Crouch to the Medway - any hints and tips?

[Burnham Bob]

Whenever we've left the Crouch we've always turned leftish and gone up to Levington way or the Blackwater. Depends on the weather but we have left all April free to sail - we normally find there's something we can't avoid that screws up a cruise so that we have to be back for it even if the weather, tides and winds are unfavourable and we end up wet and cold beating down the Wallet.

One idea is to try the Medway (looks good reading my new East Coast Pilot). Current passage plan is no more complicated than out of Crouch, turn right-ish back on yourself, wait until we're opposite the Medway safe water mark and cross over, then maybe rest at Queenborough. Before I start detailed planning does anyone have any suggestions? Or horror stories. Or dire warnings?

And once we are there any suggestions for what we should do and extending the cruise?

 

[UncleAlbert]

Done that trip a couple of times from the Blackwater and last year stayed over an extra day so as to visit the Chatham Dockyard. So glad we did 3 blokes had a good boys day out on ships, subs and ropemakers. Well worth the entrance fee if into all stuff old and nautical.

Oh and Medway Yacht club were very accommodating (and cheap) for us too. It was a Westerly rally but I understand that they are very hospitable anyway to visitors.

 

[sailorman]

The food in the Dockyard is very reasonable too + the entrance fee covers all visits for 12 months

 

[pioneer]

The buoyage around the Thames entrance has changed asaik so up-to-date charts are a good idea. There is a small boat recommended route to the east of the main shipping channel. Staying to the East of the main shipping Channel takes you quite close to the Montgomery, but it's ok provided you keep to your track. this leads to the recommended track and that in turn opens the harbour before you enter and keeps you away from Sheerness docks. Monotor Medway VTS for shipping movements and that can include the big boys going down the Swale, the gas ships, and those bound for Chatham, Rochester etc. Follow the Greens and don't cut the corner (it's shallow - I know!!). once in then Queenboro makes a good stop esp as tide will be likely to be turning against unless you're a mobo and do 15knots. Thereafter there are lots of moorings in the Gillingham area and above. The Swale is a good area to explore, with the Kingsferry Bridge the first hazard, then the tide splits half way round and finally to add to the fun the direction of buoyage also changes!! Faversham is worth a look if you can take the ground/lean against the wall and /conyer Marina is also worth a go. All in all it's an interesting cruising ground but a lot of places are tidally constrained, but nothing really horrible if you're used to the East Coast. Bet you're glad you asked now, sorry for waffle factor, enjoy!

Adrian

 

[Lucky Duck]

I have managed a couple of times to get from the Orwell to Chatham in one tide so provided you arrive at the South Whittaker buoy around low water, getting to Queenborough before HW shouldn't be too taxing.

One point to note is don't underestimate the distance to run from Burnham to where you turn right and to allow for the tide turning half an hour or so earlier than further upstream, punching a strengthening flood isn't that much fun!

 

[Pye_End]

I usually go past Blacktail Spit before looking to cross the shipping channel. There are often a ship or two anchored a little further up - AIS avoids all the fun of any confusion. Occasionally a train of ships coming in or going out, but pretty rare. Agree with the comment about going just north of the Mongomery and in from that side - gives you better visibility for any ship movements. AIS at Garrison point will pick up a cluster of moored tugs, so picking out something that is moving isn't always immediately obvious (unless linked in to a chartplotter).

 

[Behome]

If you are at the Whitaker at LW you should be able to make it all the way to MYC or Chatham Marina. Its a 10 minute walk from the marina to the Dockyard. Then back down river to Stangate/Sharfleet followed by a visit to Queensborough. Trip through the Swale to Harty then back across.

 

[Cantata]

Whenever we've left the Crouch we've always turned leftish and gone up to Levington way or the Blackwater. Depends on the weather but we have left all April free to sail - we normally find there's something we can't avoid that screws up a cruise so that we have to be back for it even if the weather, tides and winds are unfavourable and we end up wet and cold beating down the Wallet.
One idea is to try the Medway (looks good reading my new East Coast Pilot). Current passage plan is no more complicated than out of Crouch, turn right-ish back on yourself, wait until we're opposite the Medway safe water mark and cross over, then maybe rest at Queenborough. Before I start detailed planning does anyone have any suggestions? Or horror stories. Or dire warnings?
And once we are there any suggestions for what we should do and extending the cruise?

Nothing complicated. Turn right at the Whitaker (watch out, the shallows extend a surprising way NE as shown on newer charts). Then route a few 100 yards E of the NE Maplin, then past the Maplin buoy, then as others have said you could head straight for the Medway buoy or go along the N side as far as Blacktail Spit first. Channel buoyage has changed in places but the chartlets in the new book are current.
Once across, best to follow along just S of the secondary Medway channel. Near the entrance, beware ships coming out, orange flashing light on top of Medway VTS at Garrison Point warns of this. If there's shipping coming or going, you should cross to the W side of the entrance and follow the Recommended Yacht Track, otherwise you can head straight in.
Then follow the book!
Historic Dockyard is brilliant, as the the Royal Engineers Museum if you're interested. Rochester High Street and Cathedral. On the way out (or in) you could do a night in Stangate Creek. You could go through the Swale, stop at Harty and go back home from there (or go there on the way).
Enjoy! I've worn a groove in that route.

