River Severn questions

Ru88ell

Ru88ell

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I'm kicking around an idea for a challenge next year. In August I was diagnosed with coronary heart disease, and I thought it was the end of my World - or at least an end to my sailing and cycling. Having received fabulous treatment I'm actually in better health now than I was before diagnosis.

I want to do something to a) celebrate the fact that I can still cycle and sail, b) make a video to show to newly diagnosed patients that their lives can be improved instead of restricted, and c) raise some cash for the Action Heart charity who have supported me.

I live in Stourbridge, West Mids, and I plan to take my little boat along the canals from here to the River Severn at Stourport, then down to the Bristol Channel and sail to the Scillies. From here I plan to sail to Falmouth, from where I'll cycle back to Stourbridge. I plan to do this single handed and un-supported.

My questions relate to the Severn. How much of it is sailable downstream? How far inland does the tide flow? What are the bridge heights? Anything else I should be factoring in at this stage?

Thanks in advance.
 
You'll probably pop out of the canals at Sharpness, River still still tidal but no real problem getting down from there, leave at HW and you can easily make Cardiff or carry on if you prefer.
 
Ru88ell said:
Don't worry, I've found this...

http://www.gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk/
Click to expand...

Did that answer your question? I didn't know the answer but was interested so I followed your link. Couldn't find the info.

I've no idea what goes on upstream of Gloucester, but downstream I think you would be best advised to use the Sharpness - Gloucester Canal. It sounds like a super trip. Full marks to you!
 
It gives me a lot of answers to questions I hadn't even thought of yet, and a list of contacts for anything else, so 'sort of' is the best answer.

Come and say hello when I get to Portishead. It looks like a sensible place for an overnight.
 
I'd be glad to say hello if you drop in to Portishead. Let us know when it's happening.

Portishead is probably a good stopping off point for you. Just remember that you will be leaving Sharpness at high water and you need to get a move on to catch the last lock-in at Portishead, because HW Portishead is 40 minutes before HW Sharpness. It's not impossible, not even difficult, just don't hang around.
 
If you need any info on the Severn above Gloucester to Stourport or even the Sharpness canal, just ask
 
Ru88ell said:
I'm kicking around an idea for a challenge next year. In August I was diagnosed with coronary heart disease, and I thought it was the end of my World - or at least an end to my sailing and cycling. Having received fabulous treatment I'm actually in better health now than I was before diagnosis.

I want to do something to a) celebrate the fact that I can still cycle and sail, b) make a video to show to newly diagnosed patients that their lives can be improved instead of restricted, and c) raise some cash for the Action Heart charity who have supported me.

I live in Stourbridge, West Mids, and I plan to take my little boat along the canals from here to the River Severn at Stourport, then down to the Bristol Channel and sail to the Scillies. From here I plan to sail to Falmouth, from where I'll cycle back to Stourbridge. I plan to do this single handed and un-supported.

My questions relate to the Severn. How much of it is sailable downstream? How far inland does the tide flow? What are the bridge heights? Anything else I should be factoring in at this stage?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Can't offer you advice on the Severn above Avonmouth, as I've not sailed that far up, but think what you are doing is amazing. If you come to Cardiff Bay let the forum know, there will be plenty to welcome you.

Think the tidal streams above the bridges are very strong and much of the estuary dries so be very prepared in the higher reaches of the Bristol Channel/ mouth of the Severn.

Best of luck! :)
 
Thanks for the feedback, all of you.

I've discovered my first issue - the beam of Zephyr is 2.2m and the locks between Stourbridge and Stourport are only 2.1m. D'oh! I'm now thinking of walking, running or kayaking that stretch instead, which, to be fair, will be faster. I can probably join Zephyr at Stourport Yacht Club and lock out into the Severn there.

Perhaps Ash12 can help with this one...... Will I be able to get down from Stourport with my mast raised? I need 8m. I can't find any website with bridge heights for some reason. There are tall ships in Gloucester docks, so I guess the canal to Sharpness will have clearance or swing bridges.

From Sharpness I fancy the South Wales route - for no other reason that I always took family holidays in Tenby and would like to go there for old time's sake before heading over to Lundy. If Sharpness - Portishead is tight for time, how would Sharpness to Cardiff be?

I've not agreed a date for this yet, but will aim for next summer. Should I be avoiding Springs?

Cheers
 
I've done Lydney to Cardiff loads of times so Sharpness should be fine. Between the bridges is very "interesting"! I would go for a good spring tide to get the best push down, it would also help get you west from Cardiff. If you need somewhere to moor in Cardiff, you will very welcome at CYC. Keep us up to date with your plans and maybe some of us could accompany you part of the way.
Allan
 
Allan said:
I've done Lydney to Cardiff loads of times so Sharpness should be fine. Between the bridges is very "interesting"! I would go for a good spring tide to get the best push down, it would also help get you west from Cardiff. If you need somewhere to moor in Cardiff, you will very welcome at CYC. Keep us up to date with your plans and maybe some of us could accompany you part of the way.
Allan
Click to expand...

