ray%20Sand%20Channel

 

[tillergirl]

A further comment - looking at the chart on East Coast Pilot web site, it seems to me that the best water is on the 1°00' meridian, rather than at 0°59.5'? Am I missing something?

Edit: Looking again, I think I'd be inclined to steer somewhat to the East side of the new buoys

I think the CHM's idea was to try to keep a nice simple north-south line and the 59.5E meridian has consistently been 'ok'. The contours on my chart are closely spaced so whilst you are absolutely right that the best water is to the east, a south coast sailor would not be able to spot the difference

When I am back from ensuring SWMBO continues to live in the manner to which she has unfortunately been acustomed, I'll cruch the data on the 1 degree meridian all the way to and from the Blackwater. Generally there is two to three feet more over the Ray Sand by the new mid-sands buoy.

Got to go for it now Brigantia!

 

[Bru]

Got to go for it now Brigantia!

Yep, no excuses for bottling it any more

 

[surekandoo]

Great news! Many thanks to "Tillergirl" and Mark Wakelin of the CHA.

Do I recognise the pillar buoy? Ex Ron Pipe perhaps?

 

[Eurybia]

For those of us that cross the Ray Sand channel further buoys are welcome but for those that visit wouldn't a safe water Mark be a bit confusing in an area that drys out completely? Clearly not safe water in all states of tide.

 

[Cantata]

It is assumed that mariners are competent to use multiple sources of information when at sea, including charts and tidal data.

 

[Eurybia]

It is assumed that mariners are competent to use multiple sources of information when at sea, including charts and tidal data.

Granted but a safe water mark means just that. Painted yellow may have been more appropriate. I have seen enough boats on the sands surrounding the Crouch recently, presuming they had charts/GPS on board, where there were no buoys. Putting safe water marks on drying areas could cause confusion.

 

[silverdawn]

Granted but a safe water mark means just that. Painted yellow may have been more appropriate. I have seen enough boats on the sands surrounding the Crouch recently, presuming they had charts/GPS on board, where there were no buoys. Putting safe water marks on drying areas could cause confusion.

Safe water only when its deep enough!

 

[tillergirl]

Safe water only when its deep enough!

I think that is the point. He couldn't put lateral marks there and constructing X top marks was going to cost money. He is not obliged to buoy the Ray Sand and was just thinking of helping us. It's not likely that anyone in the Crouch will mistake these marks for the Crouch buoyage - you'd have to be leaving the Ray Sand Buoy to see the Mid Sands buoy going due north which frankly is a bit of a clue. Yellow with a X topmark could be mistaken for the sometimes present EA buoy at the edge of the Swire Hole which marks nothing.