Rays'n Channel

[alldownwind]

Rays\'n Channel

I expect folk who can answer this will be out sailing right now lucky devils but here goes..
I last used the Rays'n Channel a few years ago. The only marker then was the Buxey Beacon. But on my shiny new UK leisure Folio sheet 5607.2 there is a yellow pillar buoy shown on the NW edge of the Swire Hole. It's not on the equivalent Imray chart though.
Is it really there? If so, what's it's purpose other than helping to fix position? Intrigued as to why it's a pillar mark too, thought maybe it might be on a transit but it doesn't appear so.

 

[tillergirl]

Re: Rays\'n Channel

Curious. It's not on last year's full Admiralty Chart either. Presumably to mark the edge of Batchelor Spit - but why anyone would want to do that? I might just go and have a look next week. Give me something to do. Can you give a Lat/Long?

 

[alldownwind]

Re: Rays\'n Channel

Approx 51deg 42’.6N 001deg 02’.2E

 

[tillergirl]

Re: Rays\'n Channel

Thanks - while you are on-line, does your Leisure Edition give advice not to use the Black Deep unless tidal or weather conditions apply when permisiion may be sought from London VTS.

 

[tillergirl]

Re: Rays\'n Channel

Strange place for a mark unless its to mark the Bachelor's Spit. But why do that? I've always thought the Buxey's in a strange place until I realised that once the Rays'nd was a working channel so there must be a reason.

 

[alldownwind]

Re: Rays\'n Channel

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks - while you are on-line, does your Leisure Edition give advice not to use the Black Deep unless tidal or weather conditions apply when permisiion may be sought from London VTS.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, that's right, for vessels with less than 6m draught.

 

[tillergirl]

Re: Rays\'n Channel

Thanks. I'll see if I can go and look at that mark in the week.

 

[alec]

Re: Rays\'n Channel

I might have the gist all wrong but a yellow buoy has been thereabouts for many years. I also remember seeing it on Imray charts at various times.

I always took the view that going north of the yellow buoy finds the best water through the sands. Cannot prove or disprove this as I can never find much difference whichever way you go.

Fullcircle will probably have the full sp on this , but realistically is probably just a racing mark.

I find it handy as most people past through the sands near the buoy and I sometimes yell at the southbound bods as to how much water there is. Usually though, we cannot hear each other and most of the bounders on the East Coast have the depth set under the keel instead of the actual depth of water and this causes even more confusion. It's nice to pass pleasantries though, usually by some form of sign language.

 

[moondancer]

Re: Rays\'n Channel

The round yellow bouy does mark the channel but it is often only a rough mark and can be a little way off. I don't think it is a proper navigation mark though and don't know who maitains it. It isn't a racing mark.

 

[tillergirl]

Re: Rays\'n Channel

alldownwind is talking of a different buoy to the round 'Rays'nd' Buoy at the edge of the Crouch. Our launchman was talking of a couple who walked the sand at low water and said that the best water was the east of the uoy. But this pillar is much further north, well north of the Buxey.

 

[MrCramp]

Re: Rays\'n Channel

I would not trust any Imray chart as I have found too many errors in the charts/publications that I have bought, Just look at how many corrections they put out soon after they publish a new chart.

 

[alldownwind]

Re: Rays\'n Channel

A very sweeping statement! The corrections aren't for 'errors', they are for changes published since the chart was printed. At least Imray give you a list of them when you buy the chart. You don't get that with an Admiralty chart, you are left to find them for yourself!
My brand-new issue Admiralty leisure folio 5606, just issued, that covers my own area, is missing several recent changes in my local waters that I know about, and presumably there are more in the areas on it that I don't know so well.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Re: Rays\'n Channel

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks - while you are on-line, does your Leisure Edition give advice not to use the Black Deep unless tidal or weather conditions apply when permisiion may be sought from London VTS.

[/ QUOTE ]Intersting that you picked that up, as I noticed it on my new set of admiralty charts at the weekend too.....

I'll probably choose to ignore the note.....