Whitaker No 2

[CJ1]

Wondered if anyone can assist- I’m doing some passage planning for a trip to Burnham on Crouch from the Swale.
I’m confused about the location of the Whitaker number one and number two bouys.
My records show they were moved in 2021 which seems to be confirmed by
The info on Crouch Harbour Uk:

“June 16 2021

• Whitaker No 1 LT Buoy has been moved to a new position of 51°40.530N 001°05.400E
  Shape, colour, top mark and light FL. G. 5. remain unchanged.
• Whitaker No 2 LT Buoy has been moved to a new position of 51°40.250N 001°05.400E
  Shape, colour, top mark and light Fl. R. 5”

But my 2024 Reeds Almanac gives the old, previous positions eg in the case of Whitaker No1: 51.40.69N 01.06.67E.

Have they been moved back to their previous position ?

 

[kwb78]

Looking at a current chart the updated positions appear to be correct. The old position is about 0.8nm further to the east. Here’s the position plotted:

 

[Cantata]

Reeds is wrong. Current charts are correct.
The positions were changed when the number of buoys along that stretch was reduced.

 

[CJ1]

Thanks - I thought that was most likely. I am however surprised Reeds got it wrong, as they say they update all data according to the Notices to Mariners issued.But it’s 3 years out of date. It’s annoying as I consult Reeds to update my waypoints before a passage. Not sure I will do that now.

 

[dunedin]

Thanks - I thought that was most likely. I am however surprised Reeds got it wrong, as they say they update all data according to the Notices to Mariners issued.But it’s 3 years out of date. It’s annoying as I consult Reeds to update my waypoints before a passage. Not sure I will do that now.

Surely you should always take your own waypoints from a chart, not somebody else’s list?

 

[CJ1]

We’ll that’s a good point. But I don’t replace all my charts every year. I doubt if many leisure sailors do.And I’m more likely to make an error plotting and entering the waypoint from a chart than entering Reeds data. So I mistakenly thought forking out £50 a year on Reeds meant I would pick up any prior changes so all I have to do is consult recent notices to mariners for the area I’m going to and I’m up to date. Reeds list of waypoints is rather pointless if you can’t use them.

 

[tillergirl]

Umm. It is a bit of a big miss by Reeds. Crouch Harbour Authority issued a local notice in June, 2021 which Reeds probably wouldn't see (checking every local authority round the whole country every week could quickly drive Reeds mad). But the UKHO issued three notices in 2022: a preliminary notice in week 28 of 2022 advising a general warning that the buoyage had been changed (NtM 2783(P)/22), a permanent notice in week 30 of 2022 advising the positions of the three pairs in the Whitaker Channel (NtM 3003/22) and another permanent notice in week 32 of 2022 announcing a new block for chart 1975 (Thames Estuary - Northern Part) showing the Whitaker and Swallowtail channel changes (NtM 3188/22).

In fairness, logistics for chart changes worldwide are a challenge. I suspect the 'miss' occurred because of the mechanics. Reed probably would rely on chart 1975 for changes - that is the primary chart. NtM 3003 specified changes for chart 3750 only which is a local chart of the Crouch and NtM 3188 specified the block for chart 1975. So whilst the positions of the buoys were specified for chart 3750, chart 1975 had a block (i.e. an image) not the lat/long.

Note Reeds still talk of 4 pairs of buoys in the Whitaker (No 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6 and 7 and 8). The 2021 changes was removing one pair so there are only 3 pairs. Note also that Crouch Harbour Authority tend to lift individual buoys ashore temporarily for maintenance this time of year. The CHA is very diligent as to the issue of local notices including short term changes.

 

[Daydream believer]

Forget the buoys, turn the echo sounder on. Clear the spit & turn left when the depth allows.

 

[Cantata]

In the days when I bought Reeds (many years ago now) I often found out of date stuff in it. I use the CA Almanac these days.

 

[dunedin]

Like paper charts, paper almanacs get finalised for print a long time before their publication. I don’t use any almanac (up here Clyde Cruising Club Sailing Directions are VASTLY superior), but has anybody checked to see if there is any amendments / corrections published by Reeds for that area?

 

[Cantata]

Like paper charts, paper almanacs get finalised for print a long time before their publication. ..............................

Yeah but......these Crouch buoy changes were implemented in 2021. And yet apparently not reflected in Reeds printed in 2023.

 

[Daydream believer]

Do the editors of Reeds rely on locals to help update them with changes in details & (more importantly)of any errors? If so would it not be expected of the crouch HM to notify Reeds of the changes as a matter of course? Not because they are particularly obliged to do so but because it would seem sensible for waters within their jurisdiction. . ( How far does the CHA extend from the mouth of the river?)
Of course the HM may well have done so = in which case Reeds would have no excuse.
Buoyage changes made by Trinity House should be picked up by Reeds in some way. But can one expect them to log every NTM faultlessly?

 

[Daydream believer]

Yeah but......these Crouch buoy changes were implemented in 2021. And yet apparently not reflected in Reeds printed in 2023.

Have you told Reeds?

 

[Lucky Duck]

There are entries in the current edition of Reeds which are decade or more out of date

(And yes, I have informed them but like some others on these forums it was seemingly ignored)

 

[Daydream believer]

There are entries in the current edition of Reeds which are decade or more out of date

(And yes, I have informed them but like some others on these forums it was seemingly ignored)

An example please so we are aware.