Thames Estuary passage planner

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Gin

Gin

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I've exceptionally duplicated this post in 'YM Scuttlebutt'- you will see why and I trust you will excuse me.

Some months ago I recall one of our number was in the process of producing what sounded like a really useful book for passage planning across, and up and down the Thames Estuary.

Unfortunately I can't remember the correct title of the book, if indeed I knew it, nor can I recall who the forumite is so my searches have not come up with any answers.

Since I am sure this will be an invaluable addition to any East Coast yotties bookshelf I am wondering if anyone can enlighten me as to the necessary details- perhaps even the author himself if he spots this post.?
 
Gosh, this is good, I don't even have to answer! Yes I think it's about to hit the shelves. I have received my copy from Imray so they are in from the printers and I think any delay now will be the time it takes Imray to get it out to chandleries and so on. How that works is a mystery to me. But you can also order it from Imray. Sorry about the price but they fix that not me!

I am intending to get the web site to support the book up and running this week having been delayed through a troublesome swapping of registration process that hasn't worked.

To my undying shame a small glitch got carried through the printing - all my fault and my only defence is that behind the table is in excess of 20 million calculations and a switch didn't work on a very small part - but so there is a downloadable update which updates the very small number of pages to improve accuracy of two of the tables on southbound journeys. In fact I shall add to the update this week to provide some data regarding depths at the Sunk Beacon and the Barrow No 2 crossing point courtesy of dholburn of these parishes (to whom I gave some predictions) who kept some excellent records during an outward and back from Burham last month. What's there as an update at the moment on the Imray site gives you a preview of a couple of pages but not with the instructions.

What does the book do? Well there is some guidance on the choices of routes across the Estuary which for the regulars here will be probably common knowledge but it will help for those not so experienced. But the heart of the book is a series of tables that enables you to plan timings for any passage between any of the following: Ramsgate, the Kent Rivers, the Essex Rivers and the Suffolk Rivers (Harwich Harbour and the Deben). A need to restrict the book to a sensible size for economic production stopped it there. So it covers 32 routes with different permutations with choices for example over the Long Sand and Sunk Sand for the Essex Rivers or between the Barrow or East Swin and Wallet for Kent to Suffolk Rivers.

Each route is broken down into a number of sectors (with waypoints) usually each corresponding to a change in course (a few long sectors of a single course are split into two to get better tidal data). For each sector, the time it will take you to complete the sector is worked out for each 15 minutes of the day. Say you want to go from Ramsgate to the Blackwater. This is covered in 8 sectors and you have the choice of Fisherman's Gat, Foulger's Gat or the North Edinburgh over the Long Sand and the SW Sunk (not recommended because of the collapsed beacon), Sunk Beacon or Barrow No 2 over the Sunk Sand. Each sector is laid out in columns: know the time it takes you to complete one sector and you know when you will start the next. So pick your start time and instantly you know your finish time for that sector. Transfer that time to the beginning of the next sector and you know what the tide will do to you in that second sector. And so on until the destination. You can scan each column to see the quickest time (best tide); you can decide you want to be at the Sunk Sand, say, on a rising tide but most of the flood to carry you up into the Blackwater. Easy: pick the sector for the Sunk Sand and the time you want and work the table back to a start time. Then work it forward to see your estimated time of arrival. Want to arrive in daylight? Work the tables backwards. There are tables for average speeds of 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 knots either at springs or neaps.

As we know crossing the Estuary is generally a compromise on tide. These tables enable you to review your options and to do it quickly. Whilst there are a lot of tables, I have included a 'Planning Assistant' to help. It takes less than a minute to review one estimate of one passage! All calculations are based up HW Sheerness so the tables are perpetual.

I hope some of you - no all of you find it useful. Feedback will be welcome and I intend to maintain updates on the web site once it is live.

I suspect that I have broken every rule of this forum and I throw myself on the mercy of the moderators.
 
better not let tangomoon see this, or he will accuse you of baltent commercialism, and worse - money grubbing. Hope you aren't a GP in real life, as he will throw a right strop.

I have your tome on the Christmas list for my Navi-SWMBO, as she likes to do the detailed passage planning, which I then botch about with, as our safe depths are,ermm, different.

Its been said before, but I will say it again, what a wonderful thing to do with your time. I hope you win the Booker. Oh no, it isn't fiction! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I suspect that I have broken every rule of this forum and I throw myself on the mercy of the moderators.

[/ QUOTE ]

With any luck, this forum will continue to be one area of YBW that doesn't need moderating or amendment to any post made by an East coaster. Your post is very helpful so please keep us informed about how the book is going, and I've put it on my pressie list so will also be buying one.
Any post made to the benefit of others on here is worth posting, the stuff that is of no benefit is just a waste of typing time, and your input is certainly not that.
 
Morgana - thanks
FC - my only defence is that I doubt the royalties will cover the cost of ink, paper and meals to placate SWMBO for disappearing into my little office. No, not a GP; probably worse but you can judge from the usual pen-picture on the back of the book!
SB - good-oh but I hear the moderator approaching to claim you as evidence of my advertising!!
S - I share your sentiments about this forum. I see from your post on the 'First Trip' post that you've already got the hang of passage planning.

Thank you all.
 
I have been going back & forth across the TE for about 50 years but that didnt stop me touching the putty last year on a trip from Ramsgate to BOC...( It didnt help that my Echo Sounder was U/S). Needless to say I did feel a bit of a pratt, so I have ordered a copy . It sounds invaluable and look forward to receiving it. I think you should be congratulated for producing it.
 
Bought a copy yesterday & spent some time yesterday evening reading it..I particularly liked :

Routes & Sectors - Each route is broken down into small sectors showing waypoints and bearings together with a short sharp narrative telling you exactly what you need to know, rather than having to search to find the info you need buried in amongst loads of other stuff.

Tide Planning Tables - I had to work through a couple of examples to understand how they work. But after that, using the enclosed "passage planning assistant" it was easy. Have copied the assistant & laminated it, which I can now use with chinagraph pencil and wipe clean after.

One of the best pilot books I have come acoss, and would recommend it.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Happy Customer
 
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