Dover and Gravelines. Tidal difference.

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oldgit

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Tidal differences !
RCC were supposed to be going into Dunkerque for the 80th commemorations, however due to some problems guaranteeing moorings, we are having to consider other berthing options.
Gravelines has offered us berths and to arrange a bus to take us to enjoy the events.
Never been in Gravelines before so.............

We intend cruising from Rochester into Dover previous day.(Ramsgate a bit full)
Pilot suggests going in about 2 hours before HW. .......and it should take us 3 hours to cross.
OGs rather runny interweb search seems to indicate HW Gravelines is about 30 mins after Dover ?
Does this sound about right.

All and any comments tips hints most welcome.
 
I often go across to Gravelines from the Medway. Often start from Stangate or else Gillingham Reach. I try to hit South Foreland at slack water before the flood starts. At 4-5 knots that my boats average, I arrive at Gravelines about 2 hours before high water which gives you the lift up the Aa to the marina. Last time I took a boat drawing only 1.4 metres and easily made my way up the Aa three hours before high tide. If my assumption that the RCC has all motor boats you should have not problems at all with depth.

Wonderful location beautiful moated town. Make sure you take the time to walk around the walls completely and visit all the statues. Good restaurants and supermarkets. Your boats will settle gently into the mud if they close teh gates which they don't always do. Make sure you close all your sea cocks.

Don't know what the tidal difference is between Gravelines and Dover but it can't be much.

I have often anchored just south of the Ramsgate breakwater if low water is in the middle of the night and make my way through the Goodwins into the main chanel before crossing the straights.
 
Thanks. Yes we are all Mobos and well used to sitting on the putty during visits to Faversham and Conyer.
Personally have yet to bother with shutting seacocks during 50 odd years of boating on the Mudway, although some boats always do so.
We can easily cruise at 10 knots and merely want to arrange arrival at Gravelines and be able to go straight in. We all draw less than 1- 1.5 metres.

Have HW at Gravelines 21/05/2020 as 12.00 BST ( 13.00) GMT +2 local time which means leaving Dover 5 hours earlier at 07.00. BST.
Dover HW. 11.34.BST

I think :confused:
 
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According to Reeds Gravelines is about +45 mins on Dover. So based on that your Dover HW at 11.34 BST would translate to Gravelines about 12.20 BST.

More accurately it's about -10 min on Dunquerque, if you've got a time for there.

As Gargleblaster says, Gravelines town (about 10- 15 mins walk from marina) is great. A pleasant alternative to walking the town walls is circumnavigating the moat in a canoe or pedallo.

Marina has friendly staff, decent facilities, and small bar/restaurant. Small supermarket (Aldi or Lidl, I forget which) immediately adjacent, and huge supermarket about 10 or 15 mins walk away (opposite direction to town).
 
OG.....what have you heard re moorings?.... I was hoping weather/work permitting to just go and wing it. We did this in 2010 and all was fine.
 
Sounds good.
Plan was to arrive on 21st and return on the 25th.
Reason for abrupt change of venue was due to that weekend being a Bank Hol.
The organisers of ths support fleet were told unless boats arrived on the 19th of May they could not be assured of berth.
This prevented quite few folks with work commitments from going.
It was thought that finding something to do for virtually 7 days in Dunkerque might prove a challenge not to mention some of the berths have no nearbye water or power.
 
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Flynnbarr said:
OG.....what have you heard re moorings?.... I was hoping weather/work permitting to just go and wing it. We did this in 2010 and all was fine.
Click to expand...

The organisers TMYC have stated there were approx 120 boats in the support fleet along with the 50 odd LS.
When TMYC contacted Dunkerque to make final arrangements, they were informed that unless boats arrived on the 19th or 20th they would not be assured a berth.Suspect this did take them by suprise.
Because RCC had around 25 boats interested in going it was vital we knew all the boats would have a decent berth with facilities.
Last time over several boats were moored on a wall with no power or water and did nto want to repeat the experience.
TMYC promptly gave out the bad news and asked everyone for their intentions, about half the skippers of our group were retired and could alter their plans to suit the new dates.We thanked them for their efforts and said we will try to make other arrangements.This should free up a few moorings
The other half work for a living and need to stick with a cruise within the old dates.
Pretty sure quite a few boats(not just from our group) will have dropped out and would have thought that space could be found for a solo skipper.
We ended up in Grande Large last time and personally thought it the best location of the lot.
 
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Thanks for the info.
Last time we took a wrong turn ....went through a lift bridge into Port du basin I think(from memory)and had water and electric......the other boat we went with were most miffed as they ended up on the wall. :)
 
At the moment we appear to have 3 different fleets
The first going into Ramsgate then Dunkerque on 19/20th May with TMYC.
One group going from RCC to Dover and then onto Gravelines on the 21st.
Plus a couple of boats going direct fom RCC to Gravelines on the 21st.
 
There is a good bus service from Gravelines to Dunkerque station, which may be free on weekends. I am not sure where else the bus goes as I was aiming for the station at the time.

The visitor berth at Gravelines has plenty of room for rafting up as alongside berths. There are a few pontoon berths available for boats larger than I was last time. I was chased off a pontoon berth as I was only 25 feet long. It may be worth ringing the harbour master and booking if there are a large number of you.
 
passage plan virtually all sorted and yes about 45 mins twixt Gravelines and Dover.
Should know numbers on Friday and going to contact harbour master.

Now about sorting some weather :)
 
99% sorted.
RCC scouting party nipped across to Gravelines and spoke to mooring man.
All very welcoming and helpful.
Looking forward to going. Only point of contention now is getting from Rochester to Dover.
Do we go early and punch tide from Rochester to North Foreland or go late and punch the tide from Foreland to Dover.
Or just depart at the crack of lunchtime and just not worry about it.
Tides are rubbish neaps so virtually no tidal flow.
Probably going inshore route unless weather suggests otherwise.
Comments welcome.
 
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