Your local stomping ground - help needed

lockwood

lockwood

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Joined
19 Dec 2004
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329
Location
Cardiff
www.craiglockwood.co.uk
I am in the process of writing a pocket PC program which I think would be very useful to yachties (with pocket PC's or laptops onboard).

Basically, it will be just be a searchable database of marinas, anchorages etc. - a bit like a UK waters almanac in a digital searchable format.

I could go and buy the pilot books for each area, but think it would be better to get local knowledge from sailors themselves.

Therefore, if you could add your marina,anchorage,mooring details to this thread It would be great. Just simple pilotage such as a waypoint, dangers, tidal access, etc.

* I will not be profitting from this program, I just think it would be handy for yachties when out and about if shelter is needed in a blow - the program will be free and available for download once finished.

I will start with an example........
 
Penarth Marina (N 51*26.712 - W 003*10.497)

Situated within Cardiff Bay, Penarth Marina can be reached on VHF.80 and has access at any state of tide. Entrance to Cardiff Bay is made through the Cardiff Bay Barrage (call CH.18) which is also accessible at any state of tide for vessels with a 2m draft or less. The entrance to Cardiff Bay is clearly marked with buoys which start from Penarth Pier.

Once through the Barrage, Turn left to see the entrance to the Marina (approx. 100 metres).
 
Neptune Marina/Ipswich Yacht Haven (N 52*03.140 - E 01*09.700)

Situated on the Orwell, in Ipswich Wet Docks. Can be reached on VHF. 80 between 08h00 and 17h30. Call from Orwell bridge. Entrance is through Prince Phillip Lock, request permission to lock on VHF 68 (calling Ipswich Port Radio). You must monitor Ch71 while in the Orwell to Shotley Beacon and Ch 68 from Shotley beacon to Ipswich for information regarding large ship movements. Access at all states of tide. Lock operates internationally recognised traffic signals. Distance from Harwich 9nm. No appreciable navigational hazards within Orwell buoyed channel. Max speed in Orwell 6kts. Tel 01473 215204 Neptune or 01473 236644 Haven

PS... looking at your example... didn't realise Penarth was that far north /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I could go and buy the pilot books for each area, but think it would be better to get local knowledge from sailors themselves.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't want to put a damper on a basically good idea but reproducing pilot books, for profit or not, will get you in hot water so don't be tempted to copy from publications to fill gaps /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Walton Backwaters

From the Pye SWMB to Crabb Knoll No.3 there is only 0.9m of water as is the stretch from Island Point NCMB to the next green SHMB (No.9 from memory). After this there is good depth all the way to Titchmarsh Marina which is allegedly all tide but I’ve seen enough boats aground in the entrance to doubt this. I know of one boat that draws 1.8m that avoids getting in or out LW+/-2. I draw 1.3m and have grounded between the pontoons inside the marina whilst trying to leave at low water (can’t remember if this was springs/neaps).

Stone point is a popular anchorage and a short dingy ride ashore and during summer many picknicks and BBQ’s are seen. Shore is not accessible from the land. Near the point the water is steep-to and deep with the tide ripping through so swimmers beware. The children (big ones too) enjoy the mud slides down the gulleys that appear near low water. On the point bilge keelers are often seen dried out on the beach.

Down Walton channel and the Twizzle there are many swinging moorings but be prepared to be moved on by their owners, otherwise there seems to be no charge for their use. The town hard (and the resort of Walton on the Naze) can be reached by tender HW+/-2. For fish and chips The Haven in OLd Pier Street cannot be beat and the Walton Tavern, at the top of Newgate Street on the sea-front, does a mean Sunday lunch but being a cockney boy my favourite eatery is Whites Pie and Mash shop in the High Street. Cheap beer at the W&FYC.

Hamford water is another good anchorage though will be uncomfortable in NE winds. At the top of Oakley Creek to the North is the Explosives factory and yachts are not welcome. Large vessels use this creek so it is not advised to hang around. Anchor in Kirby Creek and Landermere Creek where there are also moorings for a peacefull night or a row to the village of Kirby le Soken for vitals and beer.

There is a large seal population in the area with many and varied species of wild-fowl and exploring the creeks that run through the marshes gives this corner of England a real Swallows and Amazons feel, which is of course exactly what it is. Arthur Ransome based his books on it.

Kim

P.S. As I am at work I don't have access to waypoints etc. but the important one here is Pye SWMB so a small task for you to fill in the detail.
 
