The Routes
32 routes between Ramsgate and the Kent, Essex and Suffolk Rivers
To and From Ramsgate and:
1 River Blackwater via Fisherman’s Gat & Sunk Beacon
2 via Fisherman’s Gat & SW Sunk
3 via the North Edinburgh Channel
4 via Foulger’s Gat
5 River Colne via Fisherman’s Gat & Sunk Beacon
6 via Fisherman’s Gat & SW Sunk
7 via the North Edinburgh Channel
8 via Foulger’s Gat
9 River Crouch via Fisherman’s Gat & Sunk Beacon
10 via Fisherman’s Gat & SW Sunk
11 via the North Edinburgh Channel
12 via Foulger’s Gat
13 Harwich Harbour via the Black Deep
14 via the East Swin
15 River Deben via the Black Deep
16 via the East Swin
17 The Swale
18 The Medway
To and From the Kent Rivers:
19 The Medway to the River Crouch
20 to the River Blackwater
21 to the River Colne
22 The Swale to the River Crouch
23 to the River Blackwater
24 to the River Colne
25 Medway to Harwich via the Wallet
26 via the Barrow and East Swin
27 Medway to Deben via the Wallet
28 via the Barrow and East Swin
29 Swale to Harwich via the Wallet
30 via the Barrow and East Swin
31 Swale to Deben via the Wallet
32 via the Barrow and East Swin
Note: there is caution to be observed if using the SW Sunk route owing to the collapse of the beacon, the remains of which lie on the sands ‘awash’ and unmarked! It is not recommended.
More about what it does
These are the common ‘inside routes’. Depending upon your intended passage, the Estuary contains sands that must either be crossed (the Long Sand, the Sunk Sand and the Buxey/Gunfleet Sands) or skirted (the Margate, the East Barrow, Maplin and Foulness Sand or the Cork Sand.
No single journey will encounter all of these but most journeys will meet one or more. The route guidance includes details of waypoints providing sectors that match the time planning charts, discusses hazards and features to be considered and provides detailed information on track direction, distance and waypoints.
This information will help you select the best route for your purposes and provide you with the detail you require.
Time Planning Tables
The Time Planning Tables enable you to quickly:
- Estimate the overall duration of the passage for different start times;
- Observe the effect of the tide in each sector for each 15 minutes of the day;
- Determine the best start time for the passage (by reference to HW Sheerness);
- Quickly modify your start time to meet any tidal gates while on passage;
- For most, many passages cannot be completed in a single tide -
quickly choose the compromise to get the best out of the tide; - Determine you likely arrival time at the Landfall Waypoint.
A ‘Planning Assistant’ folds out from the rear cover for ease of use -
Back to the Top
