swatchways
Well-Known Member
Anybody know how much time we would have either side of high water for landing a dinghy at pin mill tomorrow morning? Inflatable so nothing monstrously deep? Thanks!
Pin mill landing times
- Thread starter swatchways
- Start date
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
Ah, that reminds me of a pleasant evening in the Butt and Oyster. We had company on board and were planning to eat on board. But having arrived early and picked up a visitor's mooring, we rowed ashore in the dinghy. Tide was well out but using the stream that flows down the side of the hard, we were able to land dry footed. We tied up the dinghy to something down the bottom of the hard and walked to the pub where we sat in the sun eating an ice cream. By which time the pub was open and we went inside for a pint. Another and another. This was the time when the Butt was independently owned and the menu was very appetising. So we decided instead of the lasagne on-board we would have king prawns and things. So we ordered. T'was busy but we were in no rush and more beer was consumed. Some time later we ate and decided to stay. They in came Paddy and the Professor, you know the one, he had earrings in his nipples. They had been trying to cross the North Sea to somewhere having left Heybridge around the same time as us in the Professor's distinctly dodgy Atlanta (cold moulded Uffa Fox related thingy, related to those lifeboats they could drop out of aircraft during the war). Anyway, they had lost their rudder and had come into the Orwell steering with a long sweep (from which you may hazard an opinion of the Professor's engine).
Anyway in came Paddy and the Professor and we greeted them with a question of how far up the hard twas the tide. 'Oh, right at the top', said Paddy. damn says I thinking I would have to paddle for the dinghy. 'Oh' says Paddy, I've left something in our dinghy, I must go back. I'll bring your dinghy up to the top of the hard. that's nice say we and before he leaves, Paddy orders a pint and some food.
Time passed and Paddy's food came and the Professor needing a second pint, drank Paddy's. When the first bell rang, we wondered what had happened to Paddy. Best we go and have a look. So leaving the Professor, we all leave the pub to find the tide nowhere near the top of the tide. We wander down the hard looking for Paddy. A few yards from the water's edge we find Paddy walking up the stream with 8 to 10 dinghy painters pulled over his shoulder and the dinghies rather dubiously following.
'Paddy' say we. What are you doing? He said 'I couldn't be sure which one was your dinghy so I decided to bring all of these. Which one is yours'. I surveyed the dinghies in the dark and pronounced 'None of them' (for those of your following these tales, this was the same dinghy as the one I pushed up Colliers Reach in the Blackwater). 'So where is yours' said Paddy. I looked around and floating right at the water's edge, serene and peaceful is our dinghy. That's it, quoth I.
WHAT? said Paddy. How did it get there? don't know says I 'but there are a lot of people moving dinghies around this hard'. Think I got an old fashioned look at this stage but wasn't sure as it was pretty dark. Oh well said Paddy. I better get back to my food and drink. Doubt it said us, Pub's shut! Next comment should not be repeated on a public forum!!**!!
So we rowed back to TG.
So the answer to your question is hours and hours provided you don't mind a little paddle.
Anyway in came Paddy and the Professor and we greeted them with a question of how far up the hard twas the tide. 'Oh, right at the top', said Paddy. damn says I thinking I would have to paddle for the dinghy. 'Oh' says Paddy, I've left something in our dinghy, I must go back. I'll bring your dinghy up to the top of the hard. that's nice say we and before he leaves, Paddy orders a pint and some food.
Time passed and Paddy's food came and the Professor needing a second pint, drank Paddy's. When the first bell rang, we wondered what had happened to Paddy. Best we go and have a look. So leaving the Professor, we all leave the pub to find the tide nowhere near the top of the tide. We wander down the hard looking for Paddy. A few yards from the water's edge we find Paddy walking up the stream with 8 to 10 dinghy painters pulled over his shoulder and the dinghies rather dubiously following.
'Paddy' say we. What are you doing? He said 'I couldn't be sure which one was your dinghy so I decided to bring all of these. Which one is yours'. I surveyed the dinghies in the dark and pronounced 'None of them' (for those of your following these tales, this was the same dinghy as the one I pushed up Colliers Reach in the Blackwater). 'So where is yours' said Paddy. I looked around and floating right at the water's edge, serene and peaceful is our dinghy. That's it, quoth I.
WHAT? said Paddy. How did it get there? don't know says I 'but there are a lot of people moving dinghies around this hard'. Think I got an old fashioned look at this stage but wasn't sure as it was pretty dark. Oh well said Paddy. I better get back to my food and drink. Doubt it said us, Pub's shut! Next comment should not be repeated on a public forum!!**!!