Here are a few

Troon Yacht Haven (55°33’.20N 04°42’.00W)

Located in Troon Harbour. On approach beware of Lady Isle, Crab Rock, Mill rock and Lappock Rock. Access 24/7 Ch 80 Tel 01292 315553, Lumpy at harbour mouth if strong winds from SW~NW. Chandelery, Restaurant/bar, Fuel on site Supermarket and local pubs within crawling distance.

Clyde Marina (55°38’.13N 04°50’.55W)

Located in Ardrossan harbour in the old Eglington Docks. On approach beware of Eagle Rock, Cambell Rock, West Crinan Rock, Halftide Rocks and Horse Isle. Do not approach between Horse Isle and the mainland due to unmarked drying rocks. Give Horse isle a wide berth due to unmarked drying ledges and spits. Access 24/7 Ch 80 Tel 01294 607077. Ardrossan is a busy commercial post therefore caution is needed entering or leaving . Contact Harbout master Ch 14 or 16 and watch out for the ferries , Lumpy at harbour mouth if strong winds from SW~NW Sometimes closed in SW gales. Short walk to the town of Ardrossan.

Largs Yacht Haven (55°46’.40N 04°51’.84W)

Located South of Largs Town. Beware of Hunterston and Southannan Sands if approaching from the south. Keep well offshore. Access 24/7 Ch80 Tel 01475 675333. Chandelery, Restaurant/bar, Mini Market on site. 5 mins by taxi to Largs.
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GPS with Bluechart already gives me all this info.
Plus I buy the pilot or sailing directions to where my locality is likely to be. I dont see the need for another 'holder' of information. You just seem to be regurgitating information that is already held elsewhere.

Donald
 
That is the whole point, you can BUY as much info as you like.

I was just thinking of creating a database that can be updated on the fly, for FREE, and with good local knowledge.
 
On one hand, if you get a good response, you would be holding something that might, in fact have a monetary value.
On the other hand, what I think you'll have is unchecked, unreliable information from unknown sources. Some of it will almost certainly be nicked from someone else's pilot. The rest would have questionable accuracy, so say the least.
Nice idea, but I think I'll stick to properly researched and published pilots, almanacs and charts.
 
I don't want to put a dampener on what is a nice idea and I admire Conch-Pearls' enthusiasm, but I have to agree with you.
The other thing that worries me is that some idiot is bound to submit a spoof for a "joke"; sad but that's the way of the internet.
 
Hey, don't get disheartened Conch_Pearl..... everyone said that Amazon was a silly idea.......

Personally I quite like the idea of a searchable pilot that can be updated very regularly, so include perhaps navigational warnings in force etc etc.... or the very latest about shifting sandbars... and perhaps foul anchorage coordinates etc etc... as people or systems announce them...

Bet none of the channel pilots you lot read had anything in them about the Tricolor hazard did they? that'll probably be in next years edition /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
No, I said "some idiot" and I wouldn't dream of putting you in that category! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
If you're quoting waypoints you need to establish a datum, suggest WGS84 is safest all round as that's the way charts are going.
 
Not sure about a discrete program as it would need regular updating, support etc.

Would be a good candidate for a 'wiki' on the web though - i.e. open, user maintained & contributed data source. That would be a great resource to have.

If you're not sure what this is about, take a look at Wikipedia
 
The plan is to have an update file that can be released virtually immediately, simply downloaded to the main program to update databases - in the same way the majority of anti-virus software is updated.

Just hit update and it'll do just that. I have the framework already coded, now just need the content!

As I say, I am not making this for a profit. I just think it could be a useful tool for like minded sailors. I don't see why people would submit false info as a 'joke'. They would have to be pretty sad to do that!

Thank you all for the support.
 
Just had a read at my "Reeds" Almanac
<font color="red">IMPORTANT NOTE</font>
This Almanac is intended as an aid to navigation only.
The information contained within should not be relied on for navigation use, rather it should be used in conjunction with official hydrographic data.

Blah, Blah......

OK bottom line is even the sailing "bible" is not guaranteed and the authors and publishers accept no liability so what is the problem?

Surely if the information is posted here first others using the same marinas / anchorages etc can spot the joker or the incorrect entries before they are fed into the data base. The only reservation I have is the publication of some of the lesser known "well kept secrets" such as ******* or ****** or ******* . if the details were published we would soon have every Tom, Dick and Harriet coming and spoiling the serenity of these "lost" anchorages.
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“Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity”
Skype id:cliffillupo
 
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