First time out of the River

Minn said:
Allow me to recommend my own club; the one with its own marina and a new clubhouse just round the corner from Pin Mill; go on the hammerhead, ask which berths are free, and stroll across the lawn to the clubhouse for dinner. Yes you would have to leave early in the morning but a sail downriver in the dawn is rather good fun!
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You have "free berths" :)
 
Minn said:
Allow me to recommend my own club; the one with its own marina and a new clubhouse just round the corner from Pin Mill; go on the hammerhead, ask which berths are free, and stroll across the lawn to the clubhouse for dinner. Yes you would have to leave early in the morning but a sail downriver in the dawn is rather good fun!
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Hmmm. As an ex member of that (very expensive) club you are more likely to find that the hammerhead has been rented out or barricaded off for preferred visitors. As for - available rather than "free" berths the encoumbant bertholders are so reluctant to use the "returning by" system that no one knows whether or not the empty berths are available. So most remain empty and even club members are turned away.
When members we found that the facility for cruising members needing to take on water, stores, crew, electricity was so unreliable that we voted with our feet.
 
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I feel sorry for dolabriform ..... 45 posts with all sorts of advice, well here's mine.

just go, stay safe and make sure your mobile is charges and you have a VHF....... someone once said (or so I'm told) the best of Passage plans go out the window at the first sign of a wind change :)

 
Hadenough said:
Hmmm. As an ex member of that (very expensive) club you are more likely to find that the hammerhead has been rented out or barricaded off for preferred visitors. As for - available rather than "free" berths the encoumbant bertholders are so reluctant to use the "returning by" system that no one knows whether or not the empty berths are available. So most remain empty and even club members are turned away.
When members we found that the facility for cruising members needing to take on water, stores, crew, electricity was so unreliable that we voted with our feet.
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As a berth holder between 2001 and 2014 that doesn't match my recollections, indeed the "efficiency" of the berth master in filling my berth meant it wasn't uncommon to find someone still there on my return.
 
dolabriform said:
OK, you've all sold me on Ha'Penny Pier :)

Especially as it makes my early departure on Sunday easier, I just hope I can get space there?

But why oh Why has the predicted wind decided to be on the nose on both days? W / NW on Saturday, E / NE on Sunday.. should I just stay in bed ? LOL

Seriously thinking I'd better make sure I have lots of fuel on board!
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Ha'Penny Pier is a good spot. Try and get on the inside if you can as cross channel ferries may awaken you at uncivilised hours (there's only a couple a day I believe, very early and very late). There is room to raft inside if necessary but watch the permanent moorings for fishing boats as you enter. Plenty of boats overnight on the outside edge, it's just that the inside is slightly more protected. HM usually starts her rounds after 16:00, don't forget to ask for a token to access the showers. Pier Cafe breakfast is excellent and only £5.00 if you eat before 10:00am. As charges for Ha'Penny only start after 16:00 there can often be boats leaving around that time that have been there for free for a lunch stop so worth hanging around or hollering to crew to determine their intent. As others have said Shotley is just across the river. As to the N/NW I spent an extremely uncomfortable night in there last November but it was blowing 30kts, but that's all it was uncomfortable, no damage done. The pontoon edges are not as friendly as your average marina so make sure you're well fendered and that they're at the appropriate height. Hope you have a great weekend.
 
Boz said:
I feel sorry for dolabriform ..... 45 posts with all sorts of advice, well here's mine.

just go, stay safe and make sure your mobile is charges and you have a VHF....... someone once said (or so I'm told) the best of Passage plans go out the window at the first sign of a wind change :)
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Thanks Boz,
VHF, Fixed and Handheld - Tick
Mobile Phone - Tick
Power Booster Packs & Solar Charger - Tick
Charts - Tick
Navionics - Tick
Fingers Crossed that all goes well - Tick ;)
 
Little Grebe said:
As a berth holder between 2001 and 2014 that doesn't match my recollections, indeed the "efficiency" of the berth master in filling my berth meant it wasn't uncommon to find someone still there on my return.
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The Bosun was indeed efficient (and I hope still is). He was loud too. I found it much safer to send my wife when assistance was needed, the response was gentler! He was/is a nice bloke.
Unfortunately though, we voted as Hadenough did not just for the same reasons (we could probably have lived with those) but many others as well. I hope they have their house in better order now
 
englishrobs said:
Ha'Penny Pier is a good spot. Try and get on the inside if you can as cross channel ferries may awaken you at uncivilised hours (there's only a couple a day I believe, very early and very late). There is room to raft inside if necessary but watch the permanent moorings for fishing boats as you enter. Plenty of boats overnight on the outside edge, it's just that the inside is slightly more protected. HM usually starts her rounds after 16:00, don't forget to ask for a token to access the showers. Pier Cafe breakfast is excellent and only £5.00 if you eat before 10:00am. As charges for Ha'Penny only start after 16:00 there can often be boats leaving around that time that have been there for free for a lunch stop so worth hanging around or hollering to crew to determine their intent. As others have said Shotley is just across the river. As to the N/NW I spent an extremely uncomfortable night in there last November but it was blowing 30kts, but that's all it was uncomfortable, no damage done. The pontoon edges are not as friendly as your average marina so make sure you're well fendered and that they're at the appropriate height. Hope you have a great weekend.
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Thanks for the info, especially about the token for the showers!
 
dolabriform said:
Thanks Boz,
VHF, Fixed and Handheld - Tick
Mobile Phone - Tick
Power Booster Packs & Solar Charger - Tick
Charts - Tick
Navionics - Tick
Fingers Crossed that all goes well - Tick ;)
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You have more kit than i had on my first x channel :)
in fact more than the first 6 yrs- charts- tidsal atlas - compass x 2 - log - depth - hh compass, that was it
 
dolabriform said:
stewie?
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Stuart Turner P55 8 hp 2 stroke
stuart2.jpg




They make good mooring sinkers :)
 
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