Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
But that's a good time also Lisa.... if you ground, you've still got more than half a tide to rise.... so while it would be annoying, it wouldn't be a disaster either!
Stone Point Survey
- Thread starter nortada
- Start date
Transcur
Well-Known Member
The attached chartlet may help those who have not been in recently. This is based on leaving Stone Point on Tuesday morning. Approaching the sand bank facing NW is very steep to. Dept over 1.5m 15ft out from bank at low water. Spit runs across towards the green can in SWly direction-where Plumtrees bouy was.
nortada
Well-Known Member
Plumtree Red 16
Understand that Plumtree Red 16 may not be replaced until Friday 10th August.
Having crunched the numbers I reckon you should have a minimum 3m in the channel 3 hours either side of HW (1322). That is between 1022 & 1622.
If at all possible I would aim to arrive about 1 hour after HW when the ebb would give me maximum manoeuvrability at zero forward speed over the ground but I should still have over 4.5m over the shallowest part of the channel. I would anticipate some turbulence from Island Point NCM to Stone Point but this should die out as the channel is entered at Stone Point. However, the current will remain strong until Ingle G11.
This minimum depth should be just as you enter the channel in the vicinity of Plumtree’s former position (approximately N5153 0930 E00115 3192).
Our other boat, Toujours, has a draft of 2.3m & the strategy I would follow would be:
Follow the channel from Pye End FWM to Island Point NCM.
Bearing in mind there is little water to the left of the reds, from Island Point I would carefully track down the port side of the channel to Smooth Finish Green 9.
From Smooth Finish, as the left-hand shingle bank is hard to, I would hug this bank to the former GPS position of Plumtree.
From Plumtree’s position I would track direct for Ingle Green 11.
A further point, about 40 dinghies will be competing in the W&FYC Open Week in the Walton Channel, Hamford Water & Stone Point.
Mindful of other traffic, a special race mark is being laid on the sunken barge side of the channel & this should keep dinghies well away from your track.
Captain Pete & I will be driving 2 of the safety boats (c/s Safety One & Dave Trimm) covering the racing. We will be operating on Chan M1 but I will also keep a listening watch on Chan 6.
Hope you all have a good trip & as before, any thoughts & observations would be very appreciated.
Understand that Plumtree Red 16 may not be replaced until Friday 10th August.
Having crunched the numbers I reckon you should have a minimum 3m in the channel 3 hours either side of HW (1322). That is between 1022 & 1622.
If at all possible I would aim to arrive about 1 hour after HW when the ebb would give me maximum manoeuvrability at zero forward speed over the ground but I should still have over 4.5m over the shallowest part of the channel. I would anticipate some turbulence from Island Point NCM to Stone Point but this should die out as the channel is entered at Stone Point. However, the current will remain strong until Ingle G11.
This minimum depth should be just as you enter the channel in the vicinity of Plumtree’s former position (approximately N5153 0930 E00115 3192).
Our other boat, Toujours, has a draft of 2.3m & the strategy I would follow would be:
Follow the channel from Pye End FWM to Island Point NCM.
Bearing in mind there is little water to the left of the reds, from Island Point I would carefully track down the port side of the channel to Smooth Finish Green 9.
From Smooth Finish, as the left-hand shingle bank is hard to, I would hug this bank to the former GPS position of Plumtree.
From Plumtree’s position I would track direct for Ingle Green 11.
A further point, about 40 dinghies will be competing in the W&FYC Open Week in the Walton Channel, Hamford Water & Stone Point.
Mindful of other traffic, a special race mark is being laid on the sunken barge side of the channel & this should keep dinghies well away from your track.
Captain Pete & I will be driving 2 of the safety boats (c/s Safety One & Dave Trimm) covering the racing. We will be operating on Chan M1 but I will also keep a listening watch on Chan 6.
Hope you all have a good trip & as before, any thoughts & observations would be very appreciated.
nortada
Well-Known Member
Addition to the above. The Race Officer will in the area in a blue hulled Hardy 22. He will also be on Chan 6 (c/s Walton Committee Boat).
