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Entering Wells Next The Sea

ChrisB

By ChrisB
in The Norfolk and Suffolk Coast

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Jbx5

Jbx5

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So Smoggy out of Yarmouth what’s the rough mileage to Wells and is it doable at 10kts bearing in mind there is a limited time either side of high water  in one hit as I guess there’s no place in between. 
John 

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Smoggy

Smoggy

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@ Jbx5, It's about 50Nm from memory, I did it a few times at 6-7 knots on my old RLM31 with no problems, now I can do it at 16-18 knots I can leave GY on a falling tide so get a push most of the way up and get to the bar 2 hours before HW just as the tide starts to run east and get in early with plenty of tidal window still open in case of issues.

Leaving wells to come back head out 2 hours before HW and take full advantage of that tidal stream, I've come past scroby against the tide at 6 knots and it took forever.

@ Cal, I have been in there in conditions like that but also watched it going, been bounced there, touched bottom there, nearly bowled over there..... With the old channel on an early entrance I always like the bit where you had to head straight for the beach and into boiling water and turn to port at last minute, seemed crazy but if you hit the beach the tide would take you straight off, the problem was bob halls sand the other side that the tide will take you on to and leave you well and truly stuck.

Once went out of there on a mates fjord27 with TAMD41a when all you could see from the quay was a wall of white water, all the way out I kept saying to him "If you are going to turn back do it soon or we HAVE to go at least 1/2 mile out before even thinking about turning", he went for it and it powered through admirably although his Mrs. was screaming and my Mrs. sat on the floor holding his dog down. :default_biggrin:

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ChrisB

ChrisB

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I think the entrance to The Ore is more testing, not helped by the tolling of that Bell Buoy.  I was lucky to follow a fisherman in the first time. There is something alien about getting so close to the beach at Shingle Street.

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Smoggy

Smoggy

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19 minutes ago, ChrisB said:

I think the entrance to The Ore is more testing, not helped by the tolling of that Bell Buoy.  I was lucky to follow a fisherman in the first time. There is something alien about getting so close to the beach at Shingle Street.

I'll go along with that, the Deben is similar in just how close to the shingle beach you need to run with the knolls swirling things up, even at half tide there's not much water in places.

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JennyMorgan

JennyMorgan

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13 minutes ago, ChrisB said:

I think the entrance to The Ore is more testing, not helped by the tolling of that Bell Buoy.  I was lucky to follow a fisherman in the first time. There is something alien about getting so close to the beach at Shingle Street.

To the above I agree. A few years ago I arrived at the bar joining a small flotilla of sailing boats gilling around waiting for the tide. We were aboard a Francis Jones designed East Coast shallow draft motor sailer and when I saw my opportunity I set off under full sail. Having crossed into the Ore I turned to see a number of deeper draft boats attempting to follow me and needlessly running aground! I admit to a smug smile despite being concerned for the safety of others. 

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Smoggy

Smoggy

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17 minutes ago, JennyMorgan said:

I admit to a smug smile despite being concerned for the safety of others. 

Running aground is considered normal on the east coast to anything with a keel, anywhere else it's considered a major disaster, I once circled the fairway buoy at orford waiting for the tide while watching a twin bilge keeled boat slowly hopping over the bar on the waves and standing high and dry between them.

 

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