Reeds Almanac advice for Beaulieu River

[Skysail]

Using LW in the Solent as the reference does seem right, as other ports in Reeds use HW when its a normal tide curve. So I guess they assume no one would enter in the period either side of LW.

 

[neale]

I think it is just poor wording. Instead of 'Entrance possible LW+/- 2' perhaps it should read 'Entrance may not be possible LW+/- 2, check tidal heights'

 

[Angele]

Despite comments in my OP that I may not bother contacting Reeds this time I decided to do so and, to their credit, they have responded in double quick time:

No sooner had I sent my last email to you than I found what you were referring to in the YBW Forum. I am glad to say that we have already corrected this for 2011. You are of course quite right that Entrance possible LW +/-2 is not correct. In the 3 years that this error has been in Reeds, just 2 readers (including you) have pointed it out - for which I am most grateful.

In line with current policy at Reeds, I have amended the entry (as with all harbours which are not entered via a lock, sill or gate) to show the minimum depth below CD, leaving it to skippers to calculate when it is safe to enter in their particular vessels. Up to now we have based our Access times on a boat with a draft of 1.5m plus a safety factor for an average tide. This does not cater for the significant variations of draft (which are generally increasing) nor for any other states of the tide. Taking Beaulieu as an example, it is often perfectly safe to enter at LW neaps when there may well be about 1.7m height of tide giving a depth of more than 2.5m - which I have found ample in calm conditions, in my 2m draft boat.

I note your comments in the YBW Forum about Dielette. Please be aware that the editor who looks after the Continent only joined us last year and has been dealing with a huge number of corrections and amendments while finding his way around the Almanac(s). We deal with thousands of updates each year so I'm afraid the odd one does slip through. I am sure he will reply shortly but if not, please let me know.

I also note on the Forum someone (not you!) complaining about the tide tables not necessarily starting on a left hand page. There has never been a policy on this (as far as I am aware), and to do so would be quite impracticable given the amount of information we have to pack into the book - which some will say is already too heavy. We do have to rely on readers being able to read the names of the months!!

Do let me know if you spot anything else - readers' suggestions and corrections make up a fair proportion of the whole.

With best wishes.

My faith in them is restored.

 

[fireball]

Excellent response ... and nice to see they've got a reasonable average draft measurement which they base their calcs on ...

As for DJE - better find his specs before reading the tidetable!

 

[DJE]

 

[fireball]

 

[Angele]

 

[jhr]

On reflection, it would probably be better if you all kept away from Beaulieu, to be on the safe side. It's a terrible place, anyway