He is aware of your plans & will advise conditions if requested.
He is aware of your plans & will advise conditions if requested.
Ianqv
Well-Known Member
Many thanks for all the info you guys have posted - it is v much appreciated! Please do come ashore on Saturday, as it will be great to meet you both - of course a cold beer awaits!!!
Ian and Sarah
nortada
Well-Known Member
Plumtree back on station - wonderful wot a bit of nagging can do!
Simonpk
Well-Known Member
A little late for all of you at the weekend, but this is what came through to me yesterday from Titchmarsh:
"Further to our previous email, we are pleased to confirm that the Harwich Haven Authority successfully dredged the channel at Stone Point, on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
The navigation buoys have now been replaced and a depth of 7ft was recorded this morning, half an hour before low water.
The area will now be surveyed and monitored with a view to possible future dredging works being carried out."
"Further to our previous email, we are pleased to confirm that the Harwich Haven Authority successfully dredged the channel at Stone Point, on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
The navigation buoys have now been replaced and a depth of 7ft was recorded this morning, half an hour before low water.
The area will now be surveyed and monitored with a view to possible future dredging works being carried out."
nortada
Well-Known Member
New Depth at Plumtree
Understand this about '7ft (+2m)' came from the boat laying the buoy? Until an official survey has been completed would suggest that this depth is treated with caution. As locals know only too well, atmospheric pressure & wind direction can have a big influence on time & height of tides in the Backwaters.
During the W&FYC Open Race Week the depth at Plumtree was measured a number of times & the results reduced to a value above chart datum.
Our results about Plumtree varied between CD +0.6m & +1.2m, which given the buoy movement about the ground tackle & other sources of error could be anticipated.
There is a move to 'walk the area with a long pole' at the next spring lows in 2 weeks.
Problem is, that without sophisticated survey kit, the buoys are the only datums we have.
Understand that HHA plan another survey in 'the very near future'.
In the meantime all inputs would be useful.
Understand this about '7ft (+2m)' came from the boat laying the buoy? Until an official survey has been completed would suggest that this depth is treated with caution. As locals know only too well, atmospheric pressure & wind direction can have a big influence on time & height of tides in the Backwaters.
During the W&FYC Open Race Week the depth at Plumtree was measured a number of times & the results reduced to a value above chart datum.
Our results about Plumtree varied between CD +0.6m & +1.2m, which given the buoy movement about the ground tackle & other sources of error could be anticipated.
There is a move to 'walk the area with a long pole' at the next spring lows in 2 weeks.
Problem is, that without sophisticated survey kit, the buoys are the only datums we have.
Understand that HHA plan another survey in 'the very near future'.
In the meantime all inputs would be useful.
ChattingLil
Well-Known Member
Can't add anything technical I'm afraid, but after all my nerves, we did come in on Saturday 4th at 10am (LW + 1 I think). We followed the buoys very closely and the least we saw was 0.4 below my keel (draw 1.1 plus a bit for age and baggage). Sorry, can't remember which bit that was because was too busy gritting teeth.
nigelm
Well-Known Member
I'm sitting in Tichmarsh right now and will be wanting to leave early weds morning at around just before LW , I will be consulting with the HM about the depth situation , my depth sounder seems a bit vague and will be destined for the skip when we get home so I'm hoping for good advice 
Jomo
Well-Known Member
We must of headed out about 10.15 Sunday morning , and between No 16 red, and the next green, in as straight a line is could manage with the eddies, and I was reading between 3.1 and 3.2 meters total depth.
HTH
Ian (Wild Otter)
HTH
Ian (Wild Otter)
Ianqv
Well-Known Member
We exited number 16 at 5am sunday morning (3 hours after high water) and we had 3.6 m (water depth) - it was like releasing a cork out of a bottle the current was ripping so much!!
Doing that in the dark on Friday night is not something we'll forget in a hurry!!
Ian and Sarah
Doing that in the dark on Friday night is not something we'll forget in a hurry!!
Ian and Sarah
nortada
Well-Known Member
Big thank you
ChattingLil et al.
