Great Yarmouth to St Kats

[Brightside]

I am contemplating cruising new (to me) boat from Great Yarmouth to St Katherines Dock. Firstly I confess to limited experience at sea, (essentially the Solent) and regular crew with nil experience, so would seek experienced on-board support, or at least cruise in company if anyone was going that way. Would be grateful for any advice.

What is the latest date, if any, that you would recommend for a comfortable passage for "crew", or really should I just worry about the weather and tides? At 12 - 18 knots what time should I allow? Would this be an easy shakedown, or would you advise I hire a low loader instead and have the boat delivered by road? Appreciate all advice and thoughts.

In reality I had hoped to have been in a position to set sail last month, but it now looks as though the earliest I could leave Great Yarmouth will be towards the end of September and anytime (no restrictions) thereafter.

Thank you.

 

[sailorman]

dont know nuffink about a MoBo but go to Limehouse much more user friendly with more lock user time per tide.
the Thames upper reaches get quite "lumpy" @ HW due refraction of of the sea walls + commercial traffic

 

[ChattingLil]

Hello Brightside - at 12-18 knots - assume you are in a motorboat, which is well outside my limited experience. Also, I have nil experience of north of Orwell, so know nuffing about Great Yarmouth. However, I have done the Orwell to St Kats in under 12 hours, punching a bit of tide at both ends - averaging 7 knots (or thereabouts). I hope that helps give you some idea. depending on your boat and confidence, I don't suppose it matters about the time of year as long as you don't mind sailing the dark. To make it easy on yourself and crew, I expect most people would do it in three gentle hops - Gt Yarmouth to Orwell, Orwell to Queenborough, Queenborough to St Kats. You can't have the boat delivered by road to St Kats as they have no hoist, but they do at South Dock which is just a spit away.

 

[ChattingLil]

dont know nuffink about a MoBo but go to Limehouse much more user friendly with more lock user time per tide. the Thames upper reaches get quite "lumpy" @ HW due refraction of of the sea walls + commercial traffic

yer, and I'm at Limehouse - and we don't bite either.

 

[tillergirl]

Weather wise you cn have some lovely stuff in October - there again it can be cold and miserable. I think you will have to suck it and see.

You talk about 'cruising'. How long have you got/do you mean doing a bit of proper cruising on route or just breaking up the journey (in which case Lil is spot on IMO). If the former get yourself a copy of East Cost Pilot (I declare an interest that I am a chum of the authors) and work down the coast as your fancy takes. Well worth doing all of the rivers north side of the Thames on your way if you had the time. If it's just a delivery taking a nice couple of days I would love to assist but am currently booked to be working in Nigeria at the end of September.