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Crossing the sandbar at Harrington Harbor North, Deale
We recently relocated to Shipwright from HHS. We have friends at North that say it can be crossed with more that 4' of keel, but we haven't tried it yet. We're hoping for an opportunity to follow them across the first time we attempt it.
As I understand, the cut is close to the breakwater leaving Tracy's/Rockhold not further towards the 1 as you might expect.
If someone has done this, I too, would be VERY interested. Cutting my motor time down from 40 minutes to 5 would be amazing.
I've heard that if you head straight out of the sea wall and continue on that heading you can make it. I've never tried, so would really like to hear from someone who has.
We've done it once or twice on my buddy's C&C35 MkIII (with centerboard). I think he draws close to 4' with the board up, and he only does it at high tide.
I think it's safe to give it a try, but the first few times especially, I'd proceed slowly, closely monitor the depth finder, and only attempt it at high tide.
I draw about 4 ft and have thought about crossing the bar, but I prefer less public spots to run aground.
I've thought about trying at the flood side of low tide (waiting to float off, rather than getting hooked up to a red boat with flashing lights, and drug off the bar) and dropping waypoints across, but haven't quite gotten the balls to do it.
Maybe this year. If you see a PSC 31 out on the bar for a lenghty time, we're just cleaning the bottom!
We've done it once or twice on my buddy's C&C35 MkIII (with centerboard). I think he draws close to 4' with the board up, and he only does it at high tide-Bubblehead.
This was printed in the HH Harbour Watch newsletter.
From Rockhold Creek #1 head straight for Herring Bay#1 with a heading of 140deg. for 6' of water at low tide across Long Bar.
Courtesy of fishing boat "Patent Pending" out of HHN.
As for those who state that it is 6-feet, perhaps some places and some times, but I promise you there are 4-foot spots at extreme low tide. It just depends on exactly where you cross and how many times you cross. I've never hit, but I've seen some low numbers many times and I know my sounder to be acurate within inches (we often anchor and swim in shallow areas). Pay attention. The chart is not wrong.
I've never watched the fireworks from there, but I do know Herrington Harbor South will have their firework show on July3rd. I believe they will shoot them off the sea wall.
On my charts, if you follow a course connecting the Rock Hold Creek 1 to the Herrington Bay 1, you will be fine. It crosses just south of the 5 and 4 ft marks on the marine chart.
Ok. I did this on this mornings high, outgoing tide. I did the straight out from Rockhold creek No. 1 towards the green spider. Never saw less than 7.5 feet.
OK, I finally got the nerve up to do this last Saturday, and it worked like a charm! Travelling on a course of 140 deg from Rockhold Creek #1 at close to a lowish high tide, we saw 8 feet of water through the sandbar. Doing this could really cut down on our motoring time when daysailing! I plan to try it at low tide too--we draw 5 ft BTW.
And remember that the further north you get, it can get very thin way out. You still need to give the north shore at least 1/2-mile almost all the way.
For sure. Which is why it would be important to head at 140, which takes you southeast and away from the wider and shallower north end. Just looking at the chart, heading due east from Rockhold #1 would definitely not work.
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