Urgent request for info

[Marmalade]

anyone aware of dredging in the wallet between Clacton and Walton?

We have the east coast piers race on Sunday and a cruiser reported dredging today. Said he was diverted out to sea - ok for a yacht but not for catamaran dinghies

Any info please?

Thx

 

[MoodySabre]

A couple of weeks ago they were building rock sea defences at Holland - a big rock barge moored half way out to the wind farm and unloading onto to flat barges being taken back and forth by tugs.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Yep, it is going on. there appeared a few weeks ago to be some sort of floating berm awash between the shore and the vessels... there was a thread here about it a few weeks ago...

PS the vessels are visible on AIS http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:195421/zoom:10

 

[philiphurst]

I think your friend may have encountered the work being done on the beaches in the Clacton area. There is some movement of sand and also vessels bringing in rocks to be used in new sea defences or similar. I cannot remember the details but there is a website that will give you a lot of info. Search under 'Clacton beach works' and all will become clear. It worked for me as I wondered what was going on as a passed the other day and Google provided the answers.

 

[sailorman]

A couple of weeks ago they were building rock sea defences at Holland - a big rock barge moored half way out to the wind farm and unloading onto to flat barges being taken back and forth by tugs.

Also a large pipe ( buoyed ) running ashore

 

[Toutvabien]

When we were Northbound up the Wallet on Saturday the large pipe was above the water about half a mile off of the beach just above Clacton, I would imagine that it would make quite an obstacle for a catamaran dinghy race. If you were going from Clacton to Walton Pier it would be in the way.

There were some bouys marking the course of the pipe where it was below the water and there was a tug working at the end of the pipe.

 

[Marmalade]

Thanks all for the quick replies. Have reached out to Tendring DC to discuss our options...

 

[tillergirl]

Sorry, nothing in any NtM that I can find. Last year Harwich published details but they are silent on this at the moment.

 

[Cantata]

Had to dodge a tug and huge rock barge on Saturday. Didn't see any floating pipe though! :ambivalence:

 

[baffled9]

Simon - just picked this up. Can't offer advice as currently in La Rochelle. Hope that by now all is clear and that you have a great event. Let me know how it goes.
Chris D

 

[Marmalade]

Chris - thanks. And to everyone who responded.

Unfortunately we're going to have to shorten the East Coast Piers Race a little this year - turning at Clacton Pier. The contractor undertaking the works is understandably concerned about dozens of fast but fragile open cats crossing their working zone (and they will be working next Sunday). After a discussion with the local authority project team we have little choice but to turn early this year.

The event will be back to normal from 2016 and I'm sure the competitors will have a great race and a fun weekend as usual.

PS - Race is actually next Sunday (28th) - I was over-panicking in my original post!!

 

[baffled9]

Thanks for the update. Spent all day wondering how it was going. Will have to wonder all next Sunday as well. C.