ray sand

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canveyrover

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Hi all just to let you know i went across the ray sands on sunday from,the Crouch.5.4 at southend high water.1hr 30 mins before high water had no less than 8 ft under at lowest point.Been over twice this year it may be me but it seems to have more depth this year.Any one else thought the same
 
http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page29.html - the fifth one down. There has always had a deeper channel as you can see but has been a cul de sac for many, many years. But the Rays'nd was once the main channel out from the Crouch, 3 fathoms 100 years ago. There is probably no reason for the channel to open up again. It all goes in a cycle. I've always had a theory (prob half baked but) in Roman times the reason why their Saxon fort was built (on where St Peter's re-used the roman bricks) was to monitor ships into either the Blackwater or the Crouch.
 
canveyrover said:
Hi all just to let you know i went across the ray sands on sunday from,the Crouch.5.4 at southend high water.1hr 30 mins before high water had no less than 8 ft under at lowest point.Been over twice this year it may be me but it seems to have more depth this year.Any one else thought the same
Click to expand...

Would be most grateful if you could convert that into actual depth.

Many Thanks.
 
MoodySabre said:
My tideplotter for last Sunday show HW Southend at 5.3m and 1hr30 before that the height was 3.8m knock off -1.3m for lowest on the track = 8.2 feet. :encouragement:
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Yup. Got that - Thanks,

But Canveyrover stated 8' under. I have to assume that he means 8' under his keel which is unknown to us . Having now looked at the chartlet - Many Thanks Tiller Girl - the worst drying fig of 1.3m now makes the position clear.

Personally, I never take note of depths that are not stated as 'actual depth of water' .
 
I confess to 'suffering' from anorakism, hence asking where, when, how much. Hence me being pendantic about HW Ray Sand v Southend (did you know that HW Heybridge Basin = HW Southend +/- 5 minutes?). I follow Canveyrover's point about 'under' and as he made no reference to the buoyage I wondered if he had found somewhere else. As you will see a slightly deeper channel has always been further to the west but the 'cul-de-sac' end was higher than the rest. I am wondering if perhaps the cul-de-sac has opened out; if so I would see if I could squeeze the schedule for a re-survey. (Note my chartlet is based on the 2011 survey but I checked data in 2015 on the buoyage line and it showed OK - it was pointless doing more because a stiff sea breeze had caused too much pitching and rolling for accurate data).
 
tillergirl said:
I confess to 'suffering' from anorakism, hence asking where, when, how much. Hence me being pendantic about HW Ray Sand v Southend (did you know that HW Heybridge Basin = HW Southend +/- 5 minutes?). I follow Canveyrover's point about 'under' and as he made no reference to the buoyage I wondered if he had found somewhere else. As you will see a slightly deeper channel has always been further to the west but the 'cul-de-sac' end was higher than the rest. I am wondering if perhaps the cul-de-sac has opened out; if so I would see if I could squeeze the schedule for a re-survey. (Note my chartlet is based on the 2011 survey but I checked data in 2015 on the buoyage line and it showed OK - it was pointless doing more because a stiff sea breeze had caused too much pitching and rolling for accurate data).
Click to expand...

A resurvey of the Ray Sand, including both the buoyed channel and the west channel would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I've probably, in fact I'm sure I've, mentioned before :), that I think, from observations en passant that the cul-de-sac may be opening out at the Crouch end

I've definitely seen an area of clear water behind the drying sands in the area between Outer Crouch No,3 and No.1 buoys and there appears to be a lead into it from the main river channel

Whether it connects through to the deep water north of the sands is another matter (as indeed is the question of whether it's still there this year as I haven't been in the vicinity around low water so far) but I have also observed several yachts making their way round Holliwell Point in that area

It would definitely be interesting to know what's going on there. I've been hoping for an opportunity to tow my RIB down and anchor off to investigate but the chance has yet to arise
 
Well, it's worth an investigation - and if it is opening out back to how it was 100 years ago that would be excellent. I am trying to finish off the Upper Reaches of the Blackwater at the moment - infinitely more complicated than before, added by building/major decoration works etc, etc. Won't be able to use the last springs this month but the big springs in August would be good; RTIR 23rd August, perhaps 24th.
 
tillergirl said:
Well, it's worth an investigation - and if it is opening out back to how it was 100 years ago that would be excellent. I am trying to finish off the Upper Reaches of the Blackwater at the moment - infinitely more complicated than before, added by building/major decoration works etc, etc. Won't be able to use the last springs this month but the big springs in August would be good; RTIR 23rd August, perhaps 24th.
Click to expand...

Hi, i assume you did not manage to fit in the new survey this year. Would be grateful if it is still on your to-do list. Thanks.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I had a good look at Buxey Sands as I was coming into the Crouch at almost LWS last Sunday. The only place that I could see clear water all the way over was just east of the Buxey cardinal. I reckon a going north, or south, on a bearing of 01°001’500 should see the deepest water. I could see significant sand above the yellow raysand buoy markers by the time I got there and , well, everywhere else really. This tallied with earlier in the year when I went across at the yellow buoys and didn’t find tons of depth. I couldn’t see any evidence of the cul de sac opening just yet I’m afraid.

For reference this was last Sunday, 15th July at 0745 BST. LW Southend was at 0900 BST. I was at the yellow bouys 25 mins later.
 
Crossed this morning, least depth of water seen 2.5m at location wherd Roger's chart shows least depth. (Ok i was at 1.00.015) time was approx 1100. 2 things of note, the r/w ray sperical seens to be off station and further to the north there are 2 lobster pots more or less on the 1.00.00 line, hence my being off the straight and narrow!
 
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