shortjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
Planning on a trip to Ramsgate from the Orwell over the next couple of weeks and although I have a route sorted wondered, with regards to tides , the best time to go, bearing in mind tidal flow at North Foreland.
Orwell to Ramsgate best time to go?
- Thread starter shortjohnsilver
- Start date
Charlie Boy
Well-Known Member
There was a recent thread on this with the definitive answer from Tiller Girl.ah, found it;
Lowestoft To Ramsgate
Lowestoft To Ramsgate
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
Well done Charile. What average boat speed (speed through the water (STW) not SOG)? Preferred route?
johnalison
Well-Known Member
It depends what you want to do. If you want just go to Ramsgate it's not very critical unless your name is Charles Stock, and anything around half flood will do. If you leave earlier you can meet the tide as it changes at N Foreland and carry it round Dungeness.
shortjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
I’ve planned to exit Harwich harbour to the medusa then NE Gunfleet then down to Barrow 2 across the sunk into Black Deep down to fisherman’s gatt through and down to north foreland and Ramsgate
Probably around 5/6 knots.
Probably around 5/6 knots.
Charlie Boy
Well-Known Member
We’ve always done Foulgers gat, more direct and nothing to be afraid of.
shortjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
Many thanks. Yes, looking at Tiller Girls helpful Information I’ll set off Sheerness HW + 2.45 as recommended and go via Black Deep and most likely will by pass Foulger‘s Gatt and head down Fisherman’s Which looks straightforward and not surrounded by wind turbines. Next time maybe!
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
Via Black Deep and Fisherman's Gat is the least advantageous route in terms of distance and tide. It is a matter entirely for you but crossing the Little Sunk is absolutely safe. There is a download on my download page. But I agree it is a GPS crossing. Doing a major part of the Black Deep can share some big stuff at 19/20kts. But with the economy in tatters there is much reduced big traffic. While I was doing the SW Sunk Survey there was no big traffic in Fisherman's or the Black Deep for over 4 hours. Normally very unusual. Note the Black Deep is defined as a narrow channel. Foulger's is entirely clear at the moment but they ask you to call up any of their vessels before entering.
A comparison of routes at 5 or 6 kts. This is based upon a departure wpt just ouside Harwich Harbour to a wpt just outside Ramsgit Harbour. I will quote you, inter alia, a NOTE time just as a comparison figure. NOTE time is the time for the passage if this were on a big lake with no tide. You'll see why I have included that. Everything is based on Sheerness times. This is because the majority of the tidal diamonds in the Estuary have easier access based on Sheerness. So work the times based on the Sheerness tide on the day.
Via the Little Sunk crossing and Foulgers Gat
NOTE time for the passage @ 5 kts is 7:48
5kts Springs - best possible passage = 7:42 departing +2.30 Sheerness from the Harwich wpt. But I would recommend it would be better to achieve 7:50 starting at +1 Sheerness. This is because if you slipped on the schedule, you would lose the tide on the last section from the North Foreland down to Ramsgit. Worst possible passage is 8:23
5kts Neaps - best = 7:45 starting at +3.15 but I recommend achieving 7:50 starting at +1.30 for the same reason above. Worst possible = 8:07.
