Wanted - Idiot's guide to locking into Bristol Docks

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bluedragon

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Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

We know most of the down-channel harbours and anchorages pretty well now, but never been up the river into Bristol. Last year when sitting in Portishead marina I got a guide that gave all the procedures, but I recall it raised as many questions as answers. What are the essential tips for not making a cock-up of the timing and entry into the Cumberland Basin? Also when we pop out the other side, where to go? It's possible we'll do it this weekend (weather permitting) for the Harbour Festival, so all the town quay pontoons are likely to be gone. I've heard The Cottage mentioned...I guess this is a pub on the RHS just after entering the harbour? What moorings are there? Pontoons? Alongside? Shore access? Who administers / allocates them? Presumably then we dinghy with o/b up into the town? Any info would be much appreciated.
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

Very roughly... call bristol VTS (can't remember what channel) when passing Black Rock telling them your bound for Bristol city docks. Keep close to the pier where the port control tower is (strong currents) then proceed up the Avon. You will see the lock gates to port. Call the lock keeper. When in lock you need really long lines , well for coming out at least. Once through the lock wait in big basin for the swingbridge to open. Go through and tie up outside Cottage pub to stbd. There are showers in the marina. Water taxi takes you to centre of town. Fireworks are great on Sat night.
Just go, it's really easy. We are going Thursday am if you want an escort (weather permitting)
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

You also need to inform VTS CH12 when you enter the river and tell them you are in the river and bound for the City Docks.
As you approach the the Clifton Suspension bridge, call the "Dockmaster" not the floating harbour on Ch14 (?) and inform him of your position ie black rock.
You will need mooring lines of about 15M in the lock.
Aim to arrive no later than 1/2 hour before HW and no earlier than 2.
Mooring are allocated by the harbour master "floating harbour" on ch 74.
Call the office 0117 9031484 for more info, they are very helpful.
www.bristol-city.gov.uk/bristolharbour
Hope to see you there!

Iain
"Misty Spirit"
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

Thanks. I decided to call the Dock Master this morning, as once again I felt the written procedures on their website made it all sound very complicated. He said "just call us when you're coming up river and we'll have the lock ready for you"...I think we can manage that /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. The Harbour Office explained that they would berth us on the wall at Baltic Wharf (The Cottage), but there might be the option to go up into the town on Friday if we wished. So it all seems straight forward. Much easier than all the written stuff (which I suppose covers all eventualities and just complicates things). So the only decision now is when. Tomorrow looks a good weather slot, but do we want to hang around in Bristol for three days before the Festival starts? Might have had enough by Friday!! Wednesday seems very wet, Thursday a.m. looks like we could have quite a bit of wind, and Friday & Sat. are too far out to be sure. Always the problem isn't it /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

Honestly mate, it's a piece of wee.

Aim to be at the end of the Avon river just after Portishead Marina entrance one hour before HW. Call up "Bristol VTS" on Channel 12 to let them know who you are, what you are and what you want to do, i.e. Boat name, whether yacht or MB, and approaching from Portishead or SSC wanting to go into the river. They will let you know of any large vessels likely to come into your path so you can be vigilent.

Then as CSail says, get alongside the wall keeping it close to your port side. The tide can rip past there so as you pass the Royal Portbury lock entrance, aim to go straight to the wall and keep an eye on the echo sounder, so you can steer seaward if things get too shallow. When you get near to the wall, turn sharply into the river and off you go. As you go up the river, you will see white markers on each bank. The pilot says you should aim for these as the deeper water zigzags its way up the river. Personally, I think that if you hold the middle of the river, you'll be fine. We usually are and we draw 1.4m.

Half way up (or maybe a little over halfway) you'll see a couple of boats moored near to a little bridge on the port side. Look beyond the bridge and you'll see some sluice gates. That's Black Rock Sluices and it's here that you can think about letting the Bristol dock boys know that you're on your way on Channel 14. Their call sign is "City Docks Radio". Let them know you're on your way and I'd advise that you tell them that it's your first time. I've always found them to be nice helpful blokes, but I'm sure they'll be especially accommodating if they know you've never visited before. (They call us boaties "Skipper" when addressing us. It makes me feel terribly nautical!)

