Whaligoe Steps - anyone taken their boat in??

[bikedaft]

Where are the rocks?

 

[Stemar]

Where are the rocks?

I've never been there, but pretty much everywhere, looking at Google Maps



Navionics seems to be of a similar opinion, but it's beyond my art to post a snapshot.

 

[bikedaft]

Thanks. Admiralty chart has no detail. We use goggle maps satellite pictures a lot on the W coast as sand/weed/rocks (usually!) show up well, just don't want to dunt the boat on first trip to E coast .

 

[Stemar]

I haven't got access to Navionics right now, so I don't know how practical it would be (I'm an unadventurous south coast sailor), but I think my plan A would be to anchor off and explore at low tide in the dinghy before going in a bit before HW, making sure that the wind isn't going to have any east in it for a few days. I'd hate to find myself there in one of those nasty easterly gales.

 

[Mark-1]

Orca is spectacularly lacking detail:

 

[Boathook]

I think that I would avoid ...

 

[obmij]

In calm conditions I think you could nose in and have a look, if you have someone on the bow with excellent eyesight. Maybe even a cautious lunch at anchor. From the shore there are numerous visible rocks and the water is quite murkey though. I've only ever visited via the steps (which can be an adventure in itself if they are wet)

I am nowhere near a plotter right now but I doubt it has ever been surveyed that thoroughly, if at all. It's quite a small area and it was a marginal 'harbour' even in its heyday. Presumably you will be stopping in Wick so you might get more info there.

It's a great coast up there, but not particularly forgiving.

 

[obmij]

 

[bikedaft]

It was F5/6, so were no closer than 500m...

 

[bikedaft]

Thanks for replies. Will chat to harbourmaster etc (now in Wick).

 

[bikedaft]

Spoke to a local boat trip guy, stay in the middle, but don't go in further than the flat bit at the bottom of the steps .