Strong tidal currents, so stick to slack water (within an hour of high tide) whenever possible. Although there’s usually water in Benfleet within a couple of hours of high tide, the current gets pretty full-on more than an hour off high water. Stay right on the way into Benfleet and left (traffic allowing!) on the way back as there are shallows at the mouths of the creeks – follow the port markers and buoys for the deep channels. Can get very busy with traffic, especially on summer weekends: give way to sailing boats / dinghies and beware of wash off motorboats.