wind farm passage

[icepatrol]

having not had the pleasure of sailing out of the orwell for a cpl of years and having watched the march of the turbines off the felixstowe shores, i wondered just how close mobo`s were allowed to get to navigate past them ?
i seam to remember reading somewhere they have to be passed some considerable distance away. (not sure of the exact distance)
reading a few of the threads on here it seems folk are just sailing right through them.
is that ok ?
thanks for some great reading on here. been a real pleasure guys !!!

 

[tillergirl]

That's a good question!

When the London Array (on the Lond Sand) is finished we are supposed to be able to navigate through it to continue to use Foulger's Gat - see the post below where there is a link to a small image of the 'alleyway' we can use. there was a reference in their application to yachtsmen being about to use their gantries as a refuge in crisis

There was an exclusion zone on the Gunfleet Sands Farm during construction but that was removed and to the best of my recollection I have not seen anything to prevent close access - if you would want. At lot of the area round the Gunfleet is pretty shallow although there are some ample depths on the Swin side. I suppose a question is why you would want to? But of course people used to fish on the Gunfleet and I am sure they still do.

See here for RYA advice

http://www.rya.org.uk/sitecollectio...nment/briefing note 06_01 offshore energy.pdf

 

[Koeketiene]

From the RYA site

Navigating within Wind Farms
The RYA has secured a minimum rotor clearance height of 22 m above MHWS to ensure the safety of the majority of small recreational craft. At present there are no safety zones excluding small craft navigating close to the turbines but you are advised to stay a safe distance from the turbines.

Your decision on navigating through these arrays should of course account for the wind, wave and tidal conditions, your vessels clearance height and the existence of underwater scour protection and cabling around each turbine.
The turbines are generally constructed with a minimum of 300 metres between each structure, generally more, leaving plenty of space for safe in favourable conditions navigation through an array.

You should not tie up to or land on the turbine structures except in emergency situations where there is provision to take refuge on the
maintenance platform that is generally around 12 metres above sea level. Likewise anchoring is prohibited in many cases, except in emergency situations.

 

[tillergirl]

but then there is a restricted zone at the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Farm Wind Farm!

 

[Jomo]

but then there is a restricted zone at the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Farm Wind Farm!

Is that not still under construction?

 

[tillergirl]

Think so.

 

[Jomo]

Think so.

Perhaps they'll lift the restrictions on completion. Though I too am a little wary of getting too close to these things. I suppose that Foulgers gat is too useful to avoid though

 

[PaulGooch]

An interesting article about the Gabbard wind farm :

http://www.newenergyfocus.com/do/ecco/view_item?listid=1&listcatid=32&listitemid=2711

 

[tillergirl]

That's interesting Paul about the Gabbard. I'm with Jomo and a bit averse to getting near the things - which is fair enough with my leeway! But Foulger's apart, I can't think of one I would need to go through.

 

[PaulGooch]

That's interesting Paul about the Gabbard. I'm with Jomo and a bit averse to getting near the things - which is fair enough with my leeway! But Foulger's apart, I can't think of one I would need to go through.

That's where i noticed the "right of innocent passage" thingy and wonder if it might help with the full column MCZ issue.