Murv
Well-Known Member
We were supposed to be attending a club trip to Ipswich this weekend, but with a worsening forecast, the fact we'd have to go up alone with a friend of my daughters (her first time on a small boat) and it being the first big run out on our new boat we decided to cancel and go to Conyer with some other club members instead.
Departed the tidal Medway moorings just after low water and didn't get off to a great start as we hit bottom out in the channel.
It's a great shame how the river is silting up above the M2 motorway bridge, we'll have to curtail activities to a couple of Hours after low water to be safe now.
An uneventful trip down, passing lots of Thames barges and even a couple of narrowboats.
Round into the Swale and the dog trying his hardest to look intelligent but failing miserably.
Got to #8 bouy which is the crossing point to the entrance to Conyer creek way too early so took a very slow trot down to Fowley spit to approach through the deep water channel (it's all relative...)
All went well, and we made the approach through the bouys until we encountered an approaching yacht at the cardinal mark and so moved over to allow him some room.
As we shuddered to a halt I had plenty of time to reflect on where we'd gone wrong... until the penny finally dropped that it was the other East I should have passed the mark on, not the one I'd chosen...
The worse thing was the mocking looks from the stream of yachties that passed as we sat trying to look nonchalant firmly jammed in the mud bank.
Once the procession had cleared, we managed to get free and resumed the approach.
A slight moment of blind panic as we entered the marina and I realised just how tight it was going to be getting into our berth.
Luckily, and after working the shifters like a gambling addict on a fruit machine, we were somehow in and the reassuring sight of OldGit appeared, securing our lines.
It was our first visit to Conyer, and in fact our first visit to any marina in the new boat and what a hidden gem it is!
Lovely views, a cracking pub and lots of walks along the sea wall.
The approach at low water:
High & dry:
Departure date, and the wind was decidedly gusty.
I'd pretty much decided to get the train back when OldGit kindly offered to get us out of the berth and at least pointing in roughly the right direction (thanks Fred)
Approaching Kings ferry bridge, OldGit on Sarah T in front had gone through with a couple of inches to spare so we knew we'd get under.
But, it still looked a bit tight.
A bit breezy past Queenborough, Sarah T punching the wind in front
Once the speed limits lifted in the Medway, conditions were calm given the wind so we could open her up a bit and get back to the moorings before the water levels dropped too much.
A great weekend away in great company
Departed the tidal Medway moorings just after low water and didn't get off to a great start as we hit bottom out in the channel.
It's a great shame how the river is silting up above the M2 motorway bridge, we'll have to curtail activities to a couple of Hours after low water to be safe now.
An uneventful trip down, passing lots of Thames barges and even a couple of narrowboats.
Round into the Swale and the dog trying his hardest to look intelligent but failing miserably.
Got to #8 bouy which is the crossing point to the entrance to Conyer creek way too early so took a very slow trot down to Fowley spit to approach through the deep water channel (it's all relative...)
All went well, and we made the approach through the bouys until we encountered an approaching yacht at the cardinal mark and so moved over to allow him some room.
As we shuddered to a halt I had plenty of time to reflect on where we'd gone wrong... until the penny finally dropped that it was the other East I should have passed the mark on, not the one I'd chosen...
The worse thing was the mocking looks from the stream of yachties that passed as we sat trying to look nonchalant firmly jammed in the mud bank.
Once the procession had cleared, we managed to get free and resumed the approach.
A slight moment of blind panic as we entered the marina and I realised just how tight it was going to be getting into our berth.
Luckily, and after working the shifters like a gambling addict on a fruit machine, we were somehow in and the reassuring sight of OldGit appeared, securing our lines.
It was our first visit to Conyer, and in fact our first visit to any marina in the new boat and what a hidden gem it is!
Lovely views, a cracking pub and lots of walks along the sea wall.
The approach at low water:
High & dry:
Departure date, and the wind was decidedly gusty.
I'd pretty much decided to get the train back when OldGit kindly offered to get us out of the berth and at least pointing in roughly the right direction (thanks Fred)
Approaching Kings ferry bridge, OldGit on Sarah T in front had gone through with a couple of inches to spare so we knew we'd get under.
But, it still looked a bit tight.
A bit breezy past Queenborough, Sarah T punching the wind in front
Once the speed limits lifted in the Medway, conditions were calm given the wind so we could open her up a bit and get back to the moorings before the water levels dropped too much.
A great weekend away in great company
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