Practical help and advices sought for trip from Kent through London

[Reptile Smile]

Hi all,

I've done this trip once before from the North, and the trip from the South will be easier, I imagine, but I need to move a 24' boat from Faversham to Teddington, and any advice would be gratefully received.

Last time, I went from Southend to Gravesend, where the PLA chaps were magnificent in helping me dismast, albeit in a very informal way - they said, "shout when you're ready for us", I loosened all the bottle screws, and they manhandled it down.

Can anyone suggest anywhere I might get this done en route, or even be prepared to assist for payment or a bottle of whisky or both? I vaguely remember the marinas - Galleons' Point, was it? - were essentially dismissive of the idea.

Am I likely to get from Faversham to Gravesend in one tide (30 miles)? Or do I need to break that leg?

Then last time, I did Gravesend to Erith, then Erith to Teddington. Any improvement on this idea would be gratefully received, but I suppose it's particularly the dismast I part of it I'm keen to resolve.

Aiming to be doing this trip on 28th March, for what that's worth...

Cheers

 

[oldgit]

My first though is that you cannot get out of Faversham until a couple of hours before high water and assuming your yacht is only going to acheive 5 knots or so it will be difficult to get to Elmley before the tide turns against you. As you know ,after that,the ebbing tide out of the Western Swale will help you out to the Swatch but you could then be be punching the last of the ebb up Sea Reach.
Supsect that by the time you are off Southend the tide will be flooding again to assist you up Sea Reach.
A really early tide and a long day with plenty of daylight .?
Or perhaps out previous evening,over night at Queenborough and up bright and breezy for relaxed leisurely sail up to Gravesend on first of the flood.

 

[Reptile Smile]

Thanks OldGit - I didn't say, but should have - that the boat is a fin keeler, and is always in water in the Swatch (not actually in Faversham, just in the area - sorry to mislead). My plan was to head East a couple of hours before LW to then crack on up on the flood once clear of Sheppey, if that makes sense..?

But Queensborough to Gravesend could well be the winning plan. Visit My Harbour suggests that Queensborough is well equipped for visiting yachts - a floating pontoon? Is that right? Don't need to get off the boat, just need to get out of the tide! And - given my last experience of anchoring off Southend pier in a South Westerley (don't ask), I'm keen to sieze good moorings where available if I can't do it in one, rather than try and crack on as far as possible and get stuck somewhere horrible like Mucking Flats or something.

So - Plan A could look something like:
Eastern Swatch to Queensborough
Queensborough to Gravesend
Gravesend to Erith
Erith to Teddington

Plan B would be about just getting to anywhere that anyone suggests if they would be able to help me dismast!

 

[Flynnbarr]

Not many raggies on here!You may get more info over on the East Coast Forum,but up that way you have Gravesend,Erith/Thurrock yacht clubs,a call to them might get you some help.
Good luck.

 

[tony_lavelle]

Assuming East Swatch means East Swale, near but not in Faversham, a better plan might be to head east out of the Swale at about half ebb. Push the last off the ebb (fairly weak here) north of Sheppey from Columbine past Spile to Mid Swatch, then take the full flood up to London. With a yacht you need to avoid Kingsferry Bridge as it currently has major operating problems. Don't take a short cut over Columbine Spit on a falling tide so watch your echo sounder.

If you need to stop halfway up the Thames, Erith Yacht Club usually has some spare buoys but you should phone to ask. Not always easy to get ashore though. Also Greenwich YC is helpful but lots of wash from passing vessels.

Another tip: treat yourself to a copy of East Coast Pilot.

 

[oldgit]

Another tip: treat yourself to a copy of East Coast Pilot.

 

[No Regrets]

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