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The Thames Estuary
Tidal notes
All things being equal, fast motor boats should cross the Thames Estuary above half-tide, preferably during the last two hours of flood. This gives a margin of error near the edges of banks and over shallow cuts. Towards high water the slackening tide helps iron out any sea. On a crossing towards Harwich, the Medusa Channel is best taken near high water. When crossing towards the Blackwater or the Crouch, a good rise of tide is helpful near the SW Sunk beacon, round the edge of East Barrow sand, over the North Middle bank and, for the Blackwater, through the Swin Spitway. The same applies for the inshore passage through the Gore Channel.
Fast boats should round North Foreland two to three hours before HW Ramsgate, to carry a fair stream through the Gore, and have plenty of rise over the shallow coastal waters off Herne Bay, Whitstable and the approaches to the East Swale, or through the Four Fathom Channel and the approaches to the River Medway.
Tide times
August, 1997 |
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