Ore and Deben Entrances Update

[Jan Harber]

Leaving the Deben today was an interesting exercise. We knew that the West Knolls red can buoy would be further west than last year. However, it took us a while to figure out that the reason we couldn't see it initially was that it was being towed to a new position by Stephen Read, just as we left the river.

We had a least depth of 2.4m below the keel (1.2m draft) not far from West Knolls at about 1hr 45mins before HWS. More water over the bar than last year.

Entering the Ore, the course this year is more or less a straight line from the Haven Buoy, leaving Oxley to port and heading for the old orange and white beacon and the starboard-hand Weir. We found mostly about 3m under the keel, but it shoaled to 2.7m, 2.4m and then a least depth of 1.9m about two thirds of the way from Oxley to Weir. This was around HWS. So not a lot of leeway this season particularly if you need to leave the river much before HW.

The latest positions of both the Deben and Ore entrance buoys are currently being regularly broadcast by the Coastguard.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Entering the Ore, the course this year is more or less a straight line from the Haven Buoy, leaving Oxley to port and heading for the old orange and white beacon and the starboard-hand Weir. We found mostly about 3m under the keel, but it shoaled to 2.7m, 2.4m and then a least depth of 1.9m about two thirds of the way from Oxley to Weir. This was around HWS. So not a lot of leeway this season particularly if you need to leave the river much before HW.

I was thinking of going that way this weekend but assuming those are actual depths rather than under the keel I may well give it a miss. A while back I was told about a year when the inhabitants were effectively stuck in the river due to the lack of water over the knolls, is this year going to be repeat?

 

[Marmalade]

No problem

We took Marmalade in and out over the Easter weekend (Deben) with no problems at all - and that was before they moved the buoys!

2m draft

entered at HW-1hr

wouldn't have fancied it the following weekend!

 

[Otter]

Entering the Ore, the course this year is more or less a straight line from the Haven Buoy, leaving Oxley to port and heading for the old orange and white beacon and the starboard-hand Weir. We found mostly about 3m under the keel, but it shoaled to 2.7m, 2.4m and then a least depth of 1.9m about two thirds of the way from Oxley to Weir.

Thanks for the info - Is that total depth of water or below the keel for the Ore soundings?

 

[jonathansinclair@me.com]

Thank you for this Jan. We are aiming to come out of the Ore tomorrow at HW -2hrs. Out of interest was the 1.9m below your keel or was that total depth? If it was below your keel, how much do you draw?

Best Regards
Jonathan Sinclair

 

[Leighb]

She gives her draft (1.2M) in her post, and she also says several times "depth below the keel" so I would assume that all the depths were below keel and therefore add 1.2M to get actual depth of water?

This suggests a least depth of 3.1M at HWS, so on neaps there might be very little water?