Advice entering the Thames

DutchDan

DutchDan

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Hello,

in july we will cross the Northesea for the first time. Beacause my wife is a little afraid we will go from Calais to Dover to make the trip shorter. Do you have any suggestions what the best way and time is to go from Ramsgate to the entrance of the Thames? (we have a motorboat, Fairline with 2 engines).

Kind regards,

Dan
 
Not many problems with this ......better to be at North Foreland just after low water and catch the flood up the estuary. Can take the inside route over The Cant or go through Princes Channel.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hello,

in july we will cross the Northesea for the first time. Beacause my wife is a little afraid we will go from Calais to Dover to make the trip shorter. Do you have any suggestions what the best way and time is to go from Ramsgate to the entrance of the Thames? (we have a motorboat, Fairline with 2 engines).

Kind regards,

Dan

[/ QUOTE ]
Firstly I wonder why you are going to Dover first, at the Light Vessel it's only a few more miles to Ramsgate and there's so much more for the children there and the shopping is good too.
You haven't given your cruising speeds but assuming say 12 knots leave Ramsgate about 1-2 hours after low tide which will sweep you up the Thames.
Interesting things to point out to the children are the World War 2 Flak forts and if you take the inner route, the wreck of the Montomery an ammunition ship sunk by a German Plane just after D Day. This is considered too dangerous to touch.
One point. When you eventually reach the non-tidal Thames bear in mind that speeds are in Kilometers Per Hour instead of in Knots. ( our much loved Environment Agency don't know much about boats /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )
 
Sadly the reason for the Montgomery sinking isn't anywhere near that exciting - it just anchored in the wrong place, grounded then broke in two.

But still interesting to see......or scary if, like me, your house is on the seafront /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Some people bemoan the fact that you can't moor your fishing boat to the Montgomery's masts anymore!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sadly the reason for the Montgomery sinking isn't anywhere near that exciting - it just anchored in the wrong place, grounded then broke in two.


[/ QUOTE ]

Arrrghh! All those people I have told the story to only to find it's an urban myth.
 
Not much use, but if you were coming by a more direct route (across to Harwich) I can leave the spitway buoys at low water, and running 7 knots through the water, get up to Teddington on one tide in about 11 hours.

IanC
 
thanks a lot everybody. OUr cruising speed is about 20 knts. So I guess from Ramsgate it's not difficult to go to the Thames?

any suggestions?

Kind regards,

Dan
 
I did this trip about a month ago. You'll find 'My Thames Trip' post somewhere here. I did Ramsgate to St Katherines in about 5 hrs. Need to check locking times at St. Kats.

I followed advice from people here and slowed down after QEII bridge, about 8 knots, a) to keep London VTS happy, and b) to avoid rubbish in the river.

I set off from Poole and went up as far as Oxford. Do remember to put anchor down at night. I forgot at Oxford, some kind soul cast me adfift and I ended up on Osney wier. Luckily all OK.
 
Dan,you will find this site (Click here ) absolutely invaluable for all things Thamesy and should keep you occupied for and hour or two.
The wreck of the liberty ship Richard Montgomery which you will pass en route from Dover to The Thames.
dscn3068.jpg
 
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