East coast trip

[Sowenna]

I'm planning a 3 week holiday this year (probably June). Thinking of getting my day skipper and venturing to sea for the first time (ideally no more than 2 weeks out of the Thames). We've been on the Thames estuary (from Windsor) before and up the Medway, but thinking of turning left this time.

What advice would you give me on places to visit and preparation? My boat is a 80s steel with a 100hp Volvo. She's been used at sea before and has radar but no nav equipment. I'm also mindful of the limited power.

Thanks John

 

[Debennut]

Suggest you post this on East Coast Forum. There will be loads of knowledgeable advice.

 

[oldgit]

Personally would not be going past Teddington without out at least one decent known quantity radio and plotter with up to date chart card, to go anywhere beyond Gravesend into Sea Reach, method of depth sounding would be reassuring..
You could get away with a laptop software nav system but would def suggest proper plotter.
Papercharts or no.
For comfort, no strong easterly winds esp against tide.
Use the ebb to help you on your way preferably LW at the mouth of the Crouch and then use the flood up.
The Medway is difficult to get disorientated in, the trip up the Maplin Sands needs more thought.
Burnham would be first on my list.
You may be down to 8 knots if punching tide so add time factor to to calculations..
Ps .all the usual reminders about fuel filters and lifejackets.

 

[essexsj]

Personally would not be going past Teddington without out at least one decent known quantity radio and plotter with up to date chart card, to go anywhere beyond Gravesend into Sea Reach, method of depth sounding would be reassuring..
You could get away with a laptop software nav system but would def suggest proper plotter.
Papercharts or no.
For comfort, no strong easterly winds esp against tide.
Use the ebb to help you on your way preferably LW at the mouth of the Crouch and then use the flood up.
The Medway is difficult to get disorientated in, the trip up the Maplin Sands needs more thought.
Burnham would be first on my list.
You may be down to 8 knots if punching tide so add time factor to to calculations..
Ps .all the usual reminders about fuel filters and lifejackets.

Seeing as oldgit mentioned Burnham, it's worth pointing out that the 'shortcut' via Havengore Bridge should be checked for operational status if factoring into a passage. Several times over the past 12 months it has been out of action for remedial work.

 

[Sowenna]

Thanks gents

 

[Sowenna]

Hi all, plan to make the trip from Queenborough to Burnham on Tues 20 June. Should I go up the Barrow Deep or the Middle Deep? And I should arrive at Inner Whitaker at low water? ta John

 

[Lucky Duck]

West Swin > Middle Deep/East Swin

The most efficient tidal timing would mean being at South Whitaker at Low Water thereby taking the ebb out and then the flood up the Crouch.

On the return leg NB that the tide turns earlier than at BoC which if you don't allow for it makes the last couple of miles rather boring as you punch and increasingly foul tide.

All the above based on displacement speeds

 

[Sowenna]

Thanks LG. What is BoC? And for the return journey to St Katherine's, I guess I'd leave Burnham a little before LW to catch the flood up the estuary and Thames? John

 

[oldgit]

When we go to Burnham we use the inshore route.
Queenbourgh.
Past the Wreck.
Blacktail.
Maplin
Maplin Edge
Maplin Middle.
Maplin Approach
When the Whitaker bouy finally hoves into view any depth worries, go right up to the bouy before going round into Crouch.
To make the most of the flood back up to London, would be plan to arrive at Whitaker bouy around LW.
Tides are dropping off so less problems about depth as week goes on.
Will you have enough time to leave Burnham to get to Richmond on single tide.?

http://fishing-app.gpsnauticalchart...rouch+and+Roach+boating+app#11/51.6662/1.1711

 

[Tomahawk]

Fking stupid web site... just blew out everything .i was trying to write

 

[Lucky Duck]

Thanks LG. What is BoC? And for the return journey to St Katherine's, I guess I'd leave Burnham a little before LW to catch the flood up the estuary and Thames? John

Burnham on Crouch.

If timing is marginal to get back to Richmond you could always arrive a bit before LW at Whitaker and punch the last of the ebb along the East Swin

 

[Sowenna]

Hi OG, thanks for that info. Will be v useful in my planning.
We are on holiday for 3 weeks, so if locking times work, I'd like to stop at St Kats on way back to Windsor.
John

 

[Sowenna]

Thanks LG too, just saw your reply.

 

[Parabordi]

I dont understand folks fixation with Burnham on Crouch, from the entrance do yourself a favour and go into Blackwater to either Bradwell, Tollesbury or Brightlingsea.
Burnham is a really long run in from the mouth and theres not much there when you get there, then you have the same long schlepp back out again.
From Blackwater, easy run up to the Orwell and Deben.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Burnham does at least have a choice of places to eat/drink and somewhere to get fresh provisions - compare this with somewhere like Tollesbury which when I last visited required taking delivery of takeaway if you didn't want to eat at the Yacht Club

 

[oldgit]

I dont understand folks fixation with Burnham on Crouch,

....a nice basic simple A to B journey for somebody exploring new horizons ?

 

[Parabordi]

....a nice basic simple A to B journey for somebody exploring new horizons ?

......................but as for going into the Deben on any first trip past Teddington ! H,mm.

But its not is it? He is a slow boat, after the long journey down the Thames its a never ending haul into the Crouch, you could be tied up in Brightlingsea in the Club long long before you reach Burnham.

Plus Burnham Yacht Harbour muchos expensivos

Done Orwell to Medway at 8Knots scores of times. Deben i grant you is an advanced topic...

Anyways each to his own.

 

[Sowenna]

Afternoon all

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all on this thread and my last one. Some great tips which assisted greatly in a successful first sea trip.

Very smooth on the way to Burnham. Queenborough was a really useful place to split the journey up on the way there. A slight bit of roll (for 5 mins) as we left the last bit of the Couch on the way back to the Thames (as we turned to starboard to head along the coast). A light Easterly breeze and 0.5 m waves, which weren't idea but we decided to take the risk (and it was manageable). Then a following sea, after the turn, which was ok.

Thanks again - John

 

[oldgit]

Afternoon all

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all on this thread and my last one. Some great tips which assisted greatly in a successful first sea trip.

Very smooth on the way to Burnham. Queenborough was a really useful place to split the journey up on the way there. A slight bit of roll (for 5 mins) as we left the last bit of the Couch on the way back to the Thames (as we turned to starboard to head along the coast). A light Easterly breeze and 0.5 m waves, which weren't idea but we decided to take the risk (and it was manageable). Then a following sea, after the turn, which was ok.

Thanks again - John

Thanks for coming back and giving a report on how you got on.
OG