So we rowed back to TG.
So the answer to your question is hours and hours provided you don't mind a little paddle.
Cantata
Well-Known Member
Blimey, remind me not to ask you a simple question! 
swatchways
Well-Known Member
Except I remember a time when I didn't quite think we had enough to make it in even using the gulley so I just wondered!
Tiller girl that's a funny story!
made me chuckle!
Tiller girl that's a funny story!
made me chuckle!tillergirl
Well-Known Member
It was a long time ago but I think the gully is still as it was. I'm sure a local will confirm it's still ok. Couldn't resist telling the story. Poor old Paddy, wonder where he is now. Wonder what those people thought who had left their dinghies at the bottom of the hard deliberately so they would be right for them only to find they were half way up the hard!
Leighb
Well-Known Member
Gully (Grindle) is still good to use, probably better as Gus dredges the lower part. PMSC have an annual "Grindle Dig" on Good Friday to keep the upper section clear. So the whole length of the hard and the edging of the Grindle we're rebuilt a couple of years ago. You can get ashore at most states of tide and drag the dinghy up the Grindle.
Sniper
Well-Known Member
I would imagine that you should be able to land at any state of the tide tomorrow. There might be an hour over deadlow water which is a bit sticky, but otherwise should be fine.
Tomahawk
Well-Known Member
.
Tis simple..
However many hours you arrive before HW is half your drinking time...
Tis simple..
However many hours you arrive before HW is half your drinking time...
swatchways
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the responses! Currently trying to sleep but listening to the noises and feeling the bumps of halfpenny pier - don't think we'll be spending the night here again....!
Bru
Well-Known Member
Weird, we had two peaceful nights there back in May and thought it somewhere we'd definitely return to
swatchways
Well-Known Member
Inside or outside? We're outside and I cannot seem to settle her at all, just snubbing, bumping, banging! Ouf, shattered!
Shame really as I like the people, place and showers!
Shame really as I like the people, place and showers!
Tomahawk
Well-Known Member
Never go on the outside for that very good reason...
swatchways
Well-Known Member
Yep - that lesson is learned!
Tomahawk
Well-Known Member
It must have been bumpy to wake you at this goodly hour...
We are off to Ramsgit today....
We are off to Ramsgit today....
swatchways
Well-Known Member
Been awake for some time - O/H came to in a grump at about half two and been drifting and checking fenders etc ever since! Shall be good for nothing today. Enjoy ramsgate, have a good sail!
ETA I'm not the only one up and about tweaking stuff, which makes me feel vaguely better! Just the noise......
ETA I'm not the only one up and about tweaking stuff, which makes me feel vaguely better! Just the noise......
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sailorman
Well-Known Member
long nylon lines, big fenders & berth on the inside
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
If it makes you feel better, my neighbour's alarm went off (they are away) at 4am this morning. By the time I got my jeans on, found the key and torch and made it to the front door, it stopped! Then the cat thought it would annoy me.......
Bru
Well-Known Member
Oh on the inside, only place to be. I'd already decided before we got there that if we couldn't get inside we were heading over the river to Shotley!
Athene V30
Well-Known Member
Was on the inside on Thursday night and it was horrible. Boat didn't stop moving, the barge on the outside had an engine or generator running it seemed all night. Not on my list of places to rush back to. Only went there to meet up with some other RNSA boats.
As for Pin Mill. Within 2.5 to 3 hours of HW you can get ashore on the pontoon slightly upstream of the slipway and Grindle.
I have launched the dinghy at LW Springs. It was ok as could slide down the mud slope at the end of the slipway. Wouldn't want to go ashore thought! Avoid an hour either side of LW and you should be OK.
As for Pin Mill. Within 2.5 to 3 hours of HW you can get ashore on the pontoon slightly upstream of the slipway and Grindle.
I have launched the dinghy at LW Springs. It was ok as could slide down the mud slope at the end of the slipway. Wouldn't want to go ashore thought! Avoid an hour either side of LW and you should be OK.
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swatchways
Well-Known Member
Yep, Thursday night was shaping up to be a bit rubbish - we legged it back into walton that night tbh!
Hmm, with regards pin mill we had to leg it at 1.30 when we noticed the pontoon was high and dry and the dinghy was underneath it... That's only 2 hours after hw that day - had to mud skip the dinghy a bit, too! :S think will be using the hard/gulley again next time!
Hmm, with regards pin mill we had to leg it at 1.30 when we noticed the pontoon was high and dry and the dinghy was underneath it... That's only 2 hours after hw that day - had to mud skip the dinghy a bit, too! :S think will be using the hard/gulley again next time!