NOTE time for 6kts is 6:30
6kts Springs - best = 6:00 starting at +3.30 but better achieving 6:11 starting at +2.00. Worst 6:49
6kts Neaps - best = 6:16 starting at +3.00 but better achieving 6:23 starting at +2.00. Worst 7:10
Via the Little Sunk crossing and Fisherman's Gat
NOTE time for the passage @ 5 kts is 7:58
5kts Springs - best = 8:03 starting -4.45/+4.30. Not necessary to worry about the last sector issue. Worst = 8:39
5kts Neaps - best = 7:58 starting at -4.45. Ditto not ncessary to worry about the last sector issue. Worst = 8:25
NOTE time for 6kts is 6:38
6kts Springs - best = 6:23 starting at +3.15 but better achieving 6:31 starting at +2.00. Worst = 7:10
6kts Neaps - best = 6:32 starting at +3.15 but better achieving 6:39 starting at +2.00. Worst = 7:00
Via the Black Deep and Fisherman's Gat
NOTE time for the passage @ 5 kts is 8:14
5kts Springs - best = 8:26 starting -5.00 or 8:31 starting at +5.15. Not necessary to worry about the last sector issue. Worst = 8:54
5kts Neaps - best = 8:12 starting at -3.45. Ditto not ncessary to worry about the last sector issue. Worst = 8:40
NOTE time for 6kts is 6:51
6kts Springs - best = 6:36 starting at +2.30 but better achieving 6:42 starting at +1.45. Worst = 7:32
6kts Neaps - best = 6:45 starting at +2.45 but better achieving 6:50 starting at +1.45. Worst = 7:14
You will see the point of the NOTE time. Crossing from Harwich to Ramsgate doesn't 'beat' the tide much. You can of course go via the Black Deep and Foulger's but that is another table.
A comparison of routes at 5 or 6 kts. This is based upon a departure wpt just ouside Harwich Harbour to a wpt just outside Ramsgit Harbour. I will quote you, inter alia, a NOTE time just as a comparison figure. NOTE time is the time for the passage if this were on a big lake with no tide. You'll see why I have included that. Everything is based on Sheerness times. This is because the majority of the tidal diamonds in the Estuary have easier access based on Sheerness. So work the times based on the Sheerness tide on the day.
Via the Little Sunk crossing and Foulgers Gat
NOTE time for the passage @ 5 kts is 7:48
5kts Springs - best possible passage = 7:42 departing +2.30 Sheerness from the Harwich wpt. But I would recommend it would be better to achieve 7:50 starting at +1 Sheerness. This is because if you slipped on the schedule, you would lose the tide on the last section from the North Foreland down to Ramsgit. Worst possible passage is 8:23
5kts Neaps - best = 7:45 starting at +3.15 but I recommend achieving 7:50 starting at +1.30 for the same reason above. Worst possible = 8:07.
NOTE time for 6kts is 6:30
6kts Springs - best = 6:00 starting at +3.30 but better achieving 6:11 starting at +2.00. Worst 6:49
6kts Neaps - best = 6:16 starting at +3.00 but better achieving 6:23 starting at +2.00. Worst 7:10
Via the Little Sunk crossing and Fisherman's Gat
NOTE time for the passage @ 5 kts is 7:58
5kts Springs - best = 8:03 starting -4.45/+4.30. Not necessary to worry about the last sector issue. Worst = 8:39
5kts Neaps - best = 7:58 starting at -4.45. Ditto not ncessary to worry about the last sector issue. Worst = 8:25
NOTE time for 6kts is 6:38
6kts Springs - best = 6:23 starting at +3.15 but better achieving 6:31 starting at +2.00. Worst = 7:10
6kts Neaps - best = 6:32 starting at +3.15 but better achieving 6:39 starting at +2.00. Worst = 7:00
Via the Black Deep and Fisherman's Gat
NOTE time for the passage @ 5 kts is 8:14
5kts Springs - best = 8:26 starting -5.00 or 8:31 starting at +5.15. Not necessary to worry about the last sector issue. Worst = 8:54
5kts Neaps - best = 8:12 starting at -3.45. Ditto not ncessary to worry about the last sector issue. Worst = 8:40
NOTE time for 6kts is 6:51
6kts Springs - best = 6:36 starting at +2.30 but better achieving 6:42 starting at +1.45. Worst = 7:32
6kts Neaps - best = 6:45 starting at +2.45 but better achieving 6:50 starting at +1.45. Worst = 7:14
You will see the point of the NOTE time. Crossing from Harwich to Ramsgate doesn't 'beat' the tide much. You can of course go via the Black Deep and Foulger's but that is another table.
