Hi, I’m planning on moving my yacht from the Broads out through Great Yarmouth. Reading a lot about the strength of tide down through Yarmouth, did you do it over low water? Also was it much hassle getting the bridges open? Thanks
Hi Gary, yes, plan to arrive one hour after the published time for low water Gorleston. I arrived a bit too early. Bridge openings can be booked online, staff were very helpful. Regards
Thanks for that, getting the run around a little on trying to arrange openings, contacted Peel ports and they’ve told me to go through Norwich County Council, is that where you booked it on line?
Hi Gary, here's the info you need: Bridge Information Transit requires passage past Haven Bridge. There are two lifting bridges between the Port of Great Yarmouth and the Broads National Park - Haven Bridge and Breydon Bridge. Haven Bridge is a double bascule lifting bridge with an opening span width of 26.8m. Breydon Bridge is a single-span drawbridge with an opening span width of 23m. Due to the presence of two low fixed bridges on the river Bure, sailing vessels wishing to access the northern area of the Broads will need to de-mast. There are air draught boards installed on both sides of each bridge. Additionally, available clearance can be requested from Breydon Bridge by calling on VHF Ch12. Bridge deck heights are below, referring to clearance at Chart Datum. Bridge Name Haven Bridge Air Draught at Chart Datum Breydon Bridge centre (lifting) span 4.3 metres Breydon Bridge side span 5.9 metres 6.4 metres When using tide tables (available on the Port website) to estimate clearances use the below formula. Note that HW/LW at the bridges occurs approximately 30 minutes after HW at Gorleston; Clearance (m) = Bridge Deck Height (m) − Predicted Tide Height (m) A table of approximate clearances is also included on the following page. Bridge bookings can be made during office hours on 01493 335522. Lifts for weekends should be booked by 16:00 on Friday or on the previous working day in the case of Public Holidays. Vessels will be grouped together on lifts whenever possible. When craft are to transit the bridge in opposite directions, those vessels going ‘with the tide’ will be given priority. Both bridges exhibit occasional traffic signals consisting of three fixed vertical red lights displayed in both directions shortly before a lift is to occur. When the lifting span is opened one set will be extinguished to inform vessels from that side that they can proceed if safe to do so. The Haven Bridge is manned approximately ten minutes before a scheduled lift. Breydon Bridge is manned during daylight hours. Vessels waiting for a lift should seek advice from the Bridge Master if in any doubt (VHF Ch12 callsign ‘HAVEN BRIDGE’ or ‘BREYDON BRIDGE’). Version 2 Jul 2021 Page 2 of 3
Thanks again, yeah I found all that information, unfortunately Haven bridge is undergoing repairs so will only open at yet to be published times. Can’t really get a clear answer from either NCC, Broads Authority or ABP. Looks like I might have to lower the mast.
In that case you definitely want to get the tides right. If you do arrive a little early you can tie up on the port side as soon as you go under Haven Bridge. If you leave Yarmouth while the tide is still going out you'll meet the North going tide which creates the choppy sea that we found. Good luck!
Hi, I’m planning on moving my yacht from the Broads out through Great Yarmouth. Reading a lot about the strength of tide down through Yarmouth, did you do it over low water? Also was it much hassle getting the bridges open?
Thanks
Hi Gary, yes, plan to arrive one hour after the published time for low water Gorleston. I arrived a bit too early. Bridge openings can be booked online, staff were very helpful. Regards
Thanks for that, getting the run around a little on trying to arrange openings, contacted Peel ports and they’ve told me to go through Norwich County Council, is that where you booked it on line?
Hi Gary, here's the info you need:
Bridge Information Transit requires passage past Haven Bridge. There are two lifting bridges between the Port of Great Yarmouth and the Broads National Park - Haven Bridge and Breydon Bridge. Haven Bridge is a double bascule lifting bridge with an opening span width of 26.8m. Breydon Bridge is a single-span drawbridge with an opening span width of 23m. Due to the presence of two low fixed bridges on the river Bure, sailing vessels wishing to access the northern area of the Broads will need to de-mast. There are air draught boards installed on both sides of each bridge. Additionally, available clearance can be requested from Breydon Bridge by calling on VHF Ch12. Bridge deck heights are below, referring to clearance at Chart Datum. Bridge Name Haven Bridge Air Draught at Chart Datum Breydon Bridge centre (lifting) span 4.3 metres Breydon Bridge side span 5.9 metres 6.4 metres When using tide tables (available on the Port website) to estimate clearances use the below formula. Note that HW/LW at the bridges occurs approximately 30 minutes after HW at Gorleston; Clearance (m) = Bridge Deck Height (m) − Predicted Tide Height (m) A table of approximate clearances is also included on the following page. Bridge bookings can be made during office hours on 01493 335522. Lifts for weekends should be booked by 16:00 on Friday or on the previous working day in the case of Public Holidays. Vessels will be grouped together on lifts whenever possible. When craft are to transit the bridge in opposite directions, those vessels going ‘with the tide’ will be given priority. Both bridges exhibit occasional traffic signals consisting of three fixed vertical red lights displayed in both directions shortly before a lift is to occur. When the lifting span is opened one set will be extinguished to inform vessels from that side that they can proceed if safe to do so. The Haven Bridge is manned approximately ten minutes before a scheduled lift. Breydon Bridge is manned during daylight hours. Vessels waiting for a lift should seek advice from the Bridge Master if in any doubt (VHF Ch12 callsign ‘HAVEN BRIDGE’ or ‘BREYDON BRIDGE’). Version 2 Jul 2021 Page 2 of 3
Thanks again, yeah I found all that information, unfortunately Haven bridge is undergoing repairs so will only open at yet to be published times.
Can’t really get a clear answer from either NCC, Broads Authority or ABP. Looks like I might have to lower the mast.
In that case you definitely want to get the tides right. If you do arrive a little early you can tie up on the port side as soon as you go under Haven Bridge. If you leave Yarmouth while the tide is still going out you'll meet the North going tide which creates the choppy sea that we found. Good luck!