Sailing day at Felixstowe Ferry - Unexpected stop

Marco Serrano

I sailed 23.1 nautical miles single hand, departing from and returning to Felixstowe Ferry. The wind increased throughout the day, ranging between 7 and 20 knots. My average speed was 4.2 knots, with a maximum recorded speed of 8 knots. Upon returning to the marina at low tide, I had a small incident due to incorrect tidal information provided by the Imray Tides app. According to the app (Woodbridge Haven station), the tide height at 16:45 was shown as 1.1 m, which, when added to the channel depth of 0.8 m, should have given a total depth of about 1.9 m — enough for my boat with a draft of approximately 1.3 m (4.3 ft). However, I ran aground near the starboard buoy Deben at position 51°58'.862N 01°23'.615E. I later checked the Tides Near Me app, which indicated the actual tide height was only 0.61 m at that time. It was a tricky situation with choppy seas and strong wind, but I managed to free the boat without any visible damage by staying calm, waiting for the right moment, and applying power carefully. The lesson learned: always cross-check tidal information using more than one source and plan based on the most conservative scenario. Tide type: Neap tide Tidal station used: Woodbridge Haven Low water (predicted): 16:40 – 0.6 m Position of grounding: 51°58'.862N 01°23'.615E (green starboard Deben buoy)