The lock will be just in front of you five minutes after you've gone under the Clifton Bridge. As you enter the lock at Bristol, the dock staff will be on your starboard side so it is there that you will have prepared your lines as you made your way up the very picturesque gorge. This picture is taken from the lock entrance looking back down stream to give you an idea of the distance from the Clifton Bridge to the lock.

CliftonBridgelookingseaward.jpg


The second picture show the entrance to the lock which is on the port side of the river.

Lockentrancefromriver.jpg


They may dock you in by dropping a line down to you with a "Monkey's Paw" knot at the end to weight it. Quickly tie your line to it and they haul it up and pass through a metal ring which is suspended in a length of chain over the side of the lock wall. They then drop the running end back down to you. They'll do this fore and aft. As the water level rises, you simply take up the slack. If you're boat is high enough on entering the lock, you may be able just to pass the line through the ring yourself. Once you're up and they move the impressive bridge carrying a main "A" road, you enter the Cumberland Basin which is a big, oval waiting area. You can hold onto the wall, put a line around one of the ladders, or just "hover" there freely whilst they open the second swing bridge at the other end of the basin. Once that's open you're into the main harbour.

We usually tie against the low wall near to the pub on the s'board side called the Cottage. They do nice food there and it's quiet at night although I don't know what the noise situation will be on a regatta week. The Harbour Master's office is nearby and easily identified by having "Harbour Master" written in large white letters on the side of the building. There are showers and toilets there too. I paid £8.00 per night for a 9m yacht just to give you an idea of prices.

Going home, it's the same procedure in reverse. I usually check with the HM to find out when I can lock out so that I can get to the sea in time for the return journey to Cardiff. On the morning, I call up City Docks Radio on ch 14 and await instructions. However, we're ready on board with the engine running to slip our lines at the alloted time and as soon as we see the swing bridge move, we're on our way. You hang around in the Cumberland Basin as before and when the large road bridge is swung out of the way, you go into the lock. Be prepared with long lines to pass the running ends through the metal rings on the ends of the chains and take in all of the slack. As the water in the lock drops, you pay out the line, but still holding your boat near to the wall, until you're locked down. Once the lock gate opens, you pull the free end of your line through and put it away - not like me - and motor into the river. Larger MBs may want to pass you but just keep an eye on the echo. Most people are gentlemanly whilst in the river. I normally let the MBs leave the lock before me as my boats slower than everyone elses - a bit like me brain!

As I approach the motorway bridge, it is then that I call up Bristol VTS on ch 12 to let them know I want to come out of the river. They will let you know of any potential hazards. Once you pass under the motorway bridge, keep an eye on the echo and be ready to head starboard to get to the sea wall as you leave the river. This is really important as there is a large sand bank there. The deepest water is on the s'board side of the river as you head out. You will see the Bristol VTS building on the starboard side on the wall with a rotating radar on its roof and you really want to aim to be passing close to him, not on the other side of the river where the sandbank is.

Once you're in the sea proper, and away from the hazards of anything leaving either Avon or Royal Portbury docks, pat yourself on the back for losing your Bristol cherry!!

Enjoy it mate, especially the ride up and down the river, and once you've done it, it's like other things we all enjoy. You just want to keep doing it and hopefully, we'll meet up in the Nova Scotia pub in Bristol one day.

Take care,

Lizzy D
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

Wow...thanks LizzieD. After you've written the Bristol Channel Cock-ups book, what about a "Pilot Guide" for your follow-up /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I think you've got a knack for this...

PS - the only thing I might query is an hour before HW at Avonmouth for river entry. Wouldn't say 2hrs be safer? I guess the trip up the river is an hour and might cut it a bit fine for the last lock-in?
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

Its about 7 miles from Avonmouth to the Bristol Locks.

Enter the river 2 to 3 hours before HW then you can go up at a leisurely pace. At Avonmouth entering the Avon keep right over to port its shallow on the starboard side in the rivermouth.

Once properly in the river its straightforward all the way.You know your nearly there when you pass under the suspension bridge.