 

[Concerto]

It is an easy sail from Burnham to Medway and the river is wide with a dredged channel and plenty of buoys. I should mention there are two tall chimneys on the river, the taller one is just across from Garrison Point, so a useful visual marker from Blacktail Spit. Both chimneys are now disused as the gas power staion on the Isle of Grain and the coal fired one at Kingsnorth are both closed. The movement of ships now is certainly not a problem compared to when Chatham Dockyard was in full service and the power stations in use. You will see car transporters at Sheerness, some container vessels on the Grain shore, but mainly only small commecial vessels go any further up river.

You can easily spend time visiting places in the Medway Towns. If you stop at Medway Yacht Club, then a short walk in Upper Upnor is Upnor Fort maintained by English Heritage. It is worth a visit and read about how the Dutch invaded. If you come over to Chatham Marina, then besides the Dockyard and other attractions mentioned, there is also Rochester Castle, an old Norman keep. For general shopping Chatham town centre has most large multiple stores, but is a long walk or taxi ride. There is also a shopping centre with 8 restaurants,pub, Co-op, cinema, and fish & chip shop close to the marina. As an aside the marina loos are top class.

Personally there is not much point in visiting Gillingham Marina as everything is a bus or taxi ride away, except for their chandlery and a Tesco Express.

Stangate Creek/Sharfleet Creek is an area worth spending a night or two in peaceful tranquillity with just some sea birds for company and possibly a seal or two.

Queenborough now has improved with the repaired all tide landing, plus I believe some pontoons attached. You can still moor alongside the concrete barge, pick up a mooring buoy or anchor. Not a huge lot to do, but all essentials are available ashore.

You will enjoy your trip to the Medway. Not sure if I will be back in the water by the time you visit, but PM if you would like to meet at the marina.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Nothing complicated. Turn right at the Whitaker (watch out, the shallows extend a surprising way NE as shown on newer charts)...

To emphasise this, when coming from the N through the Spitway, my waypoint at the South Whittaker is at least 100m to the east of the buoy, to ensure I have just enough clearance under my keel (1.5m draft)

 

[Bongo]

If you go into Chatham Marina, take care, we got caught out by the 'swirl' in the lock, so don't cast off too quickly...
( ....or am I the only one to experience this?)
....anyway, great place to visit.

 

[Concerto]

If you go into Chatham Marina, take care, we got caught out by the 'swirl' in the lock, so don't cast off too quickly...
( ....or am I the only one to experience this?)
....anyway, great place to visit.

Never experienced that and I sail singlehanded. In strong SW winds if you moor port side in the lock on entry or starboard on exit, you must spring off or you will not clear the lock gates as they are narrower than the lock. The floating high pontoons in the lock make berthing very easy, so no adjustment of warps is necessary.

On approach from the river make sure you are slightly up tide and as you enter the wooden piled wings, then you can straighten up. The cross tide seems strong but decreases as you approach the lock.

It can be fun when there are 6 boats in the lock. Once when there were 5, I had to moor alongside a 45' boat that was too deep a draft to get out over the sill, but every cleat had a large fender rope attached and no one on board. Ended up using his stantion bases until I could go aboard and use more substantial fixings like winches.

 

[Cantata]

Six boats in a lock? Pfffft. You should try Dutch locks where you might find yourself sharing with 66. Glorious chaos! And usually all very good-humoured.

 

[xyachtdave]

Never experienced that and I sail singlehanded. In strong SW winds if you moor port side in the lock on entry or starboard on exit, you must spring off or you will not clear the lock gates as they are narrower than the lock. The floating high pontoons in the lock make berthing very easy, so no adjustment of warps is necessary.

On approach from the river make sure you are slightly up tide and as you enter the wooden piled wings, then you can straighten up. The cross tide seems strong but decreases as you approach the lock.

It can be fun when there are 6 boats in the lock. Once when there were 5, I had to moor alongside a 45' boat that was too deep a draft to get out over the sill, but every cleat had a large fender rope attached and no one on board. Ended up using his stantion bases until I could go aboard and use more substantial fixings like winches.

Sounds like you've met one of my friends in his deep keeled boat.

When he first had it he tried to get 2.4 m draft in when it said 2.3 on the tide guage - his logic was they must have left a little clearance before screwing it on........bump!

Was it a blue boat?

 

[Lucky Duck]

Another top tip for Chatham lock is to wait until the bridge is fully raised before casting off to enter the marina..

 

[Triassic]

Whilst we are on tips for Chatham Marina take ear plugs if it's a weekend visit.... There is a multi-storey car park right next door and the local chavs are in the habit of meeting there to see who has the loudest exhaust....!

 

[sailorman]

Six boats in a lock? Pfffft. You should try Dutch locks where you might find yourself sharing with 66. Glorious chaos! And usually all very good-humoured.

we were 3 rows back 2nd boat out dk blue Co 32

 

[Concerto]

Was it a blue boat?

No it was white.

 

[Concerto]

Six boats in a lock? Pfffft. You should try Dutch locks where you might find yourself sharing with 66. Glorious chaos! And usually all very good-humoured.

I feel Chatham lock is a tad smaller than some Dutch locks. In the past I can remember when my parents berthed in Gillingham Marina with a Moody Eclipse 43, no other boat was allowed in the lock as it almost filled it. Chatham lock would probably take four of those!

Little Grebe's comment about the bridge is worth noting. Seen several boats ping their shrouds on the bridge. Probably missed many more as I am berthed at the far end of the marina.

 

[xyachtdave]

And don't forget the famous dismasting of a Bavaria on this bridge.....I seem to remember a debate over the colour of the lights at the time!

I met the owner once and he told me all about his boating triumphs and race wins and was a thoroughly likeable chap, he omitted the bridge incident from his CV, the thing he's most famous for....