Ore entrance May 2020

[Johnah]

Hi all,

Here is a small video of the Ore entrance at LWS as it is now (May 2020) with the new buoy positions.

Ore entrance May 2020

Plus an aerial photo.

Please do not use these for navigation, but refer to the chartlet information from East Coast Pilot East Coast Pilot

John

 

[Seashoreman]

Certainly a bit of a mess. Is the red buoy Oxley ? Where is Weir Green?
Thanks for doing this btw.

 

[Johnah]

Hi Seashoreman,

You are welcome and yes that is correct. Just beware that the Oxley is on a 50m long scope so its position can wander a bit.

ECP Chartlet

But I saw a fairly large fishing boat leave the Ore at LWS so there must be a reasonable depth there - if you can find the channel.

John

 

[Aquaboy]

The green is tucked right in against the shore towards the bungalow. Doesn't look right from the vid.

 

[Johnah]

Yes it looks like we should stay close to the green.

 

[Marmalade]

Bear in mind that it was a spring tide LW. Most of us won't have the (lack of ) draft or the cahones to try it then. I'll aim, as usual, for a mid tide entrance on the flood and yes, stick fairly close to the SHM

edit: having now looked at the chartlet; it looks as though the deeper water is to the East of the starboard hand mark - I might be tempted to aim directly for it and at the last moment leave it close to port...

 

[Cantata]

.................having now looked at the chartlet; it looks as though the deeper water is to the East of the starboard hand mark - I might be tempted to aim directly for it and at the last moment leave it close to port...

Please remember the depth contours on the chartlet are from last year's survey! The Ore might not have changed much for all we know, but the Deben apparently has....

 

[ballyabroad]

If of any interest least depth of water over the Deben bar Saturday PM HW-3hrs was 3m. 1.6m under the keels most of the way between the reds, and it seems consistently flat at present. Not sure what it will be like in an onshore wind, as the aspect of the entrance run in has changed, as well as where the knolls have formed.

 

[fredrussell]

[/QUOTE]

Just beware that the Oxley is on a 50m long scope so its position can wander a bit.

Is that right? Seems amazingly long, why’s that then?

 

[Johnah]

Hi Fred,

Stephen Read the assistant harbour master at Felixstowe Ferry (who has the contract for putting the buoys in) says that the Ore buoys get dragged in the fierce current, so he has to put out 50m.

John

 

[fredrussell]

Ah. I see. But doesn’t that mean the buoys could be up to 50 metres ‘out’ from where they should be? That’s a huge error in a narrow channel. Apols if I’m being a bit dense here, just can’t get my head around it.

 

[Johnah]

Yes it does, it's a bit woolly but Stephen says that is the only way to stop the buoys from breaking away.

 

[PeterWright]

Of course, except at slack water, the buoys will be "out of position" up or down the channel, rather than across it. No buoy is anchored so well that it doesn't move around and these buoys are not of the substantial design used by Trinity House which can support substantial ground tackle. I'm just grateful to Stephen for providing these aids for the entrances to these two lovely rivers.

In my humble opinion, the information we get to help us sail in and out of these estuaries is better than at any time in the past 50 years, so thank you to everyone who contributes this information, including Simon, John (videos) Garth and Dick (East Coast Pilot and chartlets).

Peter.

 

[fredrussell]

Agree totally, many thanks to all.