Thames Estaury approach

[DutchDan]

Hello,

Where can I find a good discription how to approach the Thames Estuary. Which buoys to take, waypoints etc.

Dan

 

[DutchDan]

ps I've ordered the latest Imray set, but it has not yet arrived

 

[byron]

Your charts will contain all the information your require (when they arrive).
It really is very simple. Use the main channel going up the Thames keeping well over to the Port side so as to be out of the way of any ship movements. I actually stay completely out of the channel leaving Port hand bouys slightly to Starboard. I know how nerve wracking it is for the Master of a vessel to see a yacht ahead especially one under sail. Listen to your radio and listen for sound signals given by vessels.

 

[chuckaduck]

And dont forget to contact London vts to let them know

 

[ms1]

i suggest you follow the buoys up the port side of the Thames estuary (along the North Kent coast) as suggested by Byron then cross over to the starboard side when you reach 'The Muckings' (see on your chart).

London VTS (channel 14) dont really want to hear from you until you have the Thames barrier in sight. Its routine - you ask for permission to pass though inbound and they tell you which span to use (there are green signs also to tell you which span is in use)

your bolt hole in case of trouble is Queenborough (river Medway) where you can take a buoy or use a big concrete mooring barge they have there.
River Medway has its own VTS control. (channel 74)
make sure you know where the Montgomery wreck is and take it into account in your plans (its pretty much at the mouth of the Medway.

This estuary area is very historic in British Naval history (called 'The Nore') - it is where British Naval Ships came for supplies from Sheerness before returning to the Channel to blockade French ports in early 19th century.

see also
http://www.iossc.org.uk/weather/index.php?n=5

 

[oldgit]

Re: Thames Estuary approach

Hi Dan,assume you will out of Dover or Ramsgate.Your Targa will be fast enough to stay out of the way of any of the big RoRo stuff that will come up this stretch of the Thames but for those of us who are a lot slower we follow a handy line of bouys on the south side of the river from Sheerness to the top of Sea Reach before crossing over to the northside around Mucking.Plenty of water for small stuff like you and me but the big ships have to stay in the middle.

Just follow these all the way up.......

The entrance to St Kathrines Yacht Haven.

Ps.Those bouys in my photos are not in the correct order,but you will see all of them somewhere on your journey up.