N S E W directions
HWS high water spring LWN low water neap |
HW-3h three hours before high water
LW+3h three hours after low water NM nautical miles |
ca cables (1 ca = 200 yards)
m metres ft feet |
The Dee estuary, some five miles wide at its mouth and twice as long, divides the Wirral peninsula of north west England from the coast of north Wales. It is a rewarding area to explore under sail but, dominated by a large tidal range, it can be demanding too. I hope these notes might encourage some to make the exploration and make the experience worthwhile. They are written from the point of view of sailing a small boat of about 1 foot draught (plate up), from which depth can be probed with pole or oar, and assume that skipper or crew is able, if necessary, to hop overboard to drag the boat off after inadvertently grounding.
The Dee estuary dries extensively but two deep channels enter the estuary from the sea: the Welsh Channel from the W around the Point of Air, and the Hilbre Swash from the N off the Wirral shore. Between these lies the West Hoyle Bank, the highest patch of which is close NW of the (green) HE4 buoy SW of Hilbre. Here, the bank starts to dry at HW+3.5, and a colony of grey seals hauls out to bask on the sand. |
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