Easter Weekend.

[oldgit]

Perfect weather F1 moderating for all RCC cruises
5 boats to Limehouse.
2 boats to St Kats (Both stopped and checked by police off Sheerness.)
5 to Canvey Island
and possibly
1 x to Tichmarsh and 1 x to Burnham on Crouch.
Early 05.00 start.

OG went to Limehouse.
Walked up to St Kats to visit the other two boats. Glad to get back to the peace and quiet of Limehouse.
Got the dinghy out with new (to me) electric outboard and went exploring The Limehouse Cut.

05.00 lockout and perfect conditions for return journey

 

[Fjord John]

Wow, the sea looks idyllic. We stayed at Imperial wharf then St Kats. Love staying at both. Graham the Pier Master always friendly at the former. Though we punched the tide from one to the other and around the Tower Of London it was like being in a washing machine! Fine with the flood homebound.

When heading downstream, what time do you think is best to go through Teddington lock (in relation to high water there) to head the tide as little as possible but still make locking times at St Kats? Do folk punch the tide for the first bit?

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Perfect weather F1 moderating for all RCC cruises
5 boats to Limehouse.
2 boats to St Kats (Both stopped and checked by police off Sheerness.)
5 to Canvey Island
and possibly
1 x to Tichmarsh and 1 x to Burnham on Crouch.
Early 05.00 start.

OG went to Limehouse.
Walked up to St Kats to visit the other two boats. Glad to get back to the peace and quiet of Limehouse.
Got the dinghy out with new (to me) electric outboard and went exploring The Limehouse Cut.

05.00 lockout and perfect conditions for return journey

You will have seen one of my boats on Limehouse cut. Black and grey trawler type boat. Residential mooring on the offside 5 minutes from the marina.

We did notice you leaving at 0500 as when they do the lock it makes the boats here wobble around. Also spotted one of your boats on the AIS.

Nice weather for it.

 

[oldgit]

Have changed my mind about Limehouse an oasis of peace and quiet compared to St Kats and with the club rally discount cheaper.
Some friction at the lock between bridge operator and lock lady. but staff very helpful and friendly regards power and mooring.
Conyer Sailing Club also came in over the weekend.

Went to the Grapes, fine for a drink but a bit chaotic regards food.
Did go into the Narrows for quick snifter. £18.50 for the tinest egg cup of nuts you have ever seen and a small whine and small lagar. NO beer served.
Best was a visit to Il Bordello, been going there for 20 years, still the same staff.
Walked up to St Kats, absolute bedlam.

Taxi to the War Museum for a reminder of the world we live in.
Conyer, locked out first , about half an hour earlier but we did not overtake them until QEII Bridge.
Flat as a pancake all the way back.
Excellent weekend.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

If you are back here try the Star of the East on commercial road just off Limehouse cut.

An old east London boozer which virtually closed down and has been reopened as a very comfortable pub with good food. Worth a visit and only 5 minute walk from the marina. It's opposite St Ann's Church which is the large Hawksmoor job with the brass ball on the flag pole.


The other place some people might miss is the (Free entry) Museum of London Docklands which is about 20 minutes walk from Limehouse marina.

A brilliant museum set over several floors of one of the old warehouses. Best museum ever but I am biased as I like the quiet ones and its local.

They have a lot of very impressive model boats and if you need a proper quiet space there is the Sainsbury gallery which is in the museum but off the beaten track and has very comfortable sofas.

Overall a 10/10 museum and not far from the marina.

 

[Time Out]

I have finally come to the conclusion (again or it maybe at 47 years of age) that NOWHERE does decent food or service over a bank holiday.

Went to The Albany on Good Friday by boat. Absolute disaster. First time I lost my rag. It’s simply not good enough. If you don’t have staff (or food !) don’t offer it. Sick and tired of spending my money and leisure time at sub standard venues.

On the flip side I rescued two from the water in Tedd after some tool rammed their kayak after an Anglers session and offered a chap a tow home from HC bridge to Tagge island. Have me a nice drop of plonk too !

 

[oldgit]

If you are back here try the Star of the East on commercial road just off Limehouse cut.

An old east London boozer which virtually closed down and has been reopened as a very comfortable pub with good food. Worth a visit and only 5 minute walk from the marina. It's opposite St Ann's Church which is the large Hawksmoor job with the brass ball on the flag pole.


