When to leave West Mersea for the Beaulieu River?

[Clive_Rigden]

Similar to previous post really. We've got to sail the boat round from West Mersea to the Beaulieu River and I'd appreciate some local knowledge re the Thames Estuary. I'm planning to start w/e of the 7th. 8th. May and hoping to do it in four legs; 1- W. Mersea to Dover, 2- Dover to Eastbourne, 3- Eastbourne to Bembridge, 4- short one from Bembridge to Beaulieu. Any advice, particularly with respect to the first leg, would be greatly received. The boat is 30ft. 1 in. with a draft of 5ft. 6ins.

As ever, thanks.

 

[l'escargot]

With a draft of 5'6" I would not consider Bembridge as an option - if you want to make the last section a short hop I would suggest either Portsmouth or Cowes, both of which would give you access and berthing at all states of the tide.

 

[Evadne]

I recall a longish thread on this last route spring, if you've time to look it up.

I did a similar trip when I moved to the Solent in a series of weekends:
Maylandsea to Ramsgate via the spitway and Edinburgh channel. Anchored behind North foreland for the tide.

Ramsgate to Dover (interrupted by a spring gale but that's a long story).

Dover to Newhaven, including a stop off Beachy head waiting for the tide.

Newhaven to Chichester harbour which was a doddle single-handed, I even found the Looe channel without GPS.

Dover will have changed since I was there, except for the fearsome east-going tides off the entrance if you try to leave early. Pleasant HM, busy, sheltered harbour and anchorage.

Newhaven was a bit of a dump but there were great fish and chips and it's accessable at all states of the tide. I'm not so sure about Sovereign harbour. I think you are wise to avoid Brighton, I've been stuck there with strong winds whenever I've visited.

Bembridge is also tidal, as you must know, but I'd wouldn't want to put you off going there. If you have to dip out and head for Gosport, it's not a bad second best.

Have a nice trip.

 

[roberth]

Not so much local knowledge, but did similar passage to your first two legs last June - Burnham to Newhaven.

I spoke to a couple of locals before I departed. They suggested I went via Fisherman's Gat, though there are slightly quicker routes I felt it better to be safe than sorry. Plan just before HW as you clear the last of the banks - that way, if you stick, at least the rising tide should float you again!

Should then pick up really good tide to run past N Foreland down into Dover - at springs we hit 8.5knots running down. Stay inside Goodwin for shortest run into Dover. This leg about 60M - took us about 11 hours.

Dover to Eastbourne - (did this the other way round last Sunday - 9 hours, 45M). Time tide and you'll get a good push for 8-9 hours.

Watch Beachy Head on third leg - can be a bit of a bu**er if strong wind over tide - keep at least 2M off if like this, otherwise it's fine. However, rough calculation suggests you may have to punch tide here to make tidal gate at Looe Channel, but would make for more comfortable trip around the head if wind from SW to W anyway.

Looe Channel - plenty been written about it here. We (SWMBO and I) went through last year in E, F4-5 with tide and were fine. Would be best to plan so you have tide pushing you through here, but if wind any stronger and over tide suggest take longer, outer route.

Probaly teaching a grandmother to suck eggs, but if you need more detailed info PM me and I'll look at the log.

Good luck - When you make Dover look out for us - we're berthed there full time now. When it comes to dodging the ferries, Port Control are very friendly and helpful these days.

Robert

 

[roberth]

Might be better to try to make Newhaven in one hit if weather/tide right, although it is an extra 12m or so compared with Eastbourne. Bit cheaper, facilities not that good - that's why we left. Harbour accessible 24 hour, but may have to wait to berth fully onto pontoon if +/- 2hrs LW on springs.

Eastbourne locked but access 24hr - dodgy in a 6 plus if wind has east in it. There again, Newhaven not much fun to get into if more than F6 from SE-SW, but not as bad as Brighton, which is 7M further round.

Robert

 

[IanPoole2]

try to make the spitway at low water - caution check your draft v expected depth of water and keep to the channels.
That way you'll get all the tide as you head down towards dover.

 

[Chris_Rayner]

Agreed about Bembridge, lovely place to visit, but access is very tidal indeed! You could pop in to Sparkes in Chichester Harbour which has access at all states of tide and is a bit quieter than Gosport etc. The facilities at the marina are a bit basic, but Hayling Island Sailing Club is a short walk away, and if you are a member of another sailing club you gan get to use the facilitilities, which are brilliant since we won the Lottery.

Just a thought.

 

[Katouf]

Not sure about using the Spitway at low water when you draw 5'6". Chart datum shows a minimum 0.9m. !!
Tides on that weekend are around midday (HW Dover + 1hr 10min) so you might think about a morning start and use the last of the flood and about 4 hrs of ebb to get you to the Nth Foreland area just as the tide turns and starts to carry you down Channel. All just my opinion of course
The North Edinburgh Channel is moving all the time and is the subject of special mention on the Estuary Chart - Fishermans Gat is the safer option but busier as a main steamer route and pilot pick-up area.
Imray Chart C1 shows you all the area down to Ramsgate.
I wish you a fair wind and sunshine for the trip.

 

[Aeolus_IV]

Sovereign Harbour is OK now any state of tide (recently dredged channel), I have no trouble getting in or out with a draft of 5'10", and sitting in Sovereign marina certainly beats waiting for the tide east of beachy head /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I feel that its a better place to be than Newhaven.

From Eastbourne you can reach and pass through the Looe Channel in one favourable tide, just a question of heading towards Beachy head against the last of the adverse tide. Sparkes sounds like a good idea, thought I've not tried it, I normally carry on to Haslar.

Regards, Jeff.

 

[tome]

Sparkes hideously expensive, pick up a mooring buoy or carry on to Haslar!

 

[Gunfleet]

<<When to leave West Mersea for the Beaulieu River?>> When you are feeling rich, springs to mind. Seriously, coming from Mersea it's the Sunk you need to cross at low water, not the Spitway, though I agree low water springs is probably not the best time to cross either! The reason is the Spitway is well used and you can trust the charted depths, whereas people cross the Sunk all over the place and it's not often surveyed. Crossing at low water means you can be confident if you touch you will quickly lift off, then you will have the flood pushing you down to Ramsgate.

ps Foulger's Gat rather than Fisherman's is the one for yachts. Then you have a blinking great sandbank between you and the big ships!