Ore entrance in winter

[LittleSister]

I seem to recall that the entrance buoys are removed in winter. How difficult/inadvisable would the entrance be at the moment without them (entry/exit in light westerlies, rising tide, daylight, 3 foot draft long keel, strong engine).

I would envisage following the approximate line of last year's buoy positions but keeping an eye on the sounder and the water around me.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

cant see a problem if you pick the right weather (flat sea!), and in a rising tide as suggested.

Personally i'd also prefer a plotter too, so that I could create a trail to enable me to back out if I was running out of rising tide after too many groundings, but not essential.

 

[LittleSister]

cant see a problem if you pick the right weather (flat sea!), and in a rising tide as suggested.

Personally i'd also prefer a plotter too, so that I could create a trail to enable me to back out if I was running out of rising tide after too many groundings, but not essential.

Thanks. We have a plotter, but I hadn't thought of using the trail trick.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

It might even help you rediscover a skill being rapidly lost.... predicting what's ahead by surface water conditions!

 

[sailorman]

cant see a problem if you pick the right weather (flat sea!), and in a rising tide as suggested.

Personally i'd also prefer a plotter too, so that I could create a trail to enable me to back out if I was running out of rising tide after too many groundings, but not essential.

But you use wheels when you do it

 

[LittleSister]

It might even help you rediscover a skill being rapidly lost.... predicting what's ahead by surface water conditions!

I would envisage.... keeping an eye on the sounder and the water around me.

Not quite lost yet! I wouldn't claim great expertise, but it is a skill I try to use.

 

[Cantata]

The buoys were removed recently. News of this and harbour-master's advice is here and was tweeted on @eastcoastpilot at the time as well.

 

[LittleSister]

Thanks all.

 

[Seashoreman]

Blindly going where others have gone before....

You should be fine. If you have 2012 on your plotter very little has changed so far.
However. We came in on Sunday afternoon, 6th Jan, in dense fog, following the coast from the North. Trusting in 2012 chartlet and GPS. I was all for finding Haven Bouy and taking compass bearing (320T) but in the blind fog we had to rely on a fix on the missing Oxley bouy and head in.
Boats have been coming in and out of this harbour for hundreds of years and many pro and hobby fishermen are in and out most days. However you need your wits about you and need to concentrate. Once you get past the ficticous Wier bouy keep your eyes open on west bank for a large lump of mud near the Orange beacon. KEEP TO THE MIDDLE until you feel safe. Then follow east bank and you are in.
There is a Harbour Master at Orford who is knowlodgeable and helpful on 08/16. Also there are fishermen about most weekends on 08.
We had 4 ft at 2/12 hrs flood which was just enough. But never want to do that in fog again.
In conclusion, I would say it was not a problem to use www.eastcoastrivers.com chart. Keep north of where Oxley was and hug shore until north of Orange Beacon, then stop chatting and look out for west bank!!
I also know bargemen who take the narrow approach from the south, hugging the shore. It makes sense that there is an opening through the banks there, but poss shallow and round shingle hull may help.
This is my doorway to the sea and, even though it has a bad reputation, with respect and study it is straightforward.
Go for it!!
I do not understand why the Oxley and Weir cannot be left in. At least they would be a reference point to go from in the winter. Is it a liablility thing? Why not, when there are such things as forums allow them? Then move them for the summer sailors?
A big thank you to Alistair and Orford for that evening. (But the 'Jolly' Sailor is closed all day on Sunday?) End.

 

[sailorman]

You should be fine. If you have 2012 on your plotter very little has changed so far.
However. We came in on Sunday afternoon, 6th Jan, in dense fog, following the coast from the North. Trusting in 2012 chartlet and GPS. I was all for finding Haven Bouy and taking compass bearing (320T) but in the blind fog we had to rely on a fix on the missing Oxley bouy and head in.
Boats have been coming in and out of this harbour for hundreds of years and many pro and hobby fishermen are in and out most days. However you need your wits about you and need to concentrate. Once you get past the ficticous Wier bouy keep your eyes open on west bank for a large lump of mud near the Orange beacon. KEEP TO THE MIDDLE until you feel safe. Then follow east bank and you are in.
There is a Harbour Master at Orford who is knowlodgeable and helpful on 08/16. Also there are fishermen about most weekends on 08.
We had 4 ft at 2/12 hrs flood which was just enough. But never want to do that in fog again.
In conclusion, I would say it was not a problem to use www.eastcoastrivers.com chart. Keep north of where Oxley was and hug shore until north of Orange Beacon, then stop chatting and look out for west bank!!
I also know bargemen who take the narrow approach from the south, hugging the shore. It makes sense that there is an opening through the banks there, but poss shallow and round shingle hull may help.
This is my doorway to the sea and, even though it has a bad reputation, with respect and study it is straightforward.
Go for it!!
I do not understand why the Oxley and Weir cannot be left in. At least they would be a reference point to go from in the winter. Is it a liablility thing? Why not, when there are such things as forums allow them? Then move them for the summer sailors?
A big thank you to Alistair and Orford for that evening. (But the 'Jolly' Sailor is closed all day on Sunday?) End.

The Jolly closed on a Sunday