Inspired by Oldgit

[Gavi]

I've been working on our passage plan for next week's freedom from work and will be doing a few things we haven't done before. I would appreciate opinions.

The boat is 30ft of steel, 4ft draft, and 9.8 knot max speed. Comfortable at 6-7.

Our aim is to head down from non-tidal to tidal and have a few days of fun and pottering with various friends. Here is my draft plan:

Monday 29 August - Church Island to Kingston

About 6 hours so set off at 1100.
Arrive Kingston 1700.
Where to moor?

Tuesday 30 August - Kingston to Imperial Wharf

About 3 hours

High tide at Richmond is 1539.
Set off at 1300 to hit Richmond within 2 hours low side of high tide (don't want to lock)
Arrive Imperial Wharf at 1700 – could potter on for a bit if we want to.

Wednesday 31 August – Imperial Wharf to Limehouse

About 3 hours?

Set off at 1400 to punch the end of the incoming tide (turns at 1529)
Arrive Limehouse at 1700 (we can enter the lock +/- 4 hours of 1520 high tide at London Bridge and it is best to avoid turning tide?)

Thursday 1 September – Limehouse/London potter

We have a maximum of 8 hours to go out, into and out of London both with the tide. Have a 5 or 6 hour potter?

High tide at London Bridge is 1558.
High tide at Chelsea bridge is 1607.
Set off at 1400 and head into London until 1600 at the latest then turn back.
Arrive Limehouse at 1800.

Friday 2 September – Limehouse to Eel Pie Island via GYC/West India Dock view

About 5/6 hours?
High tide at London Bridge is 1637 so the lock is available from 1237.
High tide at Richmond is 1744.
Set off at 1430 and head down to West India Dock (to suss out the entrance for 10 September) – wave at GYC
Turn at 1500 and head back for passing through Richmond at 1800
Arrive at Eel Pie Island at 1830.
Barmy Arms for 1900.


Have I got anything significantly wrong?

 

[Captain Coochie]

About 6 hours so set off at 1100.
Arrive Kingston 1700.
Where to moor?

The finger pontoons just after the hire ferries and just before kingston . A very short walk into town . Not sure on the depth but you should get in there . If not i have seen larger boats use two of the pontoons and moored on the end .
Its free aswell .

 

[dash300]

I have been told that the finger pontoons you mention are no longer there - but its been a while since I have been that way.

The finger pontoons just after the hire ferries and just before kingston . A very short walk into town . Not sure on the depth but you should get in there . If not i have seen larger boats use two of the pontoons and moored on the end .
Its free aswell .

 

[boatone]

I have been told that the finger pontoons you mention are no longer there - but its been a while since I have been that way.

Correct - they have been gone for a while now. I believe you can moor alongside the wall in the same location but I do not know what the depth is - it used to be quite shallow.
There is a mooring run on the opposite side of the river a few hundred yards above the bridge and there is mooring space just below the bridge next to John Lewis store.

Unless you particularly wish to moor at Kingston for the night my recommendation would be to carry on a little further downriver and moor on the Teddington Lock moorings.

 

[Captain Coochie]

Boooooo

Thats a real shame as they where a cracking place to moor and safe from most of the nightclub type trouble .

 

[ianc1200]

Are the public moorings on the top half of the Kingston Small Boat Club at Stevens Ait (or Eyot?) still available?

 

[boatone]

Are the public moorings on the top half of the Kingston Small Boat Club at Stevens Ait (or Eyot?) still available?

Yes - and they were given a good spruce up fairly recently. I believe duck poo can be a bit of a nuisance though.