Richmond to St Kats advice

Gavi

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Work and tides just aren't compatible for the QDJ weekend.

We are looking at staying over on Eel Pie Island on the Monday evening and set off early on the 29th to punch the tide to St Kats. We have done this once before, locking at Richmond as soon as there was enough water for us, and it was 4 hours of hard work (displacement boat). The start of the journey was quite worrying as we draw 4ft. Since then we have used Imperial Wharf as an overnight stop... but they are fully booked.

So I have a simple question (!). High water at Richmond is at 0928 BST. Low water is at 0343 BST. St Kats is locking from 0615 to 0945 BST. Does waiting until there is a bit more water than last time and locking through Richmond at 0530 sound sensible and achievable (in terms of depth) to reach St Kats at just after 0900?
 
What about stopping a Chiswick pier, leave Richmond as the tide goes out then wait at Chsiwick for it to start coming back and do the last bit to St Kats in time for the first lock.
 
Or "Only Lock" :eek:

Fair point for later that week, but there is an evening lock on 29 May... and I have somewhere I can wait by GYC should I miss the morning lock. However, I would prefer to get moored up and go to work.
 
I'm leaving Richmond at 9-9:30 on the Friday morning, and reckon 3-3.5 hours to get to St Kats, with 40 minutes spare.

7 knots cruise...3 foot draft.
 
Teds to Kats......Events dear boy events.

From past experience the time taken can vary due the day and time of your travel.
Last year our journey took at least an hour longer due to the need to go dead slow past assorted canoes and the normal gangs of rowers out and about on particular days,most especially at weekends and bank holidays..........and when those unfortunately all occur on the same day !
 
From past experience the time taken can vary due the day and time of your travel.
Last year our journey took at least an hour longer due to the need to go dead slow past assorted canoes and the normal gangs of rowers out and about on particular days,most especially at weekends and bank holidays..........and when those unfortunately all occur on the same day !

Useful to know. I have somewhere we can hold up as a contingency and then get the evening lock, so think I will go with my timings and see what happens. I am in Richmond on Saturday (come on Leinster!) so might pop by the lock for a quick chat...

My thanks for all the responses, which have been helpful.
 
It's probably been said many times before but wouldn't it be nice if there was a fixed barrier and lock at Woolwich.

ooh and a tidal turbine to generate power.

Praps not - the River would get smelly from all the boats pumping out into the stream plus the regular sewage leaks from Thames Water.....
 
Yay! All sorted... Imperial Wharf can take us overnight on the Monday. That means comfy journeys and two days of "working from the boat".
 
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