Many thanks for yours & all others details. Reducing them to CD & using them to either reinforce our results, or raise another question mark.
Whatever, every posts provides more ammunition for a formal survey & if required a long term solution so please keep them coming.
Note comments that the strong currents make arriving/departing at certain times nail biting! Suggest best to arrive/depart at slack high water or against the flow, when control is easier?
Agree, running up to Titchmarsh in the dark is not for the faint hearted!
Apparently, the buoys proved adequate & no anchors dragged?
Hope we see you all in these parts in the near future.
ChattingLil et al.
Many thanks for yours & all others details. Reducing them to CD & using them to either reinforce our results, or raise another question mark.
Whatever, every posts provides more ammunition for a formal survey & if required a long term solution so please keep them coming.
Note comments that the strong currents make arriving/departing at certain times nail biting! Suggest best to arrive/depart at slack high water or against the flow, when control is easier?
Agree, running up to Titchmarsh in the dark is not for the faint hearted!
Apparently, the buoys proved adequate & no anchors dragged?
Hope we see you all in these parts in the near future.
nortada
Well-Known Member
Tidclacy - this should answer your query.
tidclacy
Well-Known Member
Yes Thanks
nortada
Well-Known Member
Over the past few days/weeks a number of us have spent a lot of time around Stone Point & the consolidated opinion is that at around Red 16 (Plumtree) there is at least +0.7m above chart datum.
However, as many have found to their cost, there are other shallow patches between Red 12, Red 14 & Green 9 (Smooth Finish) but no damage or injury.
After calm water up to about 1 hour after low tide, for the next hour the flood becomes impressive (estimated over 4kts) but the dies away to almost nothing at half tide before resuming strong for the last 2 hours of the flood (possibly as the Wade flood plain fills?).
The ebb seems to follow as similar pattern.
Not surprisingly, eddies & outfalls also follow this pattern but the roughest water is mainly on the west side of the channel.
Anchoring - provided you pick your spot – no problem.
We tried a Med Moor close in to Stone Point (inside the eddies) but would I overnight there – NO. Too bigger chance of being hit by a dragging boat. On a quiet night, seaward of Stone Point could prove to be a safer bet.
Message – providing there is enough water for your draught it is safe but can be exciting. At other times it is a pussycat – the choice is yours. Anchoring needs careful consideration but Hamford Water provides an excellent alternative.
Would still appreciate experiences/views of visitors.
However, as many have found to their cost, there are other shallow patches between Red 12, Red 14 & Green 9 (Smooth Finish) but no damage or injury.
After calm water up to about 1 hour after low tide, for the next hour the flood becomes impressive (estimated over 4kts) but the dies away to almost nothing at half tide before resuming strong for the last 2 hours of the flood (possibly as the Wade flood plain fills?).
The ebb seems to follow as similar pattern.
Not surprisingly, eddies & outfalls also follow this pattern but the roughest water is mainly on the west side of the channel.
Anchoring - provided you pick your spot – no problem.
We tried a Med Moor close in to Stone Point (inside the eddies) but would I overnight there – NO. Too bigger chance of being hit by a dragging boat. On a quiet night, seaward of Stone Point could prove to be a safer bet.
Message – providing there is enough water for your draught it is safe but can be exciting. At other times it is a pussycat – the choice is yours. Anchoring needs careful consideration but Hamford Water provides an excellent alternative.
Would still appreciate experiences/views of visitors.
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davidfox
Well-Known Member
What's the latest on stone point entrance is there any update? I am going to need to go in on the ebb tomorrow evening or first thing Saturday morning if I am too late tomorrow I draw 1.9m
davidfox
Well-Known Member
nortada
Well-Known Member
Nothing extra to that already posted on this site.
Local opinion is that there is about CD+0.7m around Plumtree - the shallowest point.
Predicted low water on Fri 7th Sep is 0958/0.98m so you should have 1.6m minimum.
However, high pressure & SW wind can dramatically modify actual depths. Additionally the whole area is subject to a changing situation.
Hope this helps & let us know how you get on - every bit of information helps to build the picture.
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