jant
Well-Known Member
We went to st kats last week, (after getting stuck in Chatham with a bust lock gate) using Queenborough as a stopover, if you wish a quite Berth there avoid the hammerhead or large mooring rings. We opted for the orange line of swinging moorings stud side of entry. Be aware that only one of them had a mooring rope attached! Then a quick call to the hm who will pop over to collect your £15, and ask if you need his services to go ashore. Leave around 1 1/2 hrs before low water.
On your way up the Thames in the tilbury area. You will meet some large fast shipping, which is mostly fine, however there is one particular yacht eating ship that from its design produces a massive double wake. One passed us at around 15kts. We were a safe distance off but had to head into the 2m+ wake (that’s not a typo) which gave us a Hawai five ‘O moment twice As it had a double wash, the second only slightly smaller. On the way back we spotted the same ship going slower and took the attached pic, we let off all way to allow the wake to hit the shore before us! Be aware of that yacht eater! We we’re originally booked in at Limehouse but the bridge jammed in the heat, which was a real shame as we were all looking forward to drinking at the grapes,. One of our boats who arrived a day earlier suffered 2 hours on the waiting pontoon before Limehouse lo keepers had to give up trying to raise the bridge. They were bashed mercilessly.
Once we all got to St Kats it was half empty! Highlight was sharing the lock with the Gloriana when locking out.
Enjoy your visit, and don’t be put off by the high speed Uber boats and all that swishy wash ! Pic attached of yacht eater.
On your way up the Thames in the tilbury area. You will meet some large fast shipping, which is mostly fine, however there is one particular yacht eating ship that from its design produces a massive double wake. One passed us at around 15kts. We were a safe distance off but had to head into the 2m+ wake (that’s not a typo) which gave us a Hawai five ‘O moment twice As it had a double wash, the second only slightly smaller. On the way back we spotted the same ship going slower and took the attached pic, we let off all way to allow the wake to hit the shore before us! Be aware of that yacht eater! We we’re originally booked in at Limehouse but the bridge jammed in the heat, which was a real shame as we were all looking forward to drinking at the grapes,. One of our boats who arrived a day earlier suffered 2 hours on the waiting pontoon before Limehouse lo keepers had to give up trying to raise the bridge. They were bashed mercilessly.
Once we all got to St Kats it was half empty! Highlight was sharing the lock with the Gloriana when locking out.
Enjoy your visit, and don’t be put off by the high speed Uber boats and all that swishy wash ! Pic attached of yacht eater.
