Can I Pick Your Brains

CX54WEK

CX54WEK

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I would like to pick your brains if I can please?

As you are aware by now we are heading onto the Thames this summer for our summer break with 9 days on the non tidal river followed by 6 days in St Kats and the final evening in Gallions Point where we will be picked up on the trailer the following day.

My question to you is one regarding the tidal section of the cruise from Teddington to St Kats.

High Water at St Kats on Saturday 28th July is, according to the sheet they have sent us at 16.52 with the lock open from 13.22 until 16.52.

So what time roughly would we have to leave Teddington to make those locking hours?

We can comfortably cruise at up to 6 knots or 1500rpm before the SC kicks in and starts to make a fuss. We can cruise in the SC range if necessary but would prefer not too just to be kinder to our ears!
 
CX54WEK said:
I would like to pick your brains if I can please?

As you are aware by now we are heading onto the Thames this summer for our summer break with 9 days on the non tidal river followed by 6 days in St Kats and the final evening in Gallions Point where we will be picked up on the trailer the following day.

My question to you is one regarding the tidal section of the cruise from Teddington to St Kats.

High Water at St Kats on Saturday 28th July is, according to the sheet they have sent us at 16.52 with the lock open from 13.22 until 16.52.

So what time roughly would we have to leave Teddington to make those locking hours?

We can comfortably cruise at up to 6 knots or 1500rpm before the SC kicks in and starts to make a fuss. We can cruise in the SC range if necessary but would prefer not too just to be kinder to our ears!
Click to expand...

Look at the time of HW London Bridge in GMT (most tide tables show this), leave Teddington at that time (ie which will be 2hours before HW Teddington BST)
You should get to the barrier at Richmond just as its opening.
 
OK so HW London Bridge in GMT on that day is 14.25pm.

St Kats shuts at 16.52pm.

So that gives us 2 hours 27 minutes to get from Teddington to St Kats. Is that going to be enough time?
 
Parabordi said:
Look at the time of HW London Bridge in GMT (most tide tables show this), leave Teddington at that time (ie which will be 2hours before HW Teddington BST)
You should get to the barrier at Richmond just as its opening.
Click to expand...

That won't get you to St Kats for the locking though !
You need to leave Teddington about 3 hours before the lock opening time at 5/6knots. But that means punching the tide and potentially running aground. By far the less stressful way to do it is leave on a falling tide from Teddington early morning, then stop at Chiswick pier until the tide has turned and leave about there 1.5hours before the first lock in. Note when St Kats say the lock is open it will only actually operate twice, so you have to be there in the queue at the right time.
 
CX54WEK said:
OK so HW London Bridge in GMT on that day is 14.25pm.

St Kats shuts at 16.52pm.

So that gives us 2 hours 27 minutes to get from Teddington to St Kats. Is that going to be enough time?
Click to expand...

IMHO that should be fine. Normally 5/6 Knots only above Putney and Robos, then 8knots.
 
No she is right, leave at 14:22.

To keep Chris_D happy you could leave half an hour before and be at Richmond Barrier for 14:22.
 
Last edited:
Chris_d said:
That won't get you to St Kats for the locking though !
You need to leave Teddington about 3 hours before the lock opening time at 5/6knots. But that means punching the tide and potentially running aground. By far the less stressful way to do it is leave on a falling tide from Teddington early morning, then stop at Chiswick pier until the tide has turned and leave about there 1.5hours before the first lock in. Note when St Kats say the lock is open it will only actually operate twice, so you have to be there in the queue at the right time.
Click to expand...

Chris is correct in that that is the least stressful way to do it and it also means that you can arrive at St Kats near to slack water rather than when the tide is running if you are near to closing time.
 
Brayman said:
Chris is correct in that that is the least stressful way to do it and it also means that you can arrive at St Kats near to slack water rather than when the tide is running if you are near to closing time.
Click to expand...

Just had a quick look at doing it this way.

HW Tower Bridge for the morning tide will be 03.08am so HW Richmond is about 04.08am?

So in theory Richmond gates will be raised from around 02.08am to 06.08am by my reckoning?

Will Teddington be open that early in the morning to let us through?
 
Teddington is 24hrs, just let the lockkeeper know the night before if your mooring above the lock and he will be ready for you :encouragement:
 
CX54WEK said:
Just had a quick look at doing it this way.

HW Tower Bridge for the morning tide will be 03.08am so HW Richmond is about 04.08am?

So in theory Richmond gates will be raised from around 02.08am to 06.08am by my reckoning?

Will Teddington be open that early in the morning to let us through?
Click to expand...

Teddington are open 24 hours a day
 
It certainly used to be 24hours, but with the crap management by the EA these days, i am not sure if it still is. Suggest a call to Teddington Lock?
 
Chiswick pier works well, and requires no real skill in terms of timing.

However, Teddington isn't your real departure point, Richmond is!

Around a couple of hours after low water at Richmond, the lock keeper will let you out, and as soon as he does, just meander down the centre of the river (keep to the left as soon as you exit the lock though as there is a shallow there)

You'll be punching the tide for a couple of hours, and have to slow to 5mph for the Rowers and Houseboats, but you WILL make St Kats by around 45 minutes.

We used to do this in our (8kt flat out) Broom regularly and never missed a lock window. You will, if you wish, be able to gain a little time by knocking the speed up a bit once past Putney, so perhaps over an hour spare on a good day.

So, either 1/ Chiswick Pier or 2/ Wait for the lock at Richmond to let you out. He won't do this until you have draft.

If you want to wait for the sluices at Richmond to open, you'll have to get a good run down to make it in time. Possible, but dicier than the other ways! It's over 30 minutes later, perhaps more (Never hung around and timed it!)
 
No Regrets said:
Chiswick pier works well, and requires no real skill in terms of timing.

However, Teddington isn't your real departure point, Richmond is!

Around a couple of hours after low water at Richmond, the lock keeper will let you out, and as soon as he does, just meander down the centre of the river (keep to the left as soon as you exit the lock though as there is a shallow there)

You'll be punching the tide for a couple of hours, and have to slow to 5mph for the Rowers and Houseboats, but you WILL make St Kats by around 45 minutes.

We used to do this in our (8kt flat out) Broom regularly and never missed a lock window. You will, if you wish, be able to gain a little time by knocking the speed up a bit once past Putney, so perhaps over an hour spare on a good day.

So, either 1/ Chiswick Pier or 2/ Wait for the lock at Richmond to let you out. He won't do this until you have draft.

If you want to wait for the sluices at Richmond to open, you'll have to get a good run down to make it in time. Possible, but dicier than the other ways! It's over 30 minutes later, perhaps more (Never hung around and timed it!)
Click to expand...

Yeah - wot he says!
 
I think looking through the options we will probably go for the Chiswick Pier option. It will mean an early start but will give us plenty of time to get to St Kats and plenty of time to take plenty of pictures along the way.

Seems to be the less stressful option all round.
 
Leave the previous day, and stay overnight.

Nothing to see or do, but you have mains power and water! Call and book first though :encouragement:

edit: There may be quite a stream when mooring at some times of day :p
 
No Regrets said:
Leave the previous day, and stay overnight.

Nothing to see or do, but you have mains power and water! Call and book first though :encouragement:

edit: There may be quite a stream when mooring at some times of day :p
Click to expand...

Now there is a good idea! :encouragement:

Can have a lie in then :)
 
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