thames estuary crossing

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icepatrol

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pse correct my ignorance here bout this crossing but if i only draw 1.5 m am i likley to comes across any probs in taking a almost straight line to ramsgate from the orwell
i have heard folks say my sort of draft would cause no probs ???
 
Depending on the tide, you could have a problem with Gunfleet sands.

Looking at the charts, i'd go for the Wallet no2 buoy, then Black Deep number 1, then North Foreland.

But, i'm no expert on the trip and i'm sure someone better qualified to answer will be along shortly.
 
straight lines

thanks chaps. just a thought with a eye to the future.
ps. would be in a mobo.
but i appreciate the tide/wind effect across there.
 
icepatrol said:
pse correct my ignorance here bout this crossing but if i only draw 1.5 m am i likley to comes across any probs in taking a almost straight line to ramsgate from the orwell
i have heard folks say my sort of draft would cause no probs ???
Click to expand...

The tides can be a bit fierce on the approach to Ramsgate, so the conventional wisdom is to work out when is best to arrive at Ramsgate and work back from there.

Most people seem to take this route. From the Orwell head out to Sunk Head Tower, dive off down Black Deep, crossing the sands at Foulgers Gat and on from there.

In the past, I have set off at low waterish then taken the 'straight line' route crossing the various sandbanks at their deepest bits figuring this was OK since it was a rising tide. I never died, so I guess I got away with it. However, I have been told the sands have shifted quite a bit and there is less water than there used to be. Since my paper charts are a bit historic I haven't taken this route for a few years. I draw 1.5 metres BTW.
 
You don't mention boat speed or which bits of the boat will touch the sand first - props? Even with that draught there are one or two obstructions on the sands that might give you grounds for a little more planning - of course, depending on the tide. Paul's suggestion is for my nerve, a little too brave. Outside of Sunk Head Tower would be a good move and Foulger's Gat.
 
tillergirl said:
You don't mention boat speed or which bits of the boat will touch the sand first - props? Even with that draught there are one or two obstructions on the sands that might give you grounds for a little more planning - of course, depending on the tide. Paul's suggestion is for my nerve, a little too brave. Outside of Sunk Head Tower would be a good move and Foulger's Gat.
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You think i was cutting the North end of Gunfleet a little fine ?
 
For me yes - and the end of the Sunk Sand. It can get a bit bouncy out there and the sand is rock hard. But then I met a motor cruiser once off Frinton who said he had come straight over from the Medway!
 
Went to Ramsgate from the Orwell last week and came back to Shotley today from Ramsgate.
We used that same route in both directions.
From Harwich.
Out to the north end of the Gunfleet.
Down Goldmer Gat to Barrow No. 2 and then across Sunk Sand to Fougers Gat.
(As TillerGirl points out there are a couple of obstructions on the Sunk in this area that you need to be sure of missing.
Going south we got to the sunk at about 1/2 tide and found no less than 3.9m depth.
Once out of Foulgers it is a straight run to North Forland and down to Ramsgate.

On our return today we left Ramsgate about 2 hours before highwater Dover and picked up the north going eddy after about 1/2hr.
once clear of North Forland we set course for Foulgers Gat and kept to the same course though the Gat and across the Sunk.
We went though the Gat about 1hr after high tide Dover.
Today was quite a big Spring tide
And we had a 12 to 15knt westerly to blow us along.
We had 6.5 to 7knts over the ground from North Forland to the north sde of the Sunk where the wind dropped away and it was motor to Shotley.
It was sunny for most of the trip but we had two VERY Heavy rain showers to welcome us into Harwich Harbour!
 
tillergirl said:
For me yes - and the end of the Sunk Sand. It can get a bit bouncy out there and the sand is rock hard. But then I met a motor cruiser once off Frinton who said he had come straight over from the Medway!
Click to expand...

With 1.5m draft, keeping a little further North than the buoys would be more cautious.

With only 1m draft on my boat, i have crossed Gunfleet inside of Wallet No2. I've also crossed over a few times just South of the old lighthouse. Crossed over there last Saturday at low water (neap), with 6 feet under the transducer (about 4 feet under the prop protector). Not something to do in a big swell :D
 
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