A simple question. Teddington to St Kats.

[oldgit]

Lets postulate for few brief moments assume I am wealthy enough and lucky enough to able to get into St Kats on my way back from my Thames. visit.
My electronic abacus tells me that the lock at St Kats remains open until 10.15 BST on Saturday morning 08/08/15 and the PLA tide tables adjusted for BST and Richmond +2 hours suggest the gate will go up at 07.50 BST.
Is three hours enough to do the trip .?????

 

[JorgeinLondon]

I am based at Chiswick Quay Marina. It takes me about 50 mins to get to Teddington Lock if I have a decent run at 8kn and I don't have to slow down for paddlers and rowers. From Me to get to Westminster bridge from Chiswick takes about 1 and half hours going at 8 knots then 12 knots passed Wandsworth Bridge.

In conclusion - you may be pushing it!

 

[Chris_d]

I have never risked waiting for Richmond barrier to go up, have always used the lock then just about not touching the bottom on the way out have only just made the last lock at St Kats in 3hours! And thats burning loads of fuel punching the tide. By far the best option is to stop at Chiswick or chelsea per and then wait for the next tide so you arrive for the first lock into St Kats . Much less stressfully honestly

 

[rosssavage]

Doing the same trip on 8th August. Will be leaving Tedders at 0600 and locking through Richmomd. Hopefully make St Kats by 0930, but last lock in is 1044. Even that is enough to make me nervous - don't wait for the sluices at Richmond!!

 

[oldgit]

Thanks all.
.

 

[Aquafan]

I've done that trip lots of times. Leaving Teddington just before the top of the tide it takes me 2.5 hrs to Tower Bridge but always go to Limehouse, it's cheaper, it's open 3.5 hrs either side of h/t and I like the Grapes.

 

[oldgit]

Just been going through my old logs.
Going back to Medway.
Notes mention passing St Kats 2.5 hours after leaving Teddington and 5.5 hours to Gravesend.
Was really early morning though..................No rowers or anything underway in the centre of London.

 

[rosssavage]

yeah, I always work on at least three hours. No problem getting there early, big problem getting there late!!

 

[Richard Shead]

Erm don't underestimate how long it may take to lock through Richmond...and thats when they have seen you...

 

[JorgeinLondon]

Richmond is a huge lock - just remember to take the telephone number with you and give them plenty of notice. You may get lucky. They also like you to have exact change £7.50.

You are going through the Rowing zone. They can use the inside bends against the tide, so you need to stick to the fairway if they're any about. They're not supposed to cross the fairway in front of you but they often do. They can be quite aggressive.

The other users around there are the paddle boarders. Sometimes they're out in numbers with some newbies down the back. if you're going against the tide you have to watch your wake around them. I've seen a rib cause carnage through a large group of newbies.

Good luck!

 

[Chris B]

Havn't done this before but we are planning similar trip week after next Teddington to South Dock.

Our intended strategy was lock through Richmond at half tide (on ebb) and get down past Hammersmith about 1 1/2 hours before local low water then find somewhere to stop for an hour or so, (may take a trip down day before at HW to look at likely options,) then take slow trip through central London to arrive South Dock at earliest lock in about 2 hours before HW.

Does anyone have any comments on this strategy.

Regards

Chris

 

[rosssavage]

Make sure you book somewhere to stop beforehand. There is no option to turn up unannounced in London.

Options include Chelsea Pier, Dove pier and used to be fine on Imperial Wharf (but apparently they're not so keen on short stays now..)

Or go for a blast past Margaretness for a bit before heading back in