Ramsgate Channel

[johnnys]

In a similar vein to the previous thread we are doing Harwich to Dover on the 20th June via top of Gunfleet and hopefully Foulgers. My problem is that by the time I get south of Ramsgate the tide will turn against us. I usually run down Gull stream but the Ramsgate channel looks as though it might miss the worst of the tide, can any of you knowledgeable forumites confirm this ? Thanks John

 

[sailorman]

In a similar vein to the previous thread we are doing Harwich to Dover on the 20th June via top of Gunfleet and hopefully Foulgers. My problem is that by the time I get south of Ramsgate the tide will turn against us. I usually run down Gull stream but the Ramsgate channel looks as though it might miss the worst of the tide, can any of you knowledgeable forumites confirm this ? Thanks John

it is the conviction of a Harwich Pilot Rtd that one should depart Harwich @ HW.
as most of the trip is across the tide therefore get south of North Foreland & carry the flood to Dover

 

[reginaldon]

it is the conviction of a Harwich Pilot Rtd that one should depart Harwich @ HW.
as most of the trip is across the tide therefore get south of North Foreland & carry the flood to Dover

Sounds right.

 

[johnnys]

Problem is high is approx 3am don't want to leave that early and I would be crossing on a falling tide (2m draft)

 

[Lucky Duck]

Problem is high is approx 3am don't want to leave that early and I would be crossing on a falling tide (2m draft)

I would suggest by passing Gunfleet and the Sunk sands and entering the Black Deep just to the East of Black Deep No 1 buoy

 

[ditchcrawler]

We did Harwich/Ramsgate on thursday.Left Levington at 0500(HW was 0543) and went via Medussa,just N of Gunfleet to the Black Deep ,down black Deep and through Foulgers.We had the entrance and exit buoys on two plotters and I put an extra waypoint in the middle.The Long Sand Inner and Outer have been removed but the excellent plan provided by Tiller Girl showed 1 wind base to port and 4 to starboard and there they were.We had planned to go to Dover but we decided to get into Ramsgate as the cloud and wind was building.We got to Ramsgate at 1400 hrs.We could have got to Dover tidewise as the tide starts turning at Dover about 1.5 hours before HW Dover which was about 17.50 on that day.We motorsailed most of the way as it was SW
all the way.Black Deep with wind on the nose was quite lumpy.The boat draws 1.5m and we never had less then 4.5m under the keel through Foulgers.We did Dover the next day and on to Eastbourne the day after.My friend had sold his Westerly Longbow and we were delivering it to the new owner.

 

[aquaholic]

Ramsgate channel is fine, just keep an eye out as usual for those blasted pots!

 

[Pye_End]

Your question I think is partly wind direction/strength and spring/neap tide based. Ramsgate Channel may well be relatively gentle, but further down (eg off Deal) it is still stong enough. If you can avoid sea breezes in the afternoon off the Downs it can help. With a chop of South Foreland motoring can be slow. If the wind is fresh from the south, against a spring tide, it will take a long time whichever way you go.

So if you really need to be doing that trip at that state of the tide, Ramsgate Channel makes much sense. However staying at Ramsgate, or waiting at anchor somewhere nearby may also be logical depending on the conditions.

 

[johnnys]

Thanks for the info people, some good advice as usual. Forecast is not to good at present, should have rembered it's first week of wimbledon, I guess it will be the usual decide on the day!