Navigational advice please

Markhammond

Markhammond

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Evening all.

At long last I hope to embark on my passage from Brighton to Bray. I had originally hoped to take it nice and easy and split this into four legs (Brighton to Chatham, Chatham to Chiswick, Chiswick to Chertsey where I'll have the boat lifted to change the anodes) and then Chertsey to Bray. However, personal circumstances mean I may not have the luxury of taking quite as much time.

So the killer question.

I am considering changing my passage to moor overnight at Queensborough just down the Swale so I am nearer the mouth of the Medway and then pushing up the Thames to Chertsey in one go. I think this is just about doable, but wanted to see what others think.

Also posted on the Motorboat forum just in case.

Thanks as always for any advice.
 
Yes, it is, but it's a very long day!!

I've done St kats to Windsor in one hit, but it was over 12 hours at the helm.

Past Richmond is the slow bit, so you can do it very roughly 12 hours I would guess. Timing of tides in the upper tidal reach is critical - if you draw over 3' you WILL run aground at low tide above Kew. Hammersmith bridge is tricky with an airdraught over 11' at high tide too, so you'll have to balance the tides between Hamnersmith and Richmond.
 
Etched in my memory!!
With a skipper who was certainly on a mission,we left Quennborough at 2.30am,arrived Maidenhead about 9/10pm.Try to get an early tide then you get daylight and lock keepers on non tidal bit.
This was middle of October so we had to work the locks Staines to Maidenhead.
 
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Have an overnight rest once through Teddington Lock and head upstream early morning?
 
Thanks for the quick replies. The initial reaction was what I expected - doable but not necessary pleasurable.

The other option I had been considering was splitting the trip.

So Brighton to Queensborough (with a spot of lunch at Ramsgate), then from Queensborough to Chiswick pier. And then doing the second leg Chiswick to Chertsey and then Chertsey to Bray. Sound any better?
 
Markhammond said:
Thanks for the quick replies. The initial reaction was what I expected - doable but not necessary pleasurable.

The other option I had been considering was splitting the trip.

So Brighton to Queensborough (with a spot of lunch at Ramsgate), then from Queensborough to Chiswick pier. And then doing the second leg Chiswick to Chertsey and then Chertsey to Bray. Sound any better?
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Yep:)
 
Theres lots of ways to do it I guess, but I would go for Brighton to Ramsgate, Ramsgate to teddington or Chiswick, then to Bray. all much easier days.
 
Markhammond said:
Thanks for the quick replies. The initial reaction was what I expected - doable but not necessary pleasurable.

The other option I had been considering was splitting the trip.

So Brighton to Queensborough (with a spot of lunch at Ramsgate), then from Queensborough to Chiswick pier. And then doing the second leg Chiswick to Chertsey and then Chertsey to Bray. Sound any better?
Click to expand...

Mark.Splitting your journey is very sensible idea.
just one comment and assuming you have a fairly quick boat.......
For the really knackered and desperate Queenborough is somewhere to turn the blimming engine off and enjoy some silence.BUT it is not exactly the most enjoyable place to over night.Fine if all you want is to turn on the kettle and then collapse into your bunk.
You will have to pick up a trot bouy (assuming you will have competent crew to assist) and at the mercy of any slap slap slap wind/ tide combinations conspiring to keep you awake all night.

I would like to spend some of your money and time by suggesting you consider going up to MDL Chatham(£ 25 ish)..Lock is open 24 hours,fuel on demand,and you will get a decent nights kip and if you have the stamina,shops/pubs etc on the doorstep.
Probably comfortable to know to have sufficient fuel to do the wastelands from Sheerness to Teddington after coming round from North Foreland.?
You will also need to use trot boat (if running) to get to some pretty ordinary pubs and takaways ashore.
Might be worth considering as a plan A or a plan B if you arrive early or weather is foul.
If things really go tits up you can safely abandon boat in MDL and come back and get it later.
Can PM you my phone No .If you think you may need any assistance in this neck of the woods... OG
 
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I've had some lovely nights at Q'borough, but only in the right conditions. Always stayed on board, never had a run ashore. Ideal for the sort of trip you're planning, but not if the conditions don't favour a night at a fairly exposed anchorage (yes, there are places to anchor, as well as the buoys already mentioned).