Thanks Allan. Cardiff is going to be a must, so I look forward to it.
 
Most of the bridges on the Gloucester-Sharpness canal are so low they have to be swung to let a kayak through, so the system is geared for opening whenever needed. There are a couple of new road bridges near Gloucester which are higher and therefore mobos and narrow boats can pass under. Anything with a mast needs the bridge opening so that has to be organised for a specific time.

Agreed Sharpness to Cardiff doesn't have the timing constraints of Portishead because Cardiff is more or less all-tide access. A spring tide will whip you down the upper part of the BC more quickly but will make the wind-against-tide just a bit more severe between the bridges and in the Shoots (assuming a SW wind). Keep towards the cardinal mark rather than the port hand mark as you come through the Shoots for the least turbulent conditions.
 
Ru88ell said:
There are tall ships in Gloucester docks, so I guess the canal to Sharpness will have clearance or swing bridges.

From Sharpness I fancy the South Wales route - for no other reason that I always took family holidays in Tenby and would like to go there for old time's sake before heading over to Lundy. If Sharpness - Portishead is tight for time, how would Sharpness to Cardiff be?

I've not agreed a date for this yet, but will aim for next summer. Should I be avoiding Springs?

Cheers
Click to expand...

No problems with the ship canal between gloucester docks and sharpness. From sharpness you shouldl be fine for Portishead - you'll get flushed down with the tide like a rat up a drainpipe and of course Cardiff is all tide so that should not be an issue either if you get delayed on your way to Portishead. No reason to avoid spring tides but in a small boat I would avoid spring tides and a strong westerly - the waves under the old bridge become square!

If you want to take it easy you could call into Thornbury SC at Oldbury pill or Chepstow and District Yacht club . Dont know what Thornbury's facilities for a fin keeler are but CDYC can take fins either in soft mud on one of the moorings at the entrance of tied to the pontoon with a mast head rope to the shore.
 
Fins sink quite happily into the mud at Thornbury and access +-2hrs either side of HT as a rule. And of course the excellent Anchor pub at the end of the drive.
 
Ru88ell said:
Thanks for the feedback, all of you.

I've discovered my first issue - the beam of Zephyr is 2.2m and the locks between Stourbridge and Stourport are only 2.1m. D'oh! I'm now thinking of walking, running or kayaking that stretch instead, which, to be fair, will be faster. I can probably join Zephyr at Stourport Yacht Club and lock out into the Severn there.

Perhaps Ash12 can help with this one...... Will I be able to get down from Stourport with my mast raised? I need 8m. I can't find any website with bridge heights for some reason. There are tall ships in Gloucester docks, so I guess the canal to Sharpness will have clearance or swing bridges.

From Sharpness I fancy the South Wales route - for no other reason that I always took family holidays in Tenby and would like to go there for old time's sake before heading over to Lundy. If Sharpness - Portishead is tight for time, how would Sharpness to Cardiff be?

I've not agreed a date for this yet, but will aim for next summer. Should I be avoiding Springs?

Cheers
Click to expand...
Yes the Stourport canal has canal locks and plus theres only a depth of probably around a foot. From stourport down with your mast up, no way, there are a few low fixed bridges that a large 50ft mobo can pass under but not an 8metre mast. The ship canal is geared for swinging the bridges as has been mentioned.
There is a mile or two long stretch of water just above Gloucester called the partings, which can be quite tidal at times and could possibly mean the difference between getting under the road bridges and getting stuck in a bad place. I advise that you either research this stretch or contact Gloucester lock office for info.
 
We sailed a couple of Wayfarers Stourpourt to Gloucester this summer, moored at Worcester overnight. We had to drop our masts for every bridge (with I think the only exception being the M50 Motorway Bridge), were wary about wires, but only felt inclined to drop the mast once for low overheads. All the locks were manned and therefore easy. This stretch is certainly feasible, Sharpness canal OK (but I think you will not be allowed to sail). There are lots of folk at Lydney Yacht club that can tell you about downstream of Sharpness.

Big spring tides will top the weirs at Gloucester and may hold you up in the river, but are probably a help if you're aiming to get down to Cardiff.

good luck
 
I live in Stourbridge and have been up and down the Severn two or three times to lay up.
You will need to arrange a mast lowering system for the Severn Bridges to Gloucester and then use the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal. PM me if you wish to arrange a chat.
 
Kurrawong_Kid said:
I live in Stourbridge and have been up and down the Severn two or three times to lay up.
You will need to arrange a mast lowering system for the Severn Bridges to Gloucester and then use the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal. PM me if you wish to arrange a chat.
Click to expand...

I can easily travel downstream with the mast lowered and raise at Gloucester. I might do a Dylan and carry a short mast with a topper sail if the wind is looking like it might be useful.
 
From Sharpness I fancy the South Wales route - for no other reason that I always took family holidays in Tenby and would like to go there for old time's sake before heading over to Lundy. If Sharpness - Portishead is tight for time, how would Sharpness to Cardiff be?

The English coast is much nicer than the stretch from Cardiff to Swansea (and easier)
 
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