Would you go over the Sandettie bank?

[Otter]

Second channel trip is next week. Last year we were ultra cautious and went round everything. This year we are again leaving from Ramsgate and going to Gravelines and thought we'd cut 1m off the tail of South Falls (SW end) and cross the Sandettie bank in the centre by the N cardinal. We could then use Ruytingen NW as a waypoint and cross the Out Ruytingen bank for Gravelines. It would be HW-4 when we cross Sandettie on neaps and we draw about 2'. Any thoughts?

 

[thalassa]

Went that way three weeks ago. Haven't got my maps here, but I thought the Sandettie bank was nowhere less deep than 5 meters at LWS. So two feet would clear it at all states of the tide... Outer Ruytinghe Bank on the French side is much less deep, and rough in anything over Force 5.

I didn't enter Gravelines this year, but last time, a substantial bar had formed in the entrance, and we had to wait till 1 1/2 hr before HW to enter. Might be different now.
Cheers, and have a good trip.

 

[Pye_End]

It is really partly weather dependant. Can get nasty seas on some of these when the wind goes across them.

Otherwise the tidal height is just a maths problem. Bear in mind wave height when doing the calculation!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Crossed it earlier this year at LW no problem...

My plan was to dip below the cardinal if there was a big swell running.....

 

[FullCircle]

3 days ago, come on in, the water's lovely......

 

[FullCircle]

Oh, and Gravelines is sooooo much better than Calais. Also, Nieupoort WSKlum Air Force YC is recommended.
The LIDL 100m away has some great wine bargains, but the Credit/Debit cards DO NOT WORK there. Get cash, and use their trolleys to transport your booty/
Recommended Butcher and Baker in the town.
We will be returning soon, spent 3 days there.

 

[Otter]

Over the middle of Sandettie? Just checking...

 

[FullCircle]

No, the direct route from Ramsgate I have taken previously is out to edge of Goodwins, then almost a straight line to Gravelines, kinking a bit for perpendicular crossing of TSS. Should lead you to the western end of Sandettie, unless I did it wrong? I left Gravelines at opening of the lock gate, couple of hours before High came into Ramsgate at just before low water.
No chart in front of me, but only remembering altering course by a few degrees all day.

If you have the family and its a nice long day, you could go B2, Sandwich Bay, Deal beach and South Foreland way. Its a nice view, but much longer obviously.

 

[AndrewB]

Got pushed over the top of Sandettie in an F7, spring tides, in an engineless boat 30 years ago. Luckily not at low water, but it was the first time I'd seen waves that looked as high as the mast!

Not in bad weather, then. But with a minimum of 6m, its OK in fair weather, though expect to see a bit of a swirl on the surface. I've crossed it several times since, as well as the shallower Outer Ruytingen Bank.