If you have to wait for a lock go just past the lock entrance on the port side is a stone wall called "tongue head" theres a ladder on it ,you can moor there waiting for a lock.

In the lock the lock keepers lower chains down with rings in the end for your mooring lines to be threaded through or heaving lines if your a long way down attatch your own lines to these and they will haul them up and thread them through the rings for you..(no pontoons so you need to adjust the lines as the lock fills/empties.)

After locking in you often have to wait in cumberland Basin for the road bridge to be swung.

If you end up moored to the wall at Baltic Wharf you need your fenders almost touching the water.

If you go up on the Regatta weekend you dont really need to use the VHFat all as the locks will be operating anyway.You can call bristol VTS on 12 at the rivermouth to tell them you are bound for Bristol City.Then I think its 14 on low power to speak to the dock master,but on a busy weekend you wont need to.
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

Its easy enough all right. Just remember, however, that in practise the locks will be operated for the convenience of the staff. So if its time for them to go home and you are running late ........................ /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

I'm going to favourite that for future use. Thanks, it's pieces like this that make the forums so useful
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

Well written LizzyD! Been up the river to Bristol a few times and you have it cock on! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Nothing to worry about if you're doing it for the first time as there will probably be another boat going up the river aswell and the Dock Master and his staff are great.
Hope to see you all at the festival weekend! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

Avonmouth to Brunel lock .......about 1 hour /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

[ QUOTE ]
Avonmouth to Brunel lock .......about 1 hour

[/ QUOTE ]

For us it is with our 4 hp motor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I allways try to get the second lock so if we miss it for any reason you can still get the last lock.On the regatta weekends we have noticed the lock keepers try to keep the locks open for stragglers coming up the river,usually us /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

We dont usually try to push back down the river against the flood tide. Its a more relaxing day for us to lock out a few hours before HW then moor on the tongue head and prepare the boat for sea have a leisurely meal then set off down river at HW.By the time we get to Avonmouth the ebb is running strongly to assist us back down the channel.

va2.jpg


MathewAvonGorge.jpg

Mathew Coming up the Avon Gorge
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

I think we should start a thread just for Pilotage information.Lizzy Ds Avon River post could be put in there and others could add different places where they have local knowledge .Any thoughts?
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

[ QUOTE ]
I think we should start a thread just for Pilotage information.Lizzy Ds Avon River post could be put in there and others could add different places where they have local knowledge .Any thoughts?

[/ QUOTE ]

As the originator of this thread, I fully agree. There is a wealth of local knowledge amongst us all and nowhere really to capture it. Pilot guides for the Bristol Channel and even the BCYA Blue Book don't have this kind of useful detail for entering and mooring in our (sometimes difficult) harbours, rivers, and anchorages. The problem with a thread specifically for this is it'll get too long. We could do with a sub-section, but actually just using a well-worded title will probably do the job

Actually I think LizzieD needs a section for themselves! Their "confessional" passage up to Bristol and back had the wife and I rolling around with laughter! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

Just a warning about the quayside at Baltic Wharf/The Cottage - as mentioned you need your fenders very low as the quay is only about 1' high, and is irregular, having various piers and pipes along its length. There are ring bolts at the water level which you may need to thread lines through.

If there is a lot of wash from passing boats the fenders tend to pop up, leaving nice gouges in the gelcoat (qf Snow Petrel!!). Think about hanging a heavy shackle on a couple of fenders.

That said, it's a more pleasant spot than down on the pontoons.
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

Ah, that's useful to know. I've got a metre or so of spare chain. Maybe this shackled as a loop between the bottom of two fenders would be an idea? In fact I can think of one or two other places where fenders pop up due to wash...might be worth trying.
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

On the offchance you haven't got there yet, you might find this pic of the inside of the lock interesting. It was taken last year on the evening the "Jeanie Johnston" arrived for the festival.

bristol.jpg


<edit> should have been in response to bluedragon, but hey ho!
 
Re: Wanted - Idiot\'s guide to locking into Bristol Docks

Not there yet! Think I'll use the train. But when summer arrives, I'll definitely be using all the useful stuff everyone has posted. Many thanks.
 
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