Delivery from Orwell to Thames

[jecuk]

So I have just bought a boat which I will be keeping near me on the Thames. Plan to bring her back to Chelsea Harbour on Saturday, the up to a yard to do some work on her. Looks impossible to have the tide for the whole trip. I have read many of the posts here and have the cruising almanac.

Any other tips? We will leave Woolverstone at sunrise. would be an inauspicious end for the Dunkirk ship to get stuck in the Channel!

 

[SwedishLass]

Some more info in the bio, boat type speed etc. would be helpful.

Definately doable but potentially a long trip in one hit, you will do a lot of tide punching. Aim to be off Southend pier at low water for the trip up the Thames as this is where the strongest tidal flow will be met and work backwards. You will therefore be punching down the swin. The old Atalanta planned on 4Kn so that would mean leaving the Orwell on the last of the ebb, off the Colne at about high water. This gives a fair tide from the Orwell to the Colne.

Better to break journey into 2 or 3 chunks if time permits especially with new boat of possibly uncertain pedigree.

 

[MoodySabre]

It doesn't look as though you can do as Grahame suggests. Sunrise Saturday will be LW so you will have the tide with you and in a 5knot boat could make Southend Pier by 1400 at the earliest which is HW. You will be pushing the tide all the way from there - another 35 miles. That makes a very long day this time of year arriving well into evening. Unless you are much quicker than that I'd go into Queenborough for a buoy overnight and have a sunrise start on Sunday and a fair tide to London.

 

[FullCircle]

When going up the Thames, I always sat in the Medway at Queenborough or similar for the tide to turn. Pointless in a 4kn boat even trying to do different.

Good plan Roger.

 

[jecuk]

Sorry for the lack of info. It is a Dunkirk Little Ship that will do 8-9 knots.

 

[D3B]

In addition to the above....

Basin ent is for LOA max 24m, beam 5.5m draft 1.8m, with Bascule bridge. Lock opens when 2.5m water above sill; tide guage outside, access HW +/- 1 1/2 hours...Limited waiting berths and shore access on chelsea hbr pier....

I have wanted to DO Chelsea Hbr for a while (see the avatar) but it does look like timing needs to be pretty good

 

[SwedishLass]

Post work brain fade. Working on 18hr trip overall as it consistently takes me 12-13hrs from Colne to St Kats plus time to Woolverstone. Thinking aloud...7am +5+13 =25 arrive about 1am harbour prob shut. I was in overnight passage mode and missed the sunrise bit.
To arrive in daylight you will have to break journey. Queenborough is easier to find first time than Holehaven. But the bit about the pier is still ok! Low water 20:05 Sat

 

[JKay]

And what a little ship she is /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

She looks so good she'll do the trip on her own /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I didn't post a link But can do if you wish JECuk

Good Luck and hope you treat her like a Lady

Cheers Joe

 

[MrCramp]

Did this trip last year in July. Left Shotley first light and arrived at Gravsend (spelling?) around 7pm. You can pick up a bouy here near where the tugs moor just short of Tilbury. I could only do 5/6 knots so you should do it easily. If you moor there stay out nearer to the tugs, it is shallow near the yacht club.

I cannot understand why anyone whould want to go over the channel to Queensborough as it is a long way off course.

Have a good trip.

 

[Sixpence]

Is this your boat ?

If you want me to delete it just say /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[JKay]

yes!thats his little ship

cheers Joe

 

[Sixpence]

Very nice , seriously jealous now

 

[jecuk]

Yes, that is the one. It is a beautiful boat. We are really excited. My wife's grandfather was picked up from Dunkirk (we are Australian).


And at Chelsea, you can book a spot on the pier. All tide access.

I think with an extra 50% speed through the water, we should be OK. Will be a long day but she will be nice to helm!

 

[Sixpence]

I shall look forward to maybe meeting you some day , she looks lovely and with the history to go with her , you've got yourself a good one

 

[jecuk]

So which of the routes through the sand is the best right now?

 

[Sixpence]

For the answer to that I defer to those more senior , I'm only the baby here

 

[jecuk]

Well, we did it. A long way to chelsea harbour but we picked a good weekend for it! The North Sea was like a millpond as was the estuary. Felt like Spring!

 

[MoodySabre]

Well done - a marvellous weekend. How long did it take you?

 

[Sixpence]

Excellent news , good to hear it and well done

 

[jecuk]

14 hours to Chelsea (100nm). Tide was good down to sea reach 1 then punching all the way to Chelsea.