The other place some people might miss is the (Free entry) Museum of London Docklands which is about 20 minutes walk from Limehouse marina.

A brilliant museum set over several floors of one of the old warehouses. Best museum ever but I am biased as I like the quiet ones and its local.

They have a lot of very impressive model boats and if you need a proper quiet space there is the Sainsbury gallery which is in the museum but off the beaten track and has very comfortable sofas.

Overall a 10/10 museum and not far from the marina.

100% on the Docklands Museum.
Been in a couple of times when staying in West india.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

My girls love it in there. They've been going there since they could walk.

I've been to a few museums but I can honestly say that as a boat fusiast I have never come across one as good as that.

The Greenwich one is good but too loud for my liking and too busy.

MOLD is nice and quiet. I think they might be getting the Massey Shaw outside at some point which would be rather cool.

 

[oldgit]

Only downside was stuff floating in the water in the Limehouse Cut, boats pumping sewage directly out into the navigation or simply land drains over flowing.
Did spot Clippers running from Gravesend to Greenwich.
Tried to book for a day or two later but they are only running on high days and holidays,run as leisure cruises only at the moment. £20.00 return and 40 mins each way.

Gravesend and Tilbury to London – Uber Boat by Thames Clippers

 

[pavlosimou]

Wow, the sea looks idyllic. We stayed at Imperial wharf then St Kats. Love staying at both. Graham the Pier Master always friendly at the former. Though we punched the tide from one to the other and around the Tower Of London it was like being in a washing machine! Fine with the flood homebound.

When heading downstream, what time do you think is best to go through Teddington lock (in relation to high water there) to head the tide as little as possible but still make locking times at St Kats? Do folk punch the tide for the first bit?

I always get through tedders as soon as there is enough wet under my bum. flow is almost nothing that far u so really not much unching to be done.
oh bugger the letter between o and q seems to have sto..ed working. can i have a .ee .lease Bob?

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Only downside was stuff floating in the water in the Limehouse Cut, boats pumping sewage directly out into the navigation or simply land drains over flowing.

Limehouse cut is an awful ditch full of rubbish and God knows what else. Nothing new under the sun here. Did you see the duckweed? Location is variable but when it's around it is the real thing.
Awful place best avoided

 

[Fjord John]

I always get through tedders as soon as there is enough wet under my bum. flow is almost nothing that far u so really not much unching to be done.
oh bugger the letter between o and q seems to have sto..ed working. can i have a .ee .lease Bob?

Thanks avlosimou!

 

[oldgit]

Always a bit paranoid about getting to St Kats after leaving Teddington.
In theory the actual distance to be covered should not be problem.
The fly in the ointment for any considerate boat skipper will be the number of rowers around at the time and on the day you want to do the trip.
It also means slowing up if anybody is launching or recovering at the many rowing clubs.
Even a 4am start can have you looking out for the little strobe lights suggesting a scull somewhere in the pitch black distance.
We usually try to be at Richmond just as the barrier lifts, which means exiting the lock at Teddington abour 30 mins earlier.
If we are expecting a lot of rowers etc due to weekends or bank holidays will go via Richmond lock, it will gain you about 30 mins max extra transit time.Debatable if worth the effort. ?

For the trip back round, normally try to leave London marinas about 2 hours before HW Tower Bridge. This gives you 2-3 knots assistance from the ebb virtually down to Southend.
LW across the Swatchway and the first of the flood up the Merdway.
Took six hours at around 9-10 knots last weekend from Limehouse to Darnett and then 6 knots to Rochester.
Have made it from Teddington to South Dock but only by the skin of our teeth.

Dawn at the Hoo Forts.

 

[Fjord John]

Always a bit paranoid about getting to St Kats after leaving Teddington.
In theory the actual distance to be covered should not be problem.
The fly in the ointment for any considerate boat skipper will be the number of rowers around at the time and on the day you want to do the trip.
It also means slowing up if anybody is launching or recovering at the many rowing clubs.
Even a 4am start can have you looking out for the little strobe lights suggesting a scull somewhere in the pitch black distance.
We usually try to be at Richmond just as the barrier lifts, which means exiting the lock at Teddington abour 30 mins earlier.
If we are expecting a lot of rowers etc due to weekends or bank holidays will go via Richmond lock, it will gain you about 30 mins max extra transit time.Debatable if worth the effort. ?

