Final season blast: where oh where should we go?

[kilkerr1]

Hey all

Husband and I have taken a week off (Husband? But he's a nurse! With a week off? How DARE he! Get back to work at once!) to have a final season's blast on the boat, Nov 15th to 22nd before we take her out and scrub her bum. Anyone got advice on what we could do for 3/4/5 days' worth of sailing from our mooring on the Medway (Mariners Farm, Half Acre Creek)? Little boat (22 ft), bilge keel. Have been pondering on exploring further up the Thames (husband wants to see how far up we can go, maybe pull up and park outside the Tate Modern...sounds fun); Essex coast/rivers; further up north (probably not?) etc. Any hidden gems not too far from where we are? Even just pottering round Sheppey would be OK, if it's nice, I'm not fussy (have even been dubbed a heroine by one kind Sir on the PBO forum for putting up with anything less than hot and cold running chocolate and satin sheets..!) but would like to be a bit more adventurous - this would be our first time going further than the Thames Estuary.

All advice/stories/warnings gratefully accepted/heeded.

Aythengew.


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[Mirelle]

You don't say what heating arrangements you have on board!

The limiting factor is the short hours of daylight, really - at this time of year you want to be at anchor by 16.00, latest.

I would not head for the Essex rivers, as the passage up Swin is likely to be a beat, and really miserable.

If a potter round to Fambridge is too tame, I would head up the Thames for Limehouse Basin (see CA thread below!)

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[kilkerr1]

Ah, heating - this is exactly why I was called a heroine: no heating to speak of. Happy (kinda) with my silk sleeping bag liner. And husband. Tho' squeezing into the same berth can take some acrobatics...

Pray tell more about Fambridge, know nought of it. Nothing is too tame for us (we're still pretty green) happy to give anything a go! Thames still holds huge appeal too.

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[LadyInBed]

Re: heating arrangements

They have got each other, and if that doesn't work there is always the hot water bottles.

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[kilkerr1]

Hot water bottle, girl\'s best friend...nm

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[Mirelle]

OOPS! I meant to write "Faversham", which is of course easily accessible through the Swale and has a couple of nice pubs on the way and a friendly crowd.

However, come to think of it, Fambridge might (subject tide, wind and your draft!) be a really inspired choice of destination - this would involve getting into the Roach through the "back door", over the Maplins, through Havengore, down the Roach and up the Crouch.

The passage across the Thames and over the sands to Havengore is the tricky part and you will need a good spring tide and fairly quiet weather, but from Havengore onwards you are in rivers.


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[paulrossall]

I seem to remember reading that the Havengore bridge was not working, but I could well be wrong. Worth checking before passage is planned.

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[AndrewB]

Yes, agree.

Same thought had occurred to me. I've only been that way once, but it would definitely be one for Kilkerr1's boat. You have to be at the bridge within an hour of high: in winter that will mean the afternoon tide which is a spring, so a bit of a bash to get out there, but you should have the wind in your favour (this is not one to do in a brisk E or NE). Anchor vernight at Paglesham. Next day Burnham (or Fambridge) or, for that real East Coast experience, go out the Crouch through the Ray Sand channel at high tide, to West Mersea or Brightlingsea.

It is essential to ring the bridge keeper on 01702 383436 well in advance if planning this as the bridge is not normally opened to yachts in winter, and the firing range is quite active.

London is the other possibility for a break of several days. If you leave the Medway just before low water, then it is quite easy to get to Tower Bridge on the tide, provided you can keep up 3½ knots over the water. The first stage is through the Nore Swatch at low water, an interesting navigational exercise likely to require 'touch and go'. (Tip: don't turn out the Medway channel until you've rounded Grain Edge buoy, then aim direct for the Nore Swatch buoy, turning to E if you should touch).

Tide currents in the Thames are really strong above Gravesend, and a reliable engine is pretty well essential for this passage. Otherwise navigationally it is all very easy, a chart is hardly needed above Gravesend. A VHF is a must for negotiating the Woolwich barrier and getting permission to enter St Katherine's or South Dock near Tower Bridge. Both open (locked entrance) about 1½ hours either side of HW, with moorings outside. However, if you don't reach one of the marinas in time, it is not practicable to wait in the Thames owing to the strength of tide, anchoring is uncomfortable.

Another possibility would be to tour the tidal creeks and river harbours at the mouth to the Thames and around the Swale (Gravesend, Holehaven, Leigh, Harty, Faversham, Oare, Conyer, Queenborough). These are only accessible close to high water though, with not a lot ashore: at some it's impracticable even to get ashore part of the time either because they dry out or due to strength of current - a bit dismal in poor weather.



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[Spuddy]

Swale offers quite a lot of variety without being too technical navigationwise.
There's the aforementioned creeks, Oare and Conyer would get you close to habitation, pubs, bar meals etc. Faversham is an interesting stop over.
Or there's picking up a buoy somewhere a bit more remote - eg by the barges at the mouth of faversham creek- and listening to the bird calls while you shiver.
A Dutchman told me he anchored off Harty Ferry once. When he went into the cockpit in the morning there was a seal asleep on his transom ledge thingy.
Hope you have a jolly hol.

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