Sailing across the wash

[JeffBoath]

Following my previous post regarding advice on which boat to buy I've bought an Invicta 26, the boat will however have to stay in Lowestoft until spring and then sailed to Sunderland. My question is this, is sailing across the wash such a big deal, I'm getting mixed reports from people from "don't worry about it" to shaking heads and downward glances. I recognise their are many inponderables but a bit of general advice wouldn't go a miss. (I will have completed my day skipper theory in March and have one season's sailng under my belt.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

You need to talk to TommyRot... sure he'll be along soon... he sails there regularly and knows the water well...

Me.... well the fact that I remember dinghy sailing there as a kid, and capsizing 2 miles offshore and only being up to my chest when I stood on the bottom would put me off slightly.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

In reality there is plenty of water if you can find it, but it needs a cautious approach as the sandbanks are very unstable and shift regularly, and grounding isn't an unsual occurence... so you'll have to make sure you've got plans for things like how to get off if you do ground, perhaps practice kedging off beforehand, and make sure your tidal height calculation skills are well sorted before you attempt it... with a 26'er there's nothing to stop you getting a way offshore to be safe

 

[JKay]

turn left outside Lowestoft you'll be fine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Welcome aboard and mebbe try the East Coast Forum lower

down the headings page(They are already posting here)

plenty of water in the Wash But plan your passage well

Cheers Joe

 

[alorwin]

Plenty of shallows and plenty of deep, very well charted so with sense easy enough to navigate it. Keep an eye on weather and tides and you'll be fine.

 

[Superflid]

All depends on what you mean by "sailing across". Are you contemplating coming into the Wash for an overnight stop, or just planning possible bolt-holes?

Only times I've touched bottom are deliberate, or when I've been pushing my luck and expecting it, normally done on a rising tide...

Sent PM.

 

[Jim_H]

No real problem, hug the coast until Wells then strike north to the channel between the Docking Bank and the Race Bank. North west through the channel (it's well buoyed) then north again to Spurn Point. Only dodgy bits, channel through the banks gets a short, steep chop in a westerly wind which can be uncomfortable and stay outside of the firing ranges north of skeggie. Twelve hours, Spurn to Lowestoft at 7 knots plus a bit of tide.

 

[paulburton44]

No problems....just do your usual planning...

Try not to get sucked into the wash on the flood.

Head for Grimsby for an excelent marina and a very cheap pint.

 

[JeffBoath]

Thanks for the excellent advice, it's put my mind at rest, I'll post in April letting you know how I got on.

 

[mbay]

another Invicta 26 in Sunderland, you could all start the wear invicta 26 club with yours that will make 5 that I can think of, good boats though /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.
I've done Deben to Sunderland none stop, we took the off shore option and made straight fo flambourgh head