Transiting London Teddington to Ramsgate

thejonesey

thejonesey

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I am just putting together my passage plan for a trip around to the south coast and, having never transited the Thames, wanted to check that I am on the right track.
24th July Leave teddington 0530 to go though Richmond at 0600
Punch the tide for an hour and continue through London time taken 2 1/2 hours approx. (to 0830)
Head for Ramsgate probably via Princes Channel rather than inner route. Round North Foreland 1200 (two hours before high water Dover) and arrive in Ramsgate 1300. Timings based on a cruising speed of 20 knots where allowed. I appreciate weather etc will change things but am interested to know if I have got the rough timings correct.

Thanks
 
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I've been doing a bit of work on this as we're planning to head to Chatham sometime around the 24th.

Couple of thoughts.....

Have you got your transit ID from the PLA. You need one to go through the security around the Olympic stretch of the river. If you don't have it expect to be stopped and delayed. Possibly even turned back although I'm not 100% clear on that point.

High water Hammersmith is HW London Bridge plus about 45 mins IIRC. HW Hammersmith should be about 06:50 BST. I estimate you'll arrive Hammersmith around HW give or take a bit. What air draft are you as it's the only bridge you need to worry about. 24 July is spring tides so expect about 3.7 metres clearance.

Would appreciate someone else's thoughts on this so I know my calculations are about right.

By choice I'd probably opt for the Princes Channel route. If it happens we go on 24th I will PM you and see if you fancy a bit of company for part of the way. We cruise at 20 knots too.
 
Don't forget the speed limit from Wandsworth bridge to way past the barrier is only 12 knots now so will increase the transit time on the Thames. Just something else to add to your list of
calculations. Check the new by-laws to see how far the speed restrictions go.
 
Yes, watching out for Hammersmith clearance is the key bridge issue - there are measuring posts up stream and downstream that you can check on your approach.

As far as I know, most boaters tend to use the inner passage - I did last year and will probably do so again this year. As well as being shorter, it's also means avoiding much of the bigger shipping that way (I think). But you need updated charts for this, as the Hook Spit and East Last buoys have been moved and renamed as the formerly buoyed channel is no longer viable at low water, so Trinity House have moved the channel south of the sand banks as of February this year. Check the East Coast Pilot web site and Notices to Mariners for details. I have been advised by other more experienced chaps to not use the inshore route at LW Springs, however. If this timing is your only/best choice, then Princes Channel is probably best after all.

A transit ID is not mandatory, but recommended and should help reduce the chances of being stopped en route. You also have to be able to show/prove that you have a pre-booked mooring the other side of the London Olympic zone. Which if you are heading for Ramsgate will be difficult, because as far as I know Ramsgate do not take bookings! Chatham would be good when heading downstream though as a stoppover, and with all tides access makes planning easier.

Last point, after Ramsgate DO watch out for lobster pots in various clusters round to The Solent - as per the MBM 'spot the pot' campaign, it's a real danger.

My see you out there... :)

Hope these comments help. Have fun guys!
 
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Air height

Hi Wavey
Sounds like we might be able to do some of this together. I may have to leave later to get under Hammersmith -will be doing the sums etc tonight as we are 3.8m.

Paul, I will plan both routes as you did last year. I have new Imray charts so am happy for you to come over and have a look/update your charts.

Cheers
Rob
 
Princes channel

Hope you enjoy the trip. Just a suggestion from someone who frequently drives very large vessels up and down the Princes channel - stay to the south and buoy hop just outside the red buoys. There is plenty of water for you.
 
Before you go keep an eye on the wind ( perhaps big spring and strong NE ) and when you go just mind where you are going.Just spot and follow thr bouys
Bit tiresome if you are bumping about for hours,when having the time to delay the journey and going under different wind/tide conditions can dramatically enhance your enjoyment of the trip .
 
thames cruiser said:
As far as I know, most boaters tend to use the inner passage - I did last year and will probably do so again this year. As well as being shorter, it's also means avoiding much of the bigger shipping that way (I think). But you need updated charts for this, as the Hook Spit and East Last buoys have been moved and renamed as the formerly buoyed channel is no longer viable at low water, so Trinity House have moved the channel south of the sand banks as of February this year. Check the East Coast Pilot web site and Notices to Mariners for details.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up on this. Checked my Admiralty small craft charts which are dated Feb 2012 and bought less than a month ago and this change is not shown. Ramsgate currently isn't part of the plan but if the weather is good :D could be tempted.
 
alanch said:
Hope you enjoy the trip. Just a suggestion from someone who frequently drives very large vessels up and down the Princes channel - stay to the south and buoy hop just outside the red buoys. There is plenty of water for you.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Still planning to use the inshore route if possible, but I presume the Queens Channel is equally viable if we need to swing further round?...
 
Many thanks for the advice so far. Will probably take the inner route unless it is very bumpy. Will discuss with Thames Criuser on Wed over a drink. I have just tried to email Ramsgate and am hopeful that they can provide berth confirmation as I have put this on my ID request!

Now planing to leave at 0630 so I reach Hammersmith at 0830 and there is a bit more water to get under!!

Tower Bridge at 1030 approx and the the barrier by 1200. This should see me out to North Foreland by 1400, an hour before the tide turns. (all subject to weather etc of course)
 
We used to keep our boat @ Brentford and used to head down the river every now and then.

You probably know this but past the QE2 bridge it really is a miserable bit of water with factories etc. It can also be quite deceptive seeing the corners as the river gets wider which seems silly until you are doing it. How difficult can following a river be!

There are some buoys we used to pick up which I think were just above the barrier ( but I cant really remember) which gave a break for lunch or breakfast in your case.

I dont know how big your boat is, but do bear in mind that the thames estuary looks sheltered, but everytime I went to Ramsgate it always seemed rougher than it should be!

Finally there used to be a plethora ( big word for this time of the evening) of wheels with tyres on (ie nice hard metal bits) floating about which would not be so nice to hit.

Ramsgate has nice clear water. The speed restriction from Wandsworth will be a pain. My Brentford to Chiswick record was under 4 hours but we could do 38 kts and diesel was cheaper!

Enjoy
 
I would always use the inner route, I kept my boat at Chatham for ten years. I have always taken the inner route and there is always plenty of water. It is a shorter route and you wll not have to worry about much larger vessels bearing down on you!
Good luck
Barry
 
Many thanks

Thanks for the advice Medskipper. I have now got the crew together -a couple of mates who also happen to be an ex-delivery skipper and a former boat builder... Clever eh!!

I have really enjoyed the process so far and have my fingers crossed for good (not windy) weather.
 
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