Trailblazing Gravesend this weekend (maybe)

xyachtdave

xyachtdave

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An unlikely weekend destination I know...

...but can anyone recommend where/from who to pick a mooring up and get ashore please? (11m / 2m)

There seems to be no shortage of landings to choose from, some look more official than others, like the PLA or example. Just had a little drive by on the way home from work, there's certainly a lot going on!

Any tips greatfully received.
 
I've not been there myself but the information below came from a member of our club. It sounds expensive to me as I don't think there are any marina type facilities.

There is a really good rise and fall pontoon on the end of the Town Pier at Gravesend .It is new and they are trying to entice yachts to moor there.
It is free for a couple of hours if you just want to stop for a pint but £30.00 overnight which is a bit expensive.
However there is a beautiful new restaurant and bar on the refurbished pier and several good pubs within 50 yards.
I stopped at the Rum Puncheon and had a pint and their food menu is good and inexpensive so what you pay extra on the mooring you can save on the dinner or lunch. Also the Three Dawes is a very old Pub on the river.
Minimum 2.5m stated at MLWS so no problems .You can raft up to or tie to a buoy.
The Princess Pocahontus ferry goes over to Tilbury too from there .
Check out www.LondonRiverMoorings.com which has useful links to the tides and weather.
 
Thanks for the info so far!

I called London River Moorings earlier in the week and was told all they had for visiting yachts were fore and aft at 90 ft spacing. Seemed a bit odd :-)

Re reading the link to the website kindly provided, I think there must be other buoys or the Town Pier alongside berths mentioned.

I think I'll call again tomorrow and try the Embankment marina. Pilot books on the boat so am in your hands with this!

Might check the weather first...
 
Got this from www.visitmyharbour.co.uk which is well worth a visit if you are going somewhere new.....

The PLA maintains some moorings here upstream from the Gravesend Sailing Club. Their launches are often around this area, and they listen out on VHF channel 68. Contact them for advice.

Gravesend Sailing Club has two temporary visitors mooring buoys, both Orange and both marked GSC Visitors, with a weight limit of 5 tonnes. One of these buoys has more water than the other, with one closer to the club being the shallower.

The club can be contacted on 01474 350671

Hope this helps (I claim no knowledge of Gravesend - just got this off the interweb!)
 
The new pontoon on Town Pier is not available yet, should be ready by the end of the month.
The new fore-and-aft buoy moorings are indeed 90' apart and are unforgiving, apparently, being big metal jobbies, not recommended. LRM mentioned below hope to get the PLA (who laid them) to change them for something more yacht-friendly.
You can indeed ask either the Gravesend club, or the PLA, for swinging moorings, info in a good pilot book.
Or there's the Embankment Marina, which is OK, snag being there is only one set of gates so it's only open (on free-flow) around HW.
 
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Thanks Oldgeezer!

You are quite right about £30 a night for a town quay, possibly rafted. Maybe that's just during the Olympics....
 
Cantata said:
.... or the PLA, for swinging moorings, info in a good pilot book.
Click to expand...


I've got the 'good' pilot thanks (on the boat..), first edition mind, shall be picking up a new one on Saturday am :-)

Do the PLA allow use of their pontoon for visitors? Looks like a secure place to leave a tender for an afternoon.
 
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xyachtdave said:
Do the PLA allow use of their pontoon for visitors? Looks like a secure place to leave a tender for an afternoon.
Click to expand...
Wouldn't have thought so (elfen safety I expect) but you can always ask.
Gravesend's not a bad place for an overnight. Some good pubs and eateries. Nice park betweeen the club and the town.
 
Called the Gravesend Sailing Club earlier, a visitor mooring is no problem this time of year, very friendly chap on the phone. Their website has mobile contact numbers/pilotage info etc.

Also spoke to Embankment Marina/Londonrivermoorings (same phone number), again very helpful, when the refurbished pier opens, shore access at all states of tide should be no problem.

Voyage of discovery starts tomorrow lunchtime...
 
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