Visiting the Thames.... Advice needed.

Alpha22

Alpha22

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I'm contemplating bringing my boat from the Gt Ouse round to the Thames. I would be comming round the Norfolk/Suffolk coast and I am happy as far as Harwich...... I have Day Kipper and have been coastal around the Wash and Norfolk coasts for the past 7 years.

The boat is a Freeman 32 - econo cruise at 9 knots. Cruise at 14 knots. Max 16 knots.

I have two options.....

1. Across the estuary and round to Ramsgate for a shot at Calais. What is the best way to go about this.... what route across the estuary?

2. Harwich to Teddington and then up the non tidal. .... What route? Where to stay without breaking the bank.

What thinks ye????
 
Personally....Unless you are dead keen to go across the channel alone , theres not much to do in Calais for any length of time,nor anywhere close that is much different.
Trundle up the Thames, so much more to see and do to occupy you and the family.
The trip up through the city is worth every lump and bump.
Not sure of your boating experience but a trip across to France is probably best done in company in the first instance. ?
The Thames locals will tell you more but pick your spots and you get free 24 hour stays at some delightful moorings.
 
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Oldgit is completely correct Londons your best bet. Leave Harwich on the flood tide head out to the medusa buoy then along the Essex coast with the wind farm on the left, take care for lobster pots close to shore here!. At the end of the wind farm turn to port across the swin spitway and head for queenborough for an over night stay, you can now use the pontoon overnight and walk to the pub for a nice meal.
Use the flood tide the next day to take you up the Thames to London. It's around 60 miles to teddington, cruising at 9knots should get you to Richmond for the barrier opening in about 5.5 hours with the help of the tide. The cost of the river licence is well worth it as you don't necessarily have to pay for any over night stays
 
Thats exactly the local knowledge I was looking for.... looks just ideal. I see Queenborough don't do reservations.... is there any chance they will be full? If so, whats the other options?
 
Best option is what I have done for years, Be it from from the North/South UK, Holland, Belgium or France. Head for the Medway. Just inside turn left and head into the islands then anchor for the the night. From there, leave on the last of the Meday ebb and the Thames flood tide and it will take you all the way to Teddingtonn.
 
You should get somewhere in Queenborough without a problem,either the visitor trot bouys,the concrete lighter or as a last resort the ATL.
If all else fails there is some commercial stuff in the harbour that you could go alongside overnight and be away before anyone gets bothered.
A bit further up towards Stangate you nearly always have the odd massive mud barge or two,which could provide a decent nights kip without worrying about your anchor letting go at 2AM.
There are two commercial bouys (now rarely occupied) just inside the mouth of Stangate on starboard side which could also be pressed into service.
The PLA do a really neat laminated map/chart available FOC which gives you just about everything you need to negociate the tidal Thames especially your first transit of the barrier.
https://www.boatingonthethames.co.uk/Join-the-Tidal-Thames-Navigators-Club
It is not unknown for some to use this as their only chart for doing the trip. :eek:
 
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We are a small mobo (draught 2'6'') and always shorten the journey you are considering by going via Havengore bridge and the Maplin sands, bearing in mind restricted opening times.
If you pick your tide and timing right I don't think you will have a problem with draught and it is a interesting trip.
We have used Holehaven as an o/night anchorage (actually pick up buoy) when wanting to get tides right (when going to Gravesend) and that was good as well; but for a relatively quick boat like yours Queenborough works well.
Good luck.
 
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