Navigating the harbour
If you are bringing your boat to the harbour for the first time you should find the following information a useful guide.
Rye Bay
In strong onshore winds Rye Bay Can be uncomfortable with seas breaking well offshore and care must be taken when approaching the harbour entrance in onshore winds greater then force six. However, if the wind has any North in it. Fairlee (fairlight) lives up to its name and the situation is quite different. The bay then becomes a welcome haven. In the majority of conditions the bay holds no fear for the prudent sailor.
Vessels entering Rye Bay (Admiralty Charts Nos. 2451 536 19910, if approaching from the east, should follow the coast from Dungeness or if approaching from the west, from fairlight, keeping at least two miles off shore, in a depth of not less than 6 metres, until Rye Fairway Buoy is sighted (Spherical R.W.Fl ev. 10 sec,) position 50 54 04N 00048 02E-149 degrees true X 1.8 nautical miles from the harbour entrance.
Care should be taken, as there are numerous anchored gill nets in the bay. These are usually marked at each end by dan buoys and normally have a minimum depth of water over them of two metres.
The Ministry of Defence operate the Lydd Firing Range to the east of the harbour, extending three miles along the coast with prohibited areas to seaward varying in distance from 1.5 nautical miles to 2.5 nautical miles. (See plan). When firing is taking place there are almost always range safety patrols boats on station to give advice to mariners ( VHF ch.73 or 13). Firing times can be obtained from the Harbour Master's office (Telephone 01797 225225) or visit the Environment Agency website for more details.
Rye Harbour radio usually keeps a listening watch, on VHF channel 14 during the high water period, seven days a week, and also when commercial traffic is manoeuvring.
Harbour Entrance
The port of Rye dries completely and vessels should not approach the port more than two hours before high water and more than three hours after high water.
Vessels, without good local knowledge wishing to berth in the soft mud in or near the town of Rye should time their arrival at the entrance for not later than one hour after high water.
The Harbour is controlled by International Port Traffic Signals. These are only switched on when there are commercial traffic are located about three-quarters of a mile inland, near to the harbour master's Office. It is essential that they are complied with. It may be advisable to contact the port control ( ‘ Rye Harbour Radio.' VHF ch.14), before entering the harbour, to obtain information on commercial movements within the port.
Approach
The easiest approach to the entrance is from the Fairway Buoy, on a rhumb line course of 329 true, keeping the port and starboard entrance markers wide open. The harbour entrance is 42 metres wide and is recognised by a conspicuous red painted tripode beacon ( Fl red ev.5 sec0 30 metres seaward of the West Groyne, approximate position 50 55 55n 000 46'65E. The East Pier (submerged at high water springs) is a further 240 metres inland and has a green painted square steel structure with boarding around the top. (Qfl.9 ev 15 secs). The seaward face is illuminated at night. The East Pier also has four unlit starboard hand beacons.
There may be strong eddies inside the West Groyne during the flood stream and mariners should be prepared to apply correcting helm (usually to starboard) when passing the West Groyne.
Outer Channel
The International Regulations For Preventing Collisions At Sea' operate throughout the Port. Particular attention must be given to keeping a good lookout, especially astern. The International Port Traffic Signals must be complied with when they are operating. A maximum speed limit of six (6) knots is enforced throughout the harbour but vessels are expected to keep well below this maximum speed when passing moored vessels. Vessels fitted VHF radio are advised to monitor VHF channel 14 whilst manoeuvring in the port or its approaches.
Once inside the piers good shelter will be found in all conditions. The channel arrows to 30 metres and runs straight (329 true) for half a mile with an outlying village named Rye Harbour on the west bank, and the Harbour master's office, on the east bank.
Attention must be paid to the west training wall which submerges at high water but is well marked by port hand beacons and withies every 100 metres. The east training wall is sloping and is marked by starboard hand beacons and lights. The River Rother has a maximum flood stream of five knots on spring tides and reached this maximum velocity between H.W:- 1hour. The Port of Rye is tidal with all vessels progressively taking the ground.
Staging, of timber construction, will be seen on the east bank, just passing the harbour Master's office. All new arrivals must stop here and report to the office for berthing instructions and further navigation information.
The River Rother starts to meander gently above this point. The channels are well marked and the sides are fairly steep, except on the inside of the tighter corners. However on each side of the channel are mud flats which cover at high waters and these are waiting to punish the inattentive helm. The entrance to Rock Channel is on the port hand side and although well marked can be missed. The starboard hand channel leads to the fishmarket and becomes impassable to mastered vessels at the road bridge.