On Sunday30 May Jeff, Pete Johnson, Chris and I had a trip down the Lune checking where the water was just before low water and what obstructions there might be.
As expected, the first part of the journey was the most difficult; we had to turn back for two of us to put on drysuits to tow the boat away from the club towards the far bank.
There was only a foot of water till we got to the far side near Curlew’s mooring and then we floated down nicely to the stone training wall which runs west from Basil Perch avoiding the wreck of the stone barge which is showing again.
The boat ( a 12’ rib ) had to be lifted over this wall and then we floated again in fairly slack water about 3’deep down to No 14 red Buoy - this spot would probably be a good anchorage to wait for the tide to lift you over the training wall.
Between No 14 and Sunderland Point is a rocky outcrop standing perhaps 4’ out of the water and the water each side of this was about 2’ deep.
Having passed the outcrop, we came across the training wall again, but we just scraped over it this time, heading towards the green perch.
The sand bar coming out from Sunderland point towards Red 8 was then very obvious and between it and the lighthouse there was a bilge – keeler hard aground.
There was plenty of water past the light and we followed the channel to No 6 red and on to No 5 green – about 4’ of water all the way.
Between 5 and 4 there was a sandbar coming into the channel from the East so we had to make a detour here to avoid it see chart below ,
The North bank has a gradual slope but the South bank is much steeper, almost vertical in places.
click to enlarge chart
The banks are shown as solid lines.
After passing the bar we could see the new orange buoy which marks the eastern edge of the channel
The channel then goes in a long sweep round to the South Bank Buoy (Well named because South bank is very high and we climbed up it to have a look around) We have marked a waypoint "Deep" in here.
No problems from
here on, the water gradually gets deeper all the way to
Lune 1, no need to
go to Lune 2, just head straight from Green 3 to Lune 1
South bank buoy is right next to the actual sandbank, so don’t be tempted to go on the South side of it. If you are tempted to take the “Short Cut “ to Fleetwood, head out to sea for about 100 yards past South Bank before turning, the bank is a lot lower there.
But, if you have not done it before, you need more advice where to enter the Fleetwood channel because there are some horrible jagged wrecks to the North side of it.
We cannot take any responsibility for any of this information; we just give it in good faith. Be aware that the sandbanks are constantly on the move and don’t set off up the River from Lune I before 2 hours before HW Liverpool.
thanks to P Johnson for the chartlet
David Booth 1st June 2004
RIVER LUNE I - GLASSON DOCK
LEISURE PASSAGE PLAN
Kindly supplied by the harbourmaster last year (2003)
1. Yachts arriving at the River Lune No 1 Buoy, a West Cardinal buoy, should not proceed up to Glasson until 1 ½ hours before High Water on Spring Tides and 1 ¼ hours before High Water on Neap Tides.
High Water is the same time as at Liverpool.
2. The Port and Pilot Boat work on VHF Channel 69. Port personnel are normally on standby from 1 ½ hours before High Water.
3. Flood tides flow strongly in the River Lune. On the flood, a SE'ly current sets strongly across the outer channel when the flats are covered. The flood sets strongly SE onto Plover Scar. In Sunderland Hole the flood sets Easterly. These tides can run at five knots on springs. Off Glasson Dock the tide runs strongly Easterly but there is a Westerly eddy close to the dock entrance.
4. Masters should be aware that the channel from Plover Scar to Glasson Dock is subject to change, and they must be prepared to vary their course from the charted channel to seek out the deepest water. In doing so, it may be necessary to cross and re-cross the training walls on the North side of the channel.
5. Under normal circumstances Glasson Dock gate is opened ¾ hour before High Water and closed at High Water.
6. Masters of yachts lying on the East Wall should be aware that the full force of the ebb tide runs along the face of the berth.
7. It is not possible to anchor in the river off Glasson Dock, as it virtually dries out at low water.
8. The channel is subject to change and yachts should proceed with the utmost caution at all times.
9. Masters of yachts should observe the International Collision Regulations in the Pilotage area.
Caution must be taken at all times when transiting the dock at neap tides, with regard to depth of water.
11. Traffic signals are shown from
Glasson Dockhead West side as follows:
Fixed Red light No Entry
Fixed
Green Light Entrance Clear
Flashing Yellow Light - Dock Gate Opening or Closing
12. It is dangerous to proceed down river any later than 1 hour after High Water.