Pegwell Bay (Ramsgate)

E

EdWingfield

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 Apr 2006
Messages
1,553
Location
Campbeltown
Visit site
Thinking of the future. Boat can take the ground and draws 1m.

Q. Would Pegwell offer good shelter for a few days if I were awaiting the opportunity to cross to Boulogne and I was wanting to embark crew?

If yes, where are best places to dinghy ashore?

ps. I can go into marina but must keep an eye on pennies.

Thanks Boys
 
Obviously in settled weather you can anchor anywhere but Pegwell Bay would not be top of my list in any sort of breeze, The Swale is a better bet but 25 miles away from Ramsgate. If the weather was good enough to make a passage to Boulogne then it would be okay to stay in Pegwell Bay, if however the weather was too queer to make it across to Boulogne I would not want to be anchored in Pegwell Bay
 
Coming from N, probably single-handed but wanting to collect crew for the crossing to Boulogne. This I will do in Ramsgate marina but then will depart after 24hrs to maybe anchor somewhere and await my chance.
 
You used to be able to drop the hook in the western part of Dover harbour for free... perhaps contact them to find out

if the wind is SW you could try off Sandwich Roud the bottom of the brake bank.. The ground appears to be shingle so should be good holding.
 
I often make the passage from the Thames Estuary to Boulogne single handed or go further down the channel for races starting off Plymouth. There are plenty of places to anchor with good shelter when the wind is in the West or Southwest. Off Deal Pier would be the best near Ramsgate I would say. One of my favourite stopping places is the Eastern side of Dungeness, but that may be too far down the channel for a crossing to Boulogne. Inside Dover Harbour there is a free anchorage that is good when the wind is in the North. You do have to ask permission to use the Dover anchorage and you are not supposed to leave your boat unattended which makes is hard for single handers to go ashore. Before North Foreland there is a lovely little anchorage off Herne Bay.
 
Isn't there a pool on the river stour inland from Pegwell bay.

Often wanted to try it but probably bilge keelers only.

I dont think the entrance is properly bouyed

Any locals who can give more information?
 
Just for pickup.... Viking Bay perhaps?

Settled weather.

http://goo.gl/maps/m2oF8


Of course you could go up the Stour to Sandwich, and pick up a drying pontoon mooring at Highway Marine. Cheap.

http://www.highwaymarinegroup.co.uk/Moorings-storage-in-kent.shtml

rivermap2.jpg
 
They have some fore and aft moorings in Ramsgate that might be worth inquiring about. They are not for visitors generally, but if one is free perhaps they will be amenable?

Otherwise, if you are on board and keeping an eye on things, as Glayva says, around Deal pier has good holding and has some protection.

Margate harbour will be cheaper then Ramsgate and suitable with bilge keels. So long as nobody has chucked any supermarket trolleys over the side you should get alongside. The fishy boats seem to congregate towards the entrance end, but there is plenty of room further up. No idea how much it costs though.

There are a few small bays just round the foreland which you could use in good weather, and if it comes up a bit then you could head off to Margate or Ramsgate.

There is an anchorage marked off Pegwell bay. Access to the shore is not easy - probably best via the old hoverport, and then there are some steps to get up the cliff. Hiding a dinghy should be ok as there is plenty of scrub. There are few facilities near by, although being on the main road there will be buses into Ramsgate centre.
 
anchorage near ramsgate

Pegwell bay itself pretty well dries out as shown on the chart.Experience kayaking and windsurfing from the bay shore and out beyond the harbour for many years shows that in and after a Northerly/NE large swells find their way round the Foreland and ramp up once they hit the shallows.So only in a settled lightish wind from that quarter or in a NW would I consider anchoring,possibly close in to the cliffs and the outer breakwater.A Neap tide would help considerably.
There is no real protection from Easterlies or from South thro to West winds due to the low lying land.
I would not suggest landing a tender anywhere inshore on the bay as it is very shallow and dries rapidly after HW.But we have launched our sea kayaks from the small sandy beach that lies immediately West of the outer harbour wall and this would be fine for a tender landing.There is also a concrete ramp nearby but this is steepish and would be less friendly in any sea.
I would strongly consider waiting in the Swale until the forward forecast looks positive enough to cover the crossing period and be prepared to stump up for Ramsgate if the weather window disappears again.
If this helps.
 
Putting economy 1st equal with safety,anchor in Dover,use the E Entrance with permission from port control on 74. You can embark crew for a minute on the lifeboat pontoon they are quite friendly in the office,then leave by the W Entrance,again 74. You might have to pay £12? Or probly not,Jerry.Or if you do get unlucky with weather,Wellington Dock is cheapest by a fair margin!
 
Last edited:
Dover works well for the crossing to Boulogne with a couple of provisos. It's a bit more restricted in gate/bridge opening times for the Wellington. Not quite so much in the Granville but even so the gate there is still closed at best tide time for setting off. Locals might persuade the marina to let em park on the lifeboat pontoon overnight which is tidal.
The outer harbour is quite rolly if you anchor.
 
broadstairs

It has already been mentioned - try Broadstairs, I have stayed there several times, I have a bilge keeler, the town and pubs are within easy walking distance. It is also sheltered, apart from the autumn/winter NE winds,.



David
.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top