For the trip back round, normally try to leave London marinas about 2 hours before HW Tower Bridge. This gives you 2-3 knots assistance from the ebb virtually down to Southend.
LW across the Swatchway and the first of the flood up the Merdway.
Took six hours at around 9-10 knots last weekend from Limehouse to Darnett and then 6 knots to Rochester.
Have made it from Teddington to South Dock but only by the skin of our teeth.

Dawn at the Hoo Forts.

Thanks OG. Debatable if we want to spend £8 at Richmond lock too, that’s almost a whole pint in St Kats.
So when you lock out at st kats, heading Medway, that means you punch the tide for a couple of hours and catch it closer to the estuary? Guess you can’t always be with the tide…

 

[Time Out]

Thanks OG. Debatable if we want to spend £8 at Richmond lock too, that’s almost a whole pint in St Kats.
So when you lock out at st kats, heading Medway, that means you punch the tide for a couple of hours and catch it closer to the estuary? Guess you can’t always be with the tide…

£8 is still cheaper than an actual pint in Richmond

 

[oldgit]

Thanks OG. Debatable if we want to spend £8 at Richmond lock too,

Lock is a tiny bit grubby as well !

At around 8-10 knots you should be able to get to Southend before the ebb ends from any London Marina.
From Richmond punching tide for 2 hours should enable you to get past Tower Bridge as the tide turns.
Thames. 7 hours flood and 5 hours ebb ?
Arriving off Southend at LW can also mean a comfortable continued journey due to any West in the wind not yet having a debate with any incoming flood tide, especially if its a big spring.

 

[Newbroom]

Richmond now £10.00 and card payment only

 

[Mark26]

Lock is a tiny bit grubby as well !

At around 8-10 knots you should be able to get to Southend before the ebb ends from any London Marina.
From Richmond punching tide for 2 hours should enable you to get past Tower Bridge as the tide turns.
Thames. 7 hours flood and 5 hours ebb ?
Arriving off Southend at LW can also mean a comfortable continued journey due to any West in the wind not yet having a debate with any incoming flood tide, especially if its a big spring.

The above info is all very subjective. Each vessels individual performance must be taken into account.

My boat cruises at 6kts, SOG in still water.
I expect to average 8kts SOG when going out with the tide.
Note I say average.
Allowing for slack water 8ktsx6hrs = 48nm.

The Thursday before Easter I left Teddington Lock 20 mins before Richmond barrier opened and did indeed do 6 kts SOG until it was opened, whereupon, punching the tide my SOG fell to 4 kts (as I would expect) and it took me 1.5 hrs to get from Teddington to Hammersmith Bridge. A long way short of Tower Bridge! And that was a neap tide.

On this day I had planned only to go as far as Hammersmith bridge before turning about, hence allowing me to pass Richmond both ways without using the lock. I knew i would be at Hammersmith Bridge at high water and wouldn’t be able to pass beneath. Another consideration for anyone intending to leave Teddington 2hrs before HW.

Leaving Teddington at HW, means I get to Tower bridge in the same amount of time I’d take to get to Hammersmith Bridge if I left two hours earlier, and by leaving Teddington at HW I can pass under Hammersmith with no probs. I do however end up punching the tide a little around Sheerness .

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Forum member @Loddon has an interesting tip for this.

What you do is Teddington to Limehouse then exit from Bow Locks rather than Limehouse (if you can get past the weed on Limehouse cut and find someone to operate the lock!) That way you save some time going around the Isle of dogs and you can get down to the mudway quicker.

Or something like that. For a slow boat.

As for Limehouse it's a bit awkward at the moment as they have problems with the gate seals (again) so you are liable to miss the locking up window if you wait for the half tide barrier to go up. I did this two weeks ago and took it easy past the rowers and enjoyed the scenery which meant I was an hour late at LH.

All good fun. Boat related activities are always enjoyable. Humans have never devised anything better in history and it is incredibly improbable they ever will.

 

[Mark26]

Did you stop over in London on your way down? I suspect you have said in a previous post?