Crouch to Thames.

[nathanlee]

Hi,

In light of the various epic coastal tours people seem to be going on of late, this one seems a bit lame, but I'm a bit nervous about the whole thing so a helping hand from you experienced folk would be more than appreciated.

On the 30th August I'll be setting off from Essex marina on the Crouch to spend the weekend sailing up the Thames to St Katherine's. I'm pretty inexperienced, in fact, while I've done plenty of sailing this will be the first passage I've planned. I'm fairly happy I know what I'm doing with the planning part, waypoints, times (taking into account tides) etc, but I'm not certain that I'm going the right way.

Sat here looking at the charts I've been wondering what to do. I'm thinking it's probably going to be best to set off down the Crouch a couple of hours before low water, then be somewhere south east of the Whitaker channel for LW so get carried up the Thames on the flood. Trouble is LW is 7:44 (BST) on the 30th. Unless I set off at about 5AM, and catch the early one, which will probably be the case.

Being out there around LW means I'm going to have to go all the way around Foulness Sand, which is a bit of a pain, but my only other choice that I can see to cut the corner means I'll be sailing into flood on the way out, and ebb on the way in.

Anyway, the plan thus far ends with heading up the west swin and into the Thames. The non investigated plan involves finding somewhere to spend the night as far down the Thames as I can get I that day.

The boat draws a bit under 3ft and (I hope) potters along nicely at around 4.5 knots.

If anybody could confirm my plans are reasonably ok, or totally wrong, or point me in a better direction I would ever so thankful.

Cheers,

Nathan

 

[Gumpy]

Did that trip last year in the barge, going again this year, Weather permitting. You need to be out at Whitaker just before low tide for it to be possible to get up the river in one hit.
I realised that we were not going to make it to Limehouse when we did it so diverted into the Swale and did the run a from there couple of days later after having been up the Medway.
Queenborough to Limehouse is doable on one tide with ease even in my old tub that only does 4.5knts at best.

Have a look here at someone elses trip:
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_01/Medplus8.html
Gives timings from Heybridge past the Crouch and up the tideway however that particular Narrowboat isnt slow and IIRC it was a spring tide.

Julian

 

[rubberduck]

Did it yesterday as far as canvey & back, all be it a bit quicker than you will. Just don't try & cut corners as our depth instruments made all to clear. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[byron]

[ QUOTE ]
Did it yesterday as far as canvey & back, all be it a bit quicker than you will. Just don't try & cut corners as our depth instruments made all to clear. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Let me echo that (no pun intended) do not cut any corners. Give yourself plenty of water at all times. I have done that trip a zillion times, also from there to Ramsgate and also direct to Dunkirk, Ostend and Neuiport. Have a healthy respect for depths.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

I would echo the Swale remarks from Parglena (was that when we met you at Queenborough?), you can then ride the Medway ebb to be rounding the corner of low water slack and get the full Thames flood. In company with a Seamaster 30 (OK, on the end of a rope from same) we got a steady 6-6.5 knots SOG all the way up to the fuel barge.

If you look like missing St Kats both South Dock and Limehouse have wider tide windows for entry.

 

[Gumpy]

Indeed it was where we met, I have decided this year that even though we are going to the Blackwater etc it is best to do the run down to Queenborough and then go on from there on the next tide as London to the Blackwater is a very long run at 4.5knts. even for me.

Julian

 

[nathanlee]

Thanks for all the replies, they've been very helpful. Actually, I probably shouldn't be hasty and praise it until I've done the journey should I /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

In light of the above I've decided to set off from Essex Marfina a few hours before HW, then get across the estuary while it's fairly slack, beginning to ebb. Staying the night in the Swale, then getting the flood up the Thames in the morning.

Anybody got any recomendations for a good morning place ont the Swale? Preferably with a decent pub in reach as I'm dragging along a couple of friend who expect to be reasonably entertained I think.

 

[Gumpy]

Because of the size of the Barge I use the concrete lighter at Queenborough, however there is also an ATL there which I believe you can stay on overnight now.
see here
http://tinyurl.com/6bsvge
I have in the past picked up a buoy just up from the ATL as well. The Lighter and the Buoy are only do able if you have a dinghy to get ashore.


Julian