Teignmouth a navigators nightmare ??

[clyst]

Entering the Teign you are greeted with what appears to be port and stbd nav buoys but apparently they are just buoys used by the pilots and are liable to be moved around and do not necessarily mark the channel.

Can any "local" explain why the top marks of the "groynes" to port and stbd of the amusment pier show red to west and green to east . It would assumed that the colours represent pass to port and to stbd but it just doesn't make sense.

Check it out in "Reeds"

 

[photodog]

What ya do is hang around off until someone comes out and guides you in....

Thats what we did anyways... they seemed to be keen for the visitors....

Just be ready for takeoff as you pass around the point... the acceleration from the tide is quite spectacular. The visitors pontoon is out of the current... so you need to be prepared for that as you approach..

Nice spot!

 

[Mudisox]

Call up on the harbour VHF channel- they have a webcam that watches everyone coming in and out.

 

[rbcoomer]

Remains a bit of a mystery to me too and I often launch there! Best advice I think is take a bit of time - slow speed and caution. Watch where everyone else is going and note the ones that churn up the mud - they're in the wrong bit! Channel does seem to move a bit and the sand bar is notorious. I never approach from the South but go right out around the outermost marker as I've seen the sand/mud at low tide Many folk in small boats shortcut across the bar, and many come unstuck too!

As an inexperienced newbie, it scares the hell out of me most times! That and people seem to use both sides of the channel in both directions (colregs out the window there then! ). Then on a busy day I've encountered kayaks, and fishing lines crossing the entrance... I went down one day with a friend last October, light easterly so checked sea state along the coast on the way (flat) and launched at Polly Steps. We got to the entrance only to be faced with a 4'+ wall of white foam resembling the inside of a washing machine! We beat a hasty retreat - as I think did many others that day as they were all turning around...

I've not been put off as I think it's a great location, but I have a very close eye on the depth especially at or near low water - and as said above, follow someone in/out if possible. The tricky bit is very short and if you look at an aerial photo (Google maps etc), you'll get a fair idea of where the channel is likely to be. Seems most unpredictable to me outside the entrance markers, but they do get some pretty big freighters in there to the docks for China Clay etc - so there is some depth there somewhere! I'm sure it's not the only estuary with such quirks.

 

[ump010]

I live and moor in Teignmouth (pronounced Tinmouth, River Teen).

The red and green buoys are normal marks, it's the yellow, small marks that are used by the pilots.

The dredger, Teign C, keeps the channel (marked by the red and green cans) open, no problem, for yachts, unless there is a strong easterly/on the ebb!

I draw 1.8m and can get in and out no problem, except about +/- 1 hour LW on springs.

Visit Teignmouth its good! Best pub, the Ship Inn, 100m from the visitors pontoon, have a pint and stick your toes in the sand!!!

 

[clyst]

I live and moor in Teignmouth (pronounced Tinmouth, River Teen).

The red and green buoys are normal marks, it's the yellow, small marks that are used by the pilots.

The dredger, Teign C, keeps the channel (marked by the red and green cans) open, no problem, for yachts, unless there is a strong easterly/on the ebb!

I draw 1.8m and can get in and out no problem, except about +/- 1 hour LW on springs.

Visit Teignmouth its good! Best pub, the Ship Inn, 100m from the visitors pontoon, have a pint and stick your toes in the sand!!!

Been there many times . Have spoken to the HM . It was he who indicated that the red/green buoys are for pilots only and not for general navigation as they are prone to be moved . Can you explain the nonsensical colours of the main beach groyne markers .

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Been there many times . Have spoken to the HM . It was he who indicated that the red/green buoys are for pilots only and not for general navigation as they are prone to be moved . Can you explain the nonsensical colours of the main beach groyne markers .

Ignore Reeds. There's an excellent guide to the entrance on the web at http://www.teignmouth-harbour.com/nav_safety.htm. (You need to scan down the page a bit)

 

[VicS]

And there is a chart HERE

 

[clyst]

you are missing the point of the post . The point is that although there are port and stbd buoys that you would regard as indicating the channel they are infact NOT for navigation .

The "Visit my harbour " chartlet in vics post depicts the red and green top marks on the groynes by the Prom which makes little navigation sense.

 

[VicS]

To the NE of the pier the marks follow the general direction of buoyage and are therefore port hand marks. To the SW of the pier they are stbd hand marks for the river entrance

At some point there has to be change .. surprising perhaps but it happens to be at the pier. You read your chart to discover these things!

 

[prv]

you are missing the point of the post . The point is that although there are port and stbd buoys that you would regard as indicating the channel they are infact NOT for navigation .

Are they in the visitmyharbour chartlet linked above? Because nothing I can see on the chart looks surprising or unusual.

The "Visit my harbour " chartlet in vics post depicts the red and green top marks on the groynes by the Prom which makes little navigation sense.

Vic's explanation makes sense to me. It's a hell of a lot less confusing than the change in buoyage off Caernarfon that came up here a few weeks ago:

http://www.visitmyharbour.com/viewchart.asp?chart=29ED44A6D28D61684

Imagine you're coming down the channel from the top right of that chartlet, following the greens to stbd...

Pete

 

[VicS]

Are they in the visitmyharbour chartlet linked above? Because nothing I can see on the chart looks surprising or unusual.



Vic's explanation makes sense to me. It's a hell of a lot less confusing than the change in buoyage off Caernarfon that came up here a few weeks ago:

http://www.visitmyharbour.com/viewchart.asp?chart=29ED44A6D28D61684

Imagine you're coming down the channel from the top right of that chartlet, following the greens to stbd...

Pete

confusing if you don't look at your chart perhaps.

But read the note near the top RH corner about the direction of buoyage and the confusion is gone.

The cardinal that marks the change in direction is even called "Change"

I bet old Searush is laughing his socks off

It almost certain to happen in a channel open at both end with a port in the middle

It happens in the Solent. East and West of Southampton water as you well know.

In fact I can remember when the change was at Portsmouth
In the time I have been sailing around the Solent the direction of the buoyage has changed in the section between Portsmouth and Southampton water.

In the Swale too at Milton creek