Haisborough Sands


Haisborough Sands is a sandbank off the coast of Norfolk, England at Happisburgh. The shoal is long and wide and lies parallel to the north-east coast of Norfolk. The shoal is marked to the northwest by north by the Haisbro Light Buoy, North cardinal. To the southeast by south is a light buoy South cardinal, and to the west by Mid Haisbro light buoy starboard hand. In 1995 there were three drying patches recorded to the north-northeast and east-southeast of the Mid Haisbro light buoy. Except at slack water their positions are indicated by tidal eddies particularly on the northwest, and in slight or moderate seas the swell breaks on the shallower parts of the banks. There are several foul patches on the southern part of the shoal. Over the years this shoal has claimed many ships.

Description

Haisborough Sands forms part of the Haisborough, Hammond and Winterton Special Area of Conservation. The main ridge of the shoal is made up of five distinct areas. These are named Haisborough Sand, Haisborough Tail, Hammond Knoll, Winterton Ridge and Hearty Knoll. To the eastern edge of the sands there are areas called Hewett Ridge and Smiths Knoll which form a ridge of sandbanks on the outer boundary of the sands. Inshore and to the west there are additional banks including Winterton Shoal and the Newarp Banks.

Fish and mammals

Haisborough Sands and its surrounding shoals are known to be spawning grounds for sand eels, lemon sole, and sole. The sands also provide nursery grounds for cod, herring, mackerel, and plaice. There are small numbers of harbour porpoise regularly observed within the boundaries of the sands. The common seals which are resident in the Wash are occasionally observed in this area.

Ships wrecked on Haisborough Sands

The Haisborough Sands have been responsible for a number of shipwrecks. One of the most significant involved several vessels lost on 6 August 1941 during the Second World War. Several ships within an East Coast convoy of colliers, carrying primarily coal to London, were lost when they ran aground on the Sands in poor weather as a result of the convoy Commodore mistakenly ordering a course onto the sands. The true facts of the incident were kept hidden from the public until after the war.
Some of the ships wrecked here include: