Strategy for Cardiff from Bristol

[mattonthesea]

On my only other Bristol to Cardiff passage I ran aground in the channel outside the barrage. I was wondering how others approached it. Next week we'll be off springs so it won't be as shallow as it was then. Wondered about going past slightly on the end of ebb and then using flood to get into Cardiff

Draw 1.5 and speed of 5kts tops under engine (light winds forecast)

Matt

 

[single]

I don't quite understand.Surely if you stay in the channel you'll be fine? Don't cut any corners as the banks are quite steep.
http://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#boating@12&key=gq%7DxHhhgR

 

[bitbaltic]

On my only other Bristol to Cardiff passage I ran aground in the channel outside the barrage. I was wondering how others approached it. Next week we'll be off springs so it won't be as shallow as it was then. Wondered about going past slightly on the end of ebb and then using flood to get into Cardiff

Draw 1.5 and speed of 5kts tops under engine (light winds forecast)

Matt

Where exactly did you run aground? If it was somewhere around the black arrow (which is where most people run aground in the approaches) it is becasue a bank of mud has built into the small boat channel from the last port-hand lateral of the Wrach channel and the charts don't really reflect it. If this was it. all you need to do is stay roughly equidistanty between that lateral mark and the preferred channel marker to stay in deeper water. Always give that last red can a wide berth, in and out.

 

[mattonthesea]

In June 2010 I ran aground a little to the south of the shaft of that arrow (towards east side of channel) about 20 mins before low water. Healed to 30 degrees before tide turned! Even when afloat again we had to wait 20 mins or more to clear the cill.

Just checked the tides and low water is 3.4 m next week so I don't think it will be a problem

 

[bitbaltic]

Okay... around low water and coming from the east I wouldn't normally cut the corner substantially on the Outer Wrach cardinal. It is quite shallow in there. Stay on the west side of the wrach channel (guess you know that!) as you approach the barrage.

 

[Lioness]

If LW is 3.4 m, you draw 1.5m and the drying heights outside of the Wrach Channel are 1 - 2m, then you will be running aground again if coming from the East, you do not ensure you turn into the Wrach channel after passing the Outer Wrach West Cardinal Mark well to Starboard.

 

[mattonthesea]

thanks all - looking forward to it

Matt