capnsensible
Well-known member
Ask at Greenwich if you can go down and see the reactor that was used for training submarine engineers. JASON.
Or just go into Greenwich building. It's impressive. Had several beers there kinda illegally....
Is St Kat's the best marina in the world?
- Thread starter Bristolfashion
- Start date
Or just go into Greenwich building. It's impressive. Had several beers there kinda illegally....
AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
I'm afraid that visiting London is something I'd only do by train - it's an hour and a bit from my village. St Cats is pleasant enough (why has no-one mentioned the Museum of London?), but navigating up a river to get to a town I once lived in isn't my idea of fun. There's too much industrial wasteland to pass before getting there!
Bristolfashion
Well-known member
But it's the ultimate "rock star park"!
Bouba
Well-known member
"The old river in its broad reach rested unruffled at the decline of day, after ages of good service done to the race that peopled its banks, spread out in the tranquil dignity of a waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth."
the River Thames from
The Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad
the River Thames from
The Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad
Bouba
Well-known member
Most cities are places to leave and Britain is full of them. But some fortunate cities are an irresistible attraction to people and London is one of them
AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
I lived there for 5 years; even married a Londoner. I'm quite happy to take visiting friends there, and even to visit it on occasion. But even my late first wife, born and bred in one of the nicer parts of London, was quite content to leave London when the opportunity arose. Yes, it has its highlights, and there are attractions there that are unique to it. But I can quite happily go without visiting it from one year to the next! If you live there, London is ok for young people. But neither my wife nor I wanted to bring up children there.
LONG_KEELER
Well-known member
Well. If this is going to turn into a dick swinging contest count me in. 
I'm thinking.........................................?
I'm thinking.........................................?
oldgit
Well-known member
Its certainly the best in London.Would certainly like to be there right now. Currently firmly held against the pontoons by 35 knot winds in Shotley.?
Stemar
Well-known member
The owners benefited, first from renting insanitary slums, then from having them torn down. What happened to those unfortunate enough to live in those slums? Of course, back then, such people were irrelevant. Good thing times have changed, well, for most of us.
Stemar
Well-known member
When we first got Jissel, 18 years ago, we had a mooring organised on the Thames in Dagenham. The club was nice, but the surroundings were a moonscape. Staying in the Solent was definitely the right decision
capnsensible
Well-known member
You've got a black cat.Well. If this is going to turn into a dick swinging contest count me in.
I'm thinking.........................................?
Ive got a panther.
??
Poignard
Well-known member
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Poignard
Well-known member
How's this for a description of arriving at a London dock (St Katherine's I guess)?
"The Narcissus, heeling over to off-shore gusts, rounded the South Foreland, passed through the Downs, and, in tow, entered the river. Shorn of the glory of her white wings, she wound obediently after the tug through the maze of invisible channels. As she passed them the red-painted light-vessels, swung at their moorings, seemed for an instant to sail with great speed in the rush of tide, and the next moment were left hopelessly behind. The big buoys on the tails of banks slipped past her sides very low, and, dropping in her wake, tugged at their chains like fierce watchdogs. The reach narrowed; from both sides the land approached the ship. She went steadily up the river. On the riverside slopes the houses appeared in groups—seemed to stream down the declivities at a run to see her pass, and, checked by the mud of the foreshore, crowded on the banks. Further on, the tall factory chimneys appeared in insolent bands and watched her go by, like a straggling crowd of slim giants, swaggering and upright under the black plummets of smoke, cavalierly aslant. She swept round the bends; an impure breeze shrieked a welcome between her stripped spars; and the land, closing in, stepped between the ship and the sea.
A low cloud hung before her—a great opalescent and tremulous cloud, that seemed to rise from the steaming brows of millions of men. Long drifts of smoky vapours soiled it with livid trails; it throbbed to the beat of millions of hearts, and from it came an immense and lamentable murmur—the murmur of millions of lips praying, cursing, sighing, jeering—the undying murmur of folly, regret, and hope exhaled by the crowds of the anxious earth. The Narcissus entered the cloud; the shadows deepened; on all sides there was the clang of iron, the sound of mighty blows, shrieks, yells. Black barges drifted stealthily on the murky stream. A mad jumble of begrimed walls loomed up vaguely in the smoke, bewildering and mournful, like a vision of disaster. The tugs backed and filled in the stream, to hold the ship steady at the dock-gates; from her bows two lines went through the air whistling, and struck at the land viciously, like a pair of snakes. A bridge broke in two before her, as if by enchantment; big hydraulic capstans began to turn all by themselves, as though animated by a mysterious and unholy spell. She moved through a narrow lane of water between two low walls of granite, and men with check-ropes in their hands kept pace with her, walking on the broad flagstones. A group waited impatiently on each side of the vanished bridge: rough heavy men in caps; sallow-faced men in high hats; two bareheaded women; ragged children, fascinated, and with wide eyes. A cart coming at a jerky trot pulled up sharply. One of the women screamed at the silent ship—“Hallo, Jack!” without looking at any one in particular, and all hands looked at her from the forecastle head.—“Stand clear! Stand clear of that rope!” cried the dockmen, bending over stone posts. The crowd murmured, stamped where they stood.—“Let go your quarter-checks! Let go!” sang out a ruddy-faced old man on the quay. The ropes splashed heavily falling in the water, and the Narcissus entered the dock.