All that said, it might be that craning out at Brighton, anodes etc on the hard, then road to Bray could be cheaper, and much more certain.
 
Thanks for the advice. This was my original plan but I was trying to reduce the journey. but having somewhere nice to stop over, being able to grab a warm shower and something to eat will be well worth it. Plus I'm with MDL so can stay over at no cost.

The extra diesel will be worth it!!



oldgit said:
Mark.Splitting your journey is very sensible idea.
just one comment and assuming you have a fairly quick boat.......
For the really knackered and desperate Queenborough is somewhere to turn the blimming engine off and enjoy some silence.BUT it is not exactly the most enjoyable place to over night.Fine if all you want is to turn on the kettle and then collapse into your bunk.
You will have to pick up a trot bouy (assuming you will have competent crew to assist) and at the mercy of any slap slap slap wind/ tide combinations conspiring to keep you awake all night.

I would like to spend some of your money and time by suggesting you consider going up to MDL Chatham(£ 25 ish)..Lock is open 24 hours,fuel on demand,and you will get a decent nights kip and if you have the stamina,shops/pubs etc on the doorstep.
Probably comfortable to know to have sufficient fuel to do the wastelands from Sheerness to Teddington after coming round from North Foreland.?
You will also need to use trot boat (if running) to get to some pretty ordinary pubs and takaways ashore.
Might be worth considering as a plan A or a plan B if you arrive early or weather is foul.
If things really go tits up you can safely abandon boat in MDL and come back and get it later.
Can PM you my phone No .If you think you may need any assistance in this neck of the woods... OG
Click to expand...
 
True, but it's certainly not as much fun. A four day passage doesn't come along very often and I've been looking forward to the adventure. And cruising up the Thames and under Tower Bridge has got to be worth it!


Colin Regs said:
I've had some lovely nights at Q'borough, but only in the right conditions. Always stayed on board, never had a run ashore. Ideal for the sort of trip you're planning, but not if the conditions don't favour a night at a fairly exposed anchorage (yes, there are playces to anchor, as well as the buoys already mentioned).

All that said, it might be that craning out at Brighton, anodes etc on the hard, then road to Bray could be cheaper, and much more certain.
Click to expand...
 
Markhammond said:
True, but it's certainly not as much fun. A four day passage doesn't come along very often and I've been looking forward to the adventure. And cruising up the Thames and under Tower Bridge has got to be worth it!
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If you've not done it before it's a great trip to do,you can see the forts in the estuary,the Montgomery,under the QE2 bridge and that's before all the sights of london!
Do not put it on a lorry,boats should be on the water not trundling up a motorway:)
And don't forget the pics:)
 
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Will do. Fingers crossed for kind seas this weekend!


Flynnbarr said:
If you've not done it before it's a great trip to do,you can see the forts in the estuary,the Montgomery,under the QE2 bridge and that's before all the sights of london!
Do not put it on a lorry,boats should be on the water not trundling up a motorway:)
And don't forget the pics:)
Click to expand...
 
Not that bad this weekend,Sat looks to be bit breezy.Off to Burnham on Crouch this morning.Hopefully about 15 boats in total.
All a bit dull until you get up to Greenwich,then stuff comes thick and fast
Keep and eye out for the sculpture on the south bank just before the The Dome( I like it,) Greenwich with the observatory (and its ball) on top of the hill,the Emirates Skytrain and on the North bank all the narrow little riverside pubs around Wapping.Stunning views of the city as you approach Tower Bridge esp. the Shard.

Beyond will be the Globe Theatre and the Wibbly Wobbly bridge.
Keep an eye out for the Clippers/fast ribs whizzing up from behind and it can get tad bouncy,it does not last long,once past the cradle of democracy it all smooths out.:)
 
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