Recommended Distance From Coast

[rubberduck]

Planning on going around the coast from Chatham to Southampton somewhere, route we have plotted is between 4 & 8 nautical miles from the coast on average, is this too far out ?

 

[alant]

Planning on going around the coast from Chatham to Southampton somewhere, route we have plotted is between 4 & 8 nautical miles from the coast on average, is this too far out ?

Too far out for what?

Too far out when passing Deal, will land you on the Goodwin Sands.
Too far out from Dover, will put you in a TSS.
Too far out after the Nab, will put you on the IoW.
Think you need to plan your passage properly, before asking "is this too far out".

 

[gjgm]

Distance from coast? Dunno... might be 10 metres might be 10 miles..if you do not have it , buy Shell Channel guide... yep might seem a bit steep at 30 quid or so, but the only purchase in boating where you get ten fold back just in the amusement value of the compiler's sense of humour... never mind telling you how far off each point you might want to be...

 

[rubberduck]

Done a rough route on nav planner as a precursor to doing it properly & duplicating on paper, question is regarding sight of land so SWMBO is happy.
Route avoids the sands which I am extremely familiar with being based on the east coast, it also avoids other hazards such as the TSS, perhaps someone should check his ruler!!
So, how far out will we loose sight of land ?

 

[fergie_mac66]

Done a rough route on nav planner as a precursor to doing it properly & duplicating on paper, question is regarding sight of land so SWMBO is happy.
Route avoids the sands which I am extremely familiar with being based on the east coast, it also avoids other hazards such as the TSS, perhaps someone should check his ruler!!
So, how far out will we loose sight of land ?

Depends how high the land is

 

[rubberduck]

Depends how high the land is

Certainly does, or how high we are, or both !
Really looking for someone who has done a similar trip a few times.

 

[westernman]

At least 1/4 inch from the nearest hazard at whatever scale chart you have.

 

[rubberduck]

At least 1/4 inch from the nearest hazard at whatever scale chart you have.

Like to play it safe so use 1/2 inch.

 

[aquapower]

Planning on going around the coast from Chatham to Southampton somewhere, route we have plotted is between 4 & 8 nautical miles from the coast on average, is this too far out ?

Have done the east coast to Solent trip loads of times, you will have sight of land all the way as long as visibility is good, I will see if I can find a few minutes later and look on my chart to get rough idea of distance but you won't be far from land at any time.
Simple to plan, round north foreland, through Goodwin sands, Dover to Dungerness, to beachy head to looe Chanel and then your almost there.

 

[rubberduck]

Thanks, current route goes just outside goodwin, 8 nm out, which is as far out as it goes, rest is around 5nm give or take a couple. Thanks for the sensible answer.

 

[aquapower]

Thanks, current route goes just outside goodwin, 8 nm out, which is as far out as it goes, rest is around 5nm give or take a couple. Thanks for the sensible answer.

The channel inside Goodwin is pretty straight forward to navigate, I know some more experienced people who go over sands at right tide, I never had the b**** to do it myself.

 

[colhel]

Planning on going around the coast from Chatham to Southampton somewhere, route we have plotted is between 4 & 8 nautical miles from the coast on average, is this too far out ?

If visibility is good you will be in sight of land but picking out any detail will depend on weather the sun is shining. It may be worth reassuring your crew that being further out will give a more comfortable ride and avoid hitting stuff. I have found that I worry more when I'm planning a new trip but when we're actually doing it I just settle in quite quickly.

 

[Flynnbarr]

The channel inside Goodwin is pretty straight forward to navigate, I know some more experienced people who go over sands at right tide, I never had the b**** to do it myself.

I've used the inside channel and watched a raggie go over the sands and after having seen the Goodwin wrecks tea towel and reading books on it I thought omg wtf!!

 

[aquapower]

I've used the inside channel and watched a raggie go over the sands and after having seen the Goodwin wrecks tea towel and reading books on it I thought omg wtf!!

I'm talking of 1.5m max motor boat, would think a yacht would need a lot more depth, there's often yotties come straight out of Ramsgate and run aground on the sands.
You can also make a good few knots with the tide there as well.

 

[lanerboy]

At last some sensible answers for the OP why do some people just go out there way to be awkward

 

[rubberduck]

At last some sensible answers for the OP why do some people just go out there way to be awkward

As Del Boy would say, because they're plonkers
Best not taken seriously.

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

I dont know if this helps or is teaching my grandmother to suck eggs... http://www.ringbell.co.uk/info/hdist.htm Distance to horizon calculator. One thing to remember is that it assumes your eye is at sea level (or the target is), so first enter your eye height (above sea) and add that to what the calculator gives for distance to horizon fore the height of the target.
eg:
your eyes are 3m above the water gives 6.2km
target is 20m above sea level gives 16km
so you could just see it from 22.2km

 

[dj43]

Depending on wind direction , always favour being close in pass Ramsgate to North Goodwin through channel down to Goodwin fork ,channel is well marked and easy to navigate,around to Dover don,t forget to give them a call couple of miles out, Dover good for fuel and a brake, out of Dover you can pass Dungerness close in then across to beachy head if strong southerly Eastbourne is a better, safer , stop than Brighton as very sheltered, then around to Owers cardinal buoys and you have cracked it, realy nice trip , you can carry the tide all the way if have time to stop

 

[rubberduck]

Eastbourne looks good, we were going to use Brighton, thanks.

 

[Johntheoil]

Hi Rubberduck......I've enjoyed this trip several times and my SWMBO likes to see the coast
On the Thames estuary if the visibility is ok you'll be able to see the low-lying Kent coast, Reculver ( from a distance) Margate, then you can pass fairly close to the north and south Forelands.
Upon 'turning the corner' you meet the Channel and the sea can feel very different!
Ramsgate is your next 'choice' if you (or your crew) decide that the sea conditions are not what you had expected. It' may be a bit short from Chatham, but if not you will need to go to Dover......
(unfortunately if there is a big SW swell, probably the reason you decide to go to Dover, the western entrance can be a bit of a roller-coaster......... don't try the eastern entrance or the ferry chaps will get quiet excited)
Rye is lovely but completely tidal, and you certainly wouldn't want to try it in a big sea.....even if there was enough water across the sand.
Next point is Dungeness, and certainly a slog if it's a head sea......your crew will tell you....no worries!
The low lying Kent Coast will slowly disappear, and even in good visibility the power station can look like a big ship moving along the Channel....just don't be tempted to pass it to the north!
You can pass Dungeness fairly close......almost on the beach (I've never been that brave) .
Again the sea conditions can change when you round the corner.
After that Hastings is good (great fish and chips)......but only if you have a tractor to pull your boat onto the shingle beach!
Eastbourne is great, maybe little souless?.....but a welcome haven on the journey.
Brighton is a lot of fun....but you may need to 'power-in' through the entrance if there is a big swell running which can be a bit scary.
Wishing you a good trip
John