Weekend

Hear what you say, but hazards of a strong stream are different than those of a spring tide off a headland or harbour. I've seen really nasty accidents at wiers, including fatalaties at Penton Hook. OK that was a rowing 8, with only 8 manpower.

I have 260hp with 40knot capability, but not happy going up river on a strong stream. Loads of HP or not going downstream can be hairy.

Anyway gonna try and push onto Brighton, now.
 
there was a fair flow this morning at PH, but nothing that would worry me in a capable vessel whatever colour boards are showing (haven't seen the lock gates). We have had some very heavy but not prolonged rain; should be fast concentration, fast run off, and the stream was very slow at the weekend, so unless we have steady heavy rain over the w/e i would hope that it calms down pretty quickly.
 
Geoff, it seems to be worse further down the river at the moment where the rain is more concentrated, I think by the time you get here it will have subsided. As you go up towards byrons it should just get better and better, no reds up here at the moment.
 
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400+ hp will punch the steam.


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Just for a laugh....

We took Shamby out last year when the Thames was going like a good 'un, and actually looked quite scary!

However, once out of the Marina, it was fine, and we played about near the Weirs just to see how much reserve we had, and frankly, it had little effect on the boat (160bhp on sterndrive) i still kept well away from hard objects to be on the safe side though, but learnt some good boat handling techniques in the process.

Getting back to the Marina, I looked at my old Shetland 570 (Which was for sale) and it's puny little 9.9 bhp Merc, and thought 'Hmmm....I wonder'

So a short while later, it was heading upstream at three quarter throttle, making fair headway, and was quite manageable, although I gave the Weirs a miss /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

IMHO Red boards are advisory. If your boat and crew are up to it, it's still navigable, if not, don't consider it.

You need to be aware of high speed flotsam, and be prepared to take evasive manoevres incidentally. A log in the prop while forging upstream against a heavy current is going to be most invonvenient unless your berth is downstream....

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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la cap de la hague at spring tides, that is definately worse than an eyot with a red board.

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Ha ha ha! Ain't that the truth!!! ...in a 45' Moody schooner. One of the green ones ripped our Cox's oilies clean off his back! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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Geoff, still on yellows here at Penton. Flowing at 3 to 4 knots and perfectly navigable. Just had a narrow boat go past.

barbary_partridge.jpg


The flow may increase another 2 knots at most.

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/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
He is on the cill, isn't he!

Remember the Narrowboat that tried to race a hire cruiser out of Benson Lock?

I seem to remember it took quite a while to separate them. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Guys , i should just clarify that i'm not trying to put anyone off going out.

Obviously with who i work for i have to take the 'advisory' stance , and i will say again , on red boards you are advised to moor up until the stream abates. No one can force you , you aren't breaking any laws or being rebels /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif , It is within your right to go out on your boat.

I also wasn't trying to infer that the Thames is like going round the Horn or anything , merely pointing out that it can be quite fast flowing. I didn't intend to come across as ' Our tide is faster than your tide ' or anything like that.

I'm not going to say it's perfectly safe to navigate on red boards ( see paragraph 2 above /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) , but if you choose to , no one will stop you.

The only thing is to check with your insurance company that you are covered in the event of an accident when on red boards.

Just be careful and stay safe !!

H

Incidentally , they are draining the launch lock at Tedders down this week for the first time in nearly 60 years ... we'll all be lined up on the side waiting for the Rolexes / Oakleys / rings to come out /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Would be worth a look if you are passing.
 
Oh sod it lets go for it! I mean what's the worst that could happen?

My engine could fail and I could end up at the Pearly Weir gates!!

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Anyone for a Barbecue in the marina over the weekend?
 
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Guys , i should just clarify that i'm not trying to put anyone off going out.

Obviously with who i work for i have to take the 'advisory' stance , and i will say again , on red boards you are advised to moor up until the stream abates. No one can force you , you aren't breaking any laws or being rebels /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif , It is within your right to go out on your boat.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think part of the problem is that the red boards seem to come our earlier than in previous years and yellows are out very often. Not sure if this is a concious change on the EA's part in deciding the levels that yellow and red boards go out at, or just that over the years I've got more experienced and it seems quieter than previously when reds are out.

Have been out on red boards several times when all was fine and manageable but have also seen it looking very scary and thats the problem, sometimes on red its fairly mild others its serious stuff and you don't know which until you go and have a look.


Darren.
 
Just heard from "Jaws" who has arrived at Henley for the TVR.

Lots of red boards out yesterday but only yellows today and apparently they are likely to go back to normal for the weekend.

All of which is unless we get a heavy downpour overnight of course...

Darren.
 
Sounds like 8 knots through the narrows to Wootens again, same every year.

Still legal over the ground though - well I didnt invent this stoopid rule! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
All I can confirm that the river is flowing slightly faster than normal but is slower than yesterday. The lockies have just been letting all the water flow down as quickly as possible in time for the weekend. As of today they are starting to shut down the gates and bring in the boards.
Marlow, Temple, Hurley were Red yesterday, but yellow today.

In the narrows the stream is running faster but it's manageable. I've made it from Teddington to Henley without any trouble.

The rowers are still out too!!
 
Thanks for that last minute update. Just about to head down to the marina and get prepared. Enjoy the weekend folks!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Well, i can't speak for the upriver locks ,but as far as i know ( at least since the new weir at Teddington was built , 10 years + ) the pulling order and the trigger points are the same.

Presumably , being that the points at Tedders are the same , the ones upriver would be the same ....

You are right about the red boards though ...

Our red boards come out at 2 fish passes , 2 flap gates , 2 small radials , 2 medium radials and 3 large radials ... this is the smallest amount of weir tackle that will trigger a red board at Tedders ...

However ....

Red boards are still out when we are fully drawn , 2 fish passes , 2 small radials , 2 medium radials , 10 large radials , 15 feet on roller sluice 1 and 15 feet on roller sluice 2 .... at this point we are letting through around 12 and a half billion gallons a day , and the weirstream is running at about 10 knots !!

God i sound like a geek !! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

So you are right , reds can be comparatively mild or they can be full on .... there's no way of telling really other than experience or asking the lock-keeper as you come through.
 
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