The SW Shingle bank approximately 0.6NM just East of  North of the Bridge Buoy  (49º 40.1´ N & 01º 36.5´ W) which has a charted depth of between 2.0 to 3.1M above chart datum, has somewhat less water over the bank these days, most likely due to the recent high winds and the accompanying rough seas.

On the 2nd of May at only 2.5 hrs after high water Dover, which at the Needles should be within 30 minutes after half tide, there was less than 2M depth at the above noted point, which caused us to gently touch bottom in very calm conditions in a light breeze, although it was only a couple of days after neaps. There was evidence of a very small standing wave ahead and to starboard, but that is not unusual in even deep waters, due to sharp depth variations.  We came off to the South very easily in a few seconds, despite the strong ebb, so only pride was injured.

I guess many of us and certainly I have on numerous occasions in the past, passed over the tail of the bank with ample depth of water for any of our yachts, when on passage to the West and without problems.  As I did not have the presence of mind to push the MOB button on the plotter, the above location must be approximate, another lesson worth remembering.  However what is certain is that my 3 year old Navionics chart showed an ample depth of water.

I guess the message is that with the obvious changes taking place on the Shingles bank as evidenced by the emergence of the “island” roughly NW of the Mid Shingles Buoy, we should stick to the shipping channel, I certainly will in this area in future, given the potential consequences of grounding in very different conditions.

Jim Sey of Second Rebellion