Helwick Sand Bank comprising West Helwick and East Helwick and Helwick Swatch. Sailing Directions dating to 1884 note '? these sands, about one quarter of a mile in width extend from abreast Porth Eynon head for about 6 miles in a W by N 1/2 N direction and are steep to. There is a passage between the eastern end and the head, named Helwick pass; and a central swatchway, which divides the sands into two banks, the East and West Helwick. The west Helwick is 2 miles long, and the least water on its is 7 feet? The western extreme is marked by a conical buoy, in 9 fathoms, painted in red and white horizontal bands, with staff and diamond? The Swatchway is about 1 1/4 miles wide, with a depth of 3 1/2 fathoms over it at low water. A red and white vertically striped can buoy marks the centre... The east Helwick is about 2 1/2 miles long, and the least depth over it is 11 feet. A conical buoy, with red and white bands, marks the eastern end, and lies about half a mile SW 1/4 W from Porth Eynon head. In Helwick pass there is from 5 to 6 fathoms water, and the channel inside the sands is advantageous for coasters pasisng down with northerly winds, or bound up, for escaping some of the heavy seas, which is westerly gales would be found outside.'

Sources include:
Admiralty; 1884, Sailing Directions for the Bristol Channel, 4th Ed, pg97-9
Historic Admiralty Chart 1076-B8, RCAHMW Digital Collections sourced from UK Hydrographic Office and published in 1888.

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, August 2014.