Gloucester canal

[bert49uk]

For a change this summer a few of us from Ilfracombe were thinking about taking a trip up channel and posable going up to Gloucester ship canal
is it posable with yachts and is it worth the trip, any advice would be appreciated

 

[trapezeartist]

It's a bit pricey as you need a Waterways licence, plus the locking fees at Sharpness. Also a couple of bridges have to be opened near Gloucester for masted vessels. I don't think there's a charge for that but it has to be pre-arranged to avoid traffic chaos. I've done it with the PCC Easter Cruise which has a special concession on the locking fees. It was a good trip. You need to have a good passage plan for the section from Portishead to Sharpness.

 

[Allan]

The BCYA are organising a trip at the end of May. There are some preliminary details on their Facebook page. I can't find anything on their website yet.
Allan

 

[boatingdave]

I have several friends on the G&S as I used to be on it too. Apparently they are very sensitive to opening the bridges now and you have to give 48 hours notice and then only within certain times etc etc. I agree on the passage plan, we usually head out from Portishead (although have done it from Cardiff) and even though we can cruise at about 22knts I still have a healthy respect for that section of the river. Well marked though. You also need to book the lock 24 hours in advance. The whole Sharpness Dock and G&S are being run on a shoe string but is a good place to visit. Allow £25 for each lock and about £35 for a week (depends on the size of the vessel).

It's a bit pricey as you need a Waterways licence, plus the locking fees at Sharpness. Also a couple of bridges have to be opened near Gloucester for masted vessels. I don't think there's a charge for that but it has to be pre-arranged to avoid traffic chaos. I've done it with the PCC Easter Cruise which has a special concession on the locking fees. It was a good trip. You need to have a good passage plan for the section from Portishead to Sharpness.

 

[Snifter]

The BCYA are organising a trip at the end of May. There are some preliminary details on their Facebook page. I can't find anything on their website yet.
Allan

The BCYA 'Gloucester Big Bash' will be held on the end of May Bank Holiday - locking in at Sharpness from 21st May, and out again by Monday 30th, for specially negotiated discounted fees. Full details will be on the BCYA website shortly. I'll let you know when they go up.
It would be great to get some Ilfracombe (and other clubs) boats up to our end of the channel. What better excuse is there?

 

[Sneds]

Locking in is a bit pricey but they will offer a discount if a few of you.
Minimal fuel use at 5 knots rather than 25 and moorings are free, with showers in Gloucester docks.
Not much to see above Gloucester as the river banks are quite high, worth a trip to see though.
Different kind of boating but v relaxing.

 

[Allan]

The BCYA 'Gloucester Big Bash' will be held on the end of May Bank Holiday - locking in at Sharpness from 21st May, and out again by Monday 30th, for specially negotiated discounted fees. Full details will be on the BCYA website shortly. I'll let you know when they go up.
It would be great to get some Ilfracombe (and other clubs) boats up to our end of the channel. What better excuse is there?

I read somewhere that they have negotiated a lock fee of £4.00, if that is correct it even trumps the PCC fee of £10-£15!
Allan

 

[boatingdave]

Sneds - or here... (refer to 'Watchet' thread )

 

[bert49uk]

Allan, thats why I was asking as we saw article from BCYA unfortunately several of us are out of the country at the time so was thinking about doing it later in the season

 

[Allan]

It seems that the Canal and River Trust are more willing to do deals than previously. For instance the BCYA deal allows earlier arrival and later departure. Previously the only thing that would allow PCC boats to delay was bad weather. It may be that, if you contact the Trust, they give you a great deal too.
Allan

 

[single]

Or get enough of us on here and your club/marina to get a flotilla together?

 

[CuttyStark]

Why not come to "The Gloucester Big Bash" the latest BCYA rally. The rally is in Gloucseter dock on 28th May (Bank Holiday Weekend) but you can lock in from 21st and spend some time on the canal. Discounted lock in fees, Free drinks reception- check out the BCYA facebook site ....web page will be updated soon !

 

[CuttyStark]

Yes Alan, The lock in fee is £8.00 thats £4.00 each way. The weekly waterways licence which you need to buy on line and costs for example £29. 92 for boats 24'8 - 27'10 slightly less for smaller and slightly more for larger boats, has also been extended to "Up to 9 days" to enable you to lock in from Saturday 21st and out again on bank holiday Monday 30th if you want. Tides are mid afternoon so there is the option of leaving Gloucester dock on Sunday morning if you have recovered from the partying the previous evening that is, then navigating the canal and locking out mid afternoon giving you time to get direct to Cardiff well before dark and then onwards further down channel on bank holiday Monday.

 

[CuttyStark]

Unlikely....we are expecting circa 100 boats from all over the Channel and three clubs are coming down from Worcester.
The deal comes with the scale. Another plus point is that with lots of boats making this trip at this time there will always be someone to tag along with if you are unsure of the passage.

 

[Loggo]

Anyone know who the three clubs coming down from Worcester are ??