7mm Heybridge Basin
- Thread starter Richard Gawler
- Start date
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Looking at the tide tables it appears to be a 1.8m tide. 2.1 m tides are expected on 9th March which I suspect will reach or even breach the top of the lock gate.
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Seems so - Not quite the 6m tides I've experienced around the Isle of Whithorn and the west coast of Scotland.
Richard Gawler
Western Thunderer
Here are some more photos from my visit on 16th February, hoping these bring back some more happy memories.
John57sharp
Western Thunderer
Round here, tides like that cause the whole town to turn out… Parkgate two weeks ago.
timbowales
Western Thunderer
If you want big tides come and live along the Bristol Channel
Tim T in Llanelli
Tim T in Llanelli
Rob Pulham
Western Thunderer
All this talk of big tides brings back memories of learning to Scuba dive here in the UK. The Sub Aqua Association(SAA) standard blurb recommended a 3 minute decompression stop at 3 metres on every dive.
Which is all very well in inland bodies of water where much of the training took place (most of my open water training was done in flooded quarries) but try doing a 3 metre stop at sea in 6 metre swells...
Which is all very well in inland bodies of water where much of the training took place (most of my open water training was done in flooded quarries) but try doing a 3 metre stop at sea in 6 metre swells...
simond
Western Thunderer
I haven’t seen “The Boathouse” for years, and I don’t think I ever saw a tide like that at Parkgate.
is the ice cream shop still there? Nicholl’s? And is the Red Lion still lovely?
Richard Gawler
Western Thunderer
I succumbed to temptation and visited at high tide at lunch time today. The levels of the water in estuary, sea lock and basin were all much the same as each other; the flood gates were open and all three sets of lock gates were closed.
The tops of the flood gates are (my estimate) about 0.7 m above the structural top of the sea gate, and they are pretty much level with the top of the sea wall.
If the tide goes 300 mm or so above its level today (taking it above the structural top of the sea gate), the flood gates will be closed; but the tide then needs to breach these gates or go over the sea wall to inundate the settlement.
All seems quite serene inside.
Nothing is ever simple and the tide table on display here shows a completely different set of values for high tide compared to the figures cited in other posts here
There are signs with depth markings beside the sea gate,
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simond
Western Thunderer
The table I added to the post above is not what I habitually use, the port publishes a table giving first and last locks in and out, and they typically do a couple (or more in the summer) in between. There’s a trick in working out what the fishing boats are doing, and trying to fit in. Haven’t quite got it sussed yet.
The tide tables & web apps will give a “height of tide” relative to the tide table datum, but local tide tables may well give a “height over sill” to save boat owners having to make the calculation. If there are local tide gauges, they will show the height over the sill.
I’m surprised the depth gauges are in feet.
The tide tables & web apps will give a “height of tide” relative to the tide table datum, but local tide tables may well give a “height over sill” to save boat owners having to make the calculation. If there are local tide gauges, they will show the height over the sill.
I’m surprised the depth gauges are in feet.
Richard Gawler
Western Thunderer
Sorry it looks as though the depth markings are metric and imperial, not two sets of imperial.
Needless to say I have never owned a boat!
This is obviously a local gauge, so if this is the height over sill then the heights of high tide of around 1.8 to 2.1 metres posted here earlier, and the heights of around 5 metres posted on the local notice must be describing other measurements. I don't have a clue what they mean.
Needless to say I have never owned a boat!
This is obviously a local gauge, so if this is the height over sill then the heights of high tide of around 1.8 to 2.1 metres posted here earlier, and the heights of around 5 metres posted on the local notice must be describing other measurements. I don't have a clue what they mean.
simond
Western Thunderer
I guess a peer down t’ole when the tide’s out will make all clear.
I’d guess that the gauge is reading over the sill, but it’s not an area I’ve ever boated in.
- I could say “sailed” but my boats have always been fitted with iron tops’ls (and every other type of sail) so in deference to those whose motive power is more environmentally friendly…
I’d guess that the gauge is reading over the sill, but it’s not an area I’ve ever boated in.
- I could say “sailed” but my boats have always been fitted with iron tops’ls (and every other type of sail) so in deference to those whose motive power is more environmentally friendly…
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Interesting looking at the notice board. I can see why you have to book your passage as it appears the lock is only opened 2hrs either side of high tide during daylight hours and not a 24/7 operation.
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
There is.
When sailing with my neighbour, and after coming down the bouyed channel (navigable at high tide) from Kirkudbright we reached the anchorage behind Little Ross Island in the mouth of the River Dee to Kirkudbright.
As we approached we watched a Kirkudbright fishing boat sail through the narrow channel (red) rather than take the recommended passage (green). Our thought was if he can do that then we can. And it did save time as we just managed to get into Whithorn Harbour on the ebbing tide before the harbour dried. Otherwise we'd have to hang around for 12hrs waiting for the next high tide (although we did have a contingency plan). Whithorn is a drying harbour at low tide.
Alan
Western Thunderer
I did my siling and training from a house boat called the Haybay about 100 yards downstream from the lock, just beyond the boatshed and crane you can see your post112. I learned to sail there, it is part of the London Borough of newham's Outdoor Education Centre and over 5 years worked my way up to become a RYA senior instructor working at weekends. Happy days particularly the staff courses.
Ressaldar
Western Thunderer
Hi Simon,
Yes, Nicholl's ice cream shop is still there but not entered the Red Lion so cannot comment. Off to the Red Fox at Thornton Hough tonight for a nice meal though, the best restaurant on Wirral.
cheers
Mike
John57sharp
Western Thunderer
And I can confirm that the Red Lion is still going strong. The Parade is very popular in most weather, ice cream and chip sales seem to remain buoyant.
John