NOTES: 

Time your passage to take the flood tide, whether entering the Swale from East or West. From the East, via South Deep, arrive at the entrance to Conyer Creek on a rising tide. From the West, via Queenborough, pass under Kingsferry Bridge & arrive at the mouth of Conyer Creek on a rising tide. Kingsferry Bridge usually opens twice an hour, at H+10 and H-20. 

Commercial shipping uses this waterway and takes priority over leisure craft. PH & SH Buoys switch sides of the Swale 0.25NM NW of SCM Lilies (VQ(6)+LFl10s). 

From the EAST (via South Deep): Pilotage details: https://swalemarina.co.uk/1_4_contact.html 

● Shape a passage along the Swale from Columbine Spit to Fowley Spit ECB (Q(3)10s). 

● Leave Fowley Spit ECB close to PORT and aim for an unlit SHB off the E end of Fowley Island. NOTE: Watch your depth - the channel tends to follow a curve closing on the S shore. 

● 0.2 NM after the unlit SHB, pass white waiting buoys, a sluice on the S shore (R.Bn) and head W to an unlit PHB. 

● From the unlit PHB, head SW via a channel marked with small RED & GREEN channel buoys to a small ECB inside the mouth of Conyer Creek. 

From the WEST (Butterfly Channel): Pilotage: https://swalemarina.co.uk/1_4_contact.html 

● Shape a passage along the Swale to PHB No 8 (Fl.R 2s). 

● Head SE towards a beacon/marker west of Fowley Island. NOTE: Watch your depth! HW at Conyer Creek should give 2m depth but this varies because of gutways across the flats. 

● At the beacon/marker, look for a pair of PORT & STBD marks, followed by pairs of withies marking the channel (best depth is in the centre). Head SW towards the sea wall. 

● Just before the sea wall, turn hard to PORT towards the small ECB, where the Butterfly Channel meets the E channel. 

● From the small ECB, follow RED & GREEN channel buoys heading towards the E shore & then towards the W side of the creek until you reach a sharp left hand bend. 

● Follow the channel past Conyer Marina (on E bank). After 150m turn STBD into Swale Marina.