Portsmouth - Hamilton Bank, Haslar Bank, Inner Swashway depth changes

[Channel Sailor]

For those that sail in the Portsmouth waters, I have just noticed in my chart updates on Imray Navigator there are a few depth changes of significance for users of the Inner Swashway. One example right on the edge of the Inner Swashway being a 0.7m depth being replaced with a 0.3m dries. Also reported to be shallower close to the beach adjacent to the innner Swashway. There are others including drying heights on Hamilton Bank.
I use the Inner Swashway often, on a familiar (to me) track. Next time I will have a little check around on the depth sounder to get a feel for what could now be a narrower deep ish channel over the bank.

 

[xcw]

I've been sailing out of Portsmouth for 20+ years and interestingly have never seen anyone aground using the inner swashway which surprises me given the depths. Also I have never see the Hamilton bank dry.

 

[Channel Sailor]

Lowest actual Portsmouth predicted tide I can recall at Springs in the tables is maybe 0.3m. So these updates on a few points imply a 0.3m dries could maybe not be observed clearly.

It is the implication of a narrowed Inner Swashway channel that interests me more. Maybe the deepest area of this small channel is slightly silted up little too.

On a related subject, I have in the past wondered if the navy main channel dredging for the Aircraft Carriers has speeded up the peak ebb current at the entrance.

 

[S04]

I've been sailing out of Portsmouth for 20+ years and interestingly have never seen anyone aground using the inner swashway which surprises me given the depths. Also I have never see the Hamilton bank dry.

Not dry but Hamilton Bank is awash here. Taken about 1hr 40m before LW.

 

[Lucky Duck]

I've been sailing out of Portsmouth for 20+ years and interestingly have never seen anyone aground using the inner swashway which surprises me given the depths. Also I have never see the Hamilton bank dry.

Agreed on Hamilton bank but saw a boat clearly aground a couple of hundred yards SW of the beacon on an evening low water a couple of years back.

 

[Salty seadog]

I’ve seen a couple on the Hamilton, both Sunsail. Now there’s a surprise!

 

[Mark-1]

Not dry but Hamilton Bank is awash here. Taken about 1hr 40m before LW.

Wow, I was going into emphatically agree with xcw. Glad I didn't now!