Cruise Planning Sheet
Bradwell

Departure Date
8 April 2023
Return Date
10 April 2023
Leader
Contact
Lead Boat
Oystercatcher
Martin Male
Sheerness HW
14:59
Arrive HW
Communications
VHF CH 16 + CH 6 for Cruise: Medway VTS (74) Bradwell Marina (37/80),Tollesbury Marina & Heybridge Lock (80), Brightlingsea (68), West MerseaYC launch (37)
Destination WPT
Destination WPT:
PHM N of creek entrance marks Obstn.
Useful Links
Passage Notes
NOTES: The passage to Brightlingsea, West Mersea, Bradwell or Tollesbury is essentially the same. The passage should be timed to reach the SwinSpitway near LW with the north going (falling) tide from the Medway then take the rising tide to the destination. Slower craft might wish to anchor overnight at Stangate Creek or pick up a buoy at Queenborough (where charges may apply).
Take the falling tide from the Medway to the Blacktail Spit Buoy.
Shape a course along the edge of the Maplin Sands to the end of the Crouch.
Shape a course towards the SwinSpitway Buoy.Check your draft will allow you to traverse the shallow spitway as there is 1.5 meters currently charted here at chart datum.
Head straight to Wallet Buoy 1NM. From Wallet Buoy shape a course approx NW through the deeper water (avoiding shallows to N and S) towards theColne Bar Buoy.
For Brightlingsea https://www.brightlingseaharbour.org/ follow the buoyed channel in a NNW direction.
For West Mersea or tollesburywww.tollesburymarina.com/ shape a course from the Clone Bar Buoy to the Nass Beacon, then take the buoyed channel for West Mersea. The entrance toWoodrolfe Creek leading to Tollesburyis via a buoyed channel about 0.5NM SW of the Nass Beacon.
Sheerness to Brightlingsea 28 NM, West Mersea/Tollesbury/Bradwell approx. 33 NM. Heybridge 41 NM.
Bradwell Creek is accessed by a channel marked with withies and buoys. When entering the creek, just west of the redundant training wall for Bradwell Power Station, leave the North Cardinal Beacon to starboard. Info:www.bradwellmarina.com/navigational-info.htm
Heybridge Basin can only be entered from -1 to HW. Check with the lock keeper Paul Hindley 07712 079764 waterways.org.uk/waterways/sites/essex-waterways/visit/heybridge-basin
For the return, take the last of the ebb tide to the SwinSpitwayand the rising tide back to the Medway
Additional Information
NOTE:
Each skipper is responsible for his/her craft, making sure they and the vessel are capable of making the trip, calculating their own speed, checking the marine weather forecast before and during passage, observing all relevant rules including ColRegs and taking into account any other relevant factors not listed.
Upnor Sailing Club accepts no liability for any inaccuracies in the above or any consequences arising from them.