Graham_Wright
Well-known member
Lydney harbour and about time too!
Access is VERY tide dependent!Potentially good news. Is there any progress on the "marina" scheme? I would live to be able to make Lydney our winter berth but there would need to be improvements.
Well, yes. But we're used to that. Previous berths with definite tidal windows have included (north to south) Beccles, Shotley, Gillingham, Dover, Birdham Pool, Chichester, Guernsey (Victoria and St. Sampson), Penzance, Padstow, the upper part of Neyland, Penarth, Portishead, Bristol.... None of these have quite as short a tidal window as Lydney but all require planning and situational awareness. I assume the Slime Road is still available as an anchorage if one does miss the tide on arrival?Access is VERY tide dependent!
What would you propose for security?Well, yes. But we're used to that. Previous berths with definite tidal windows have included (north to south) Beccles, Shotley, Gillingham, Dover, Birdham Pool, Chichester, Guernsey (Victoria and St. Sampson), Penzance, Padstow, the upper part of Neyland, Penarth, Portishead, Bristol.... None of these have quite as short a tidal window as Lydney but all require planning and situational awareness. I assume the Slime Road is still available as an anchorage if one does miss the tide on arrival?
But dredging and getting the gates working properly is only half the battle. Security is vital to us. Couldn't possibly keep our boat at Lydney under the current arrangements.
A safe footpath right round the upper pool where the permanent berths are, with good fences, and gates operated by fobs. Low-level low-intensity footpath lighting operated by PIR or movement sensors to provide safe access at night for berth holders without causing light pollution or being an annoyance to those sleeping on board. CCTV system with intelligent movement activation covering all entrances and approaches to the area, and the berths, with live images accessible to berth holders (not the general public) via the internet and off-site recording to provide evidence in any case of damage or theft. No need for any of this to be obtrusive or unsightly if care is taken in the design.What would you propose for security?
Well, yes. But we're used to that. Previous berths with definite tidal windows have included (north to south) Beccles, Shotley, Gillingham, Dover, Birdham Pool, Chichester, Guernsey (Victoria and St. Sampson), Penzance, Padstow, the upper part of Neyland, Penarth, Portishead, Bristol.... None of these have quite as short a tidal window as Lydney but all require planning and situational awareness. I assume the Slime Road is still available as an anchorage if one does miss the tide on arrival?
re they dredging the harbour, or the outer gate area to get them working again?, or the inner gates. post pictures !Lydney harbour and about time too!
Bit worse than the day before I guess!good to hear something is being done. how silted is the outer basin now?
Sad to see the sharpness webcams have been decommissioned. I used to love looking at the shipping coming and going.The slack window is 20 minutes before HT till HT. You time yourself from Slime Rd /old Severn Bridge. Pretty predictable tides but without an engine its tricky. Get behind pier then flat out motor round to gate, band into reverse before you hit next gate or boat. They used to rope boats round before they had engines and even Ive seen a large freighter need that to get into Sharpness fairly recently.
Crossing Saniger sands is something also, as is failing to cross them by twitching too early by Black Rock and hitting the high bits. I like Lydney, just wish the gates were reliable.
If you want security you pay £3000 pa for a marina. Even if thieves stripped my electronics on a yearly basis it wouldnt cost anything like that. I did lose a radio and flares from a River Avon mooring about 7 years ago - about £250 cost and the insurance paid out anyway. A bit of a bother but thats all.