The stony shores ran away right and left in straight lines, enclosing a sombre and rectangular pool. Brick walls rose high above the water!—soulless walls, staring through hundreds of windows as troubled and dull as the eyes of over-fed brutes. At their base monstrous iron cranes crouched, with chains hanging from their long necks, balancing cruel-looking hooks over the decks of lifeless ships. A noise of wheels rolling over stones, the thump of heavy things falling, the racket of feverish winches, the grinding of strained chains, floated on the air. Between high buildings the dust of all the continents soared in short flights; and a penetrating smell of perfumes and dirt, of spices and hides, of things costly and of things filthy, pervaded the space, made for it an atmosphere precious and disgusting. The Narcissus came gently into her berth; the shadows of soulless walls fell upon her, the dust of all the continents leaped upon her deck, and a swarm of strange men, clambering up her sides, took possession of her in the name of the sordid earth. She had ceased to live."
'The Nigger of the "Narcissus'"
Joseph Conrad
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PlanB
Well-known member
We stayed there for a month in 2005 before we set off for Spain. Berthing in such an historic location was fantastic (and we had lived two miles away before moving aboard). Bars, restaurants and London, all just there. A minor fret is that in normal times, you are also part of the tourist attraction and pontoons were not all gated.
But, as previously said, the locking in process was horrendous. The waiting quay takes two boats (if available), there are a couple of large buoys and apart from that it's just milling about. They may not be operating now, but the many tripper boats toing and froing at speed also made life interesting. Expect no help from the lock keepers, who also stop helpful bystanders lending a hand.
I don't know if they have refurbished the showers and loos but, for a landmark marina they used to be a disgrace.
Fuel is available from a bunker boat mid-river a few hundred yards downstream.
It might not be the best marina in the world,but it is a wonderful experience.
But, as previously said, the locking in process was horrendous. The waiting quay takes two boats (if available), there are a couple of large buoys and apart from that it's just milling about. They may not be operating now, but the many tripper boats toing and froing at speed also made life interesting. Expect no help from the lock keepers, who also stop helpful bystanders lending a hand.
I don't know if they have refurbished the showers and loos but, for a landmark marina they used to be a disgrace.
Fuel is available from a bunker boat mid-river a few hundred yards downstream.
It might not be the best marina in the world,but it is a wonderful experience.
PlanB
Well-known member
And going through the Thames Barrier was fun!
Bristolfashion
Well-known member
Yes, I was going to mention that - it's great.
Bristolfashion
Well-known member
The pontoons are now all secure. The lock operator took my lines on the way out. There are a few more mooring buoys to wait on, but, I believe, no pontoon.
It is bouncy outside - fix fenders & lines early.
Loos & showers are fine - but talking to the maintenance guys, they do suffer from blockages due to certain people putting things down the dunny that they shouldn't - they fixed 'em up pretty quick.
The marina staff are very friendly. You get an adapter to convert the oversize electric connection. The tap screw thread is the large one, not the normal marina one - but plenty to borrow on the pontoon.
The marina issue a "porter" card with various discounts around the dock which saved us a couple of quid.
I'd recommend "Bravas" for friendly and excellent tapas and "Natural Kitchen" for very friendly service, good casual food (excellent brunch) and good prices.
pyrojames
Well-known member
I normally go to St Kaths each year, and I still like it. Sometime I have sailed all the way up, and sometimes motored. Had some great romps down the river in stiff westerlies including night sails.
I work in London, but live near Cambridge so being able to have an 8 minute walk to the office was quite nice, as was sitting in the cockpit have beers with work colleagues after all.
Its great for a visit, but no place to be resident, unless your in working in London on secondment.
I work in London, but live near Cambridge so being able to have an 8 minute walk to the office was quite nice, as was sitting in the cockpit have beers with work colleagues after all.
Its great for a visit, but no place to be resident, unless your in working in London on secondment.
Bouba
Well-known member
Here’s some literature that maybe of interest to you
Des rafales de vent record enregistrées en Bretagne
capnsensible
Well-known member
Love or hate London, it's great to have a cruising report from someone who is out there doing it and clearly enjoying it!