Whitstable to St Katherine's dock in one go?

[Thresher]

Whitstable to St Katherine\'s dock in one go?

Hi all, looking for some advice. I was planning a pleasant cruise from Whitstable along the Swale and then up the Thames to St Katherine's dock but have just found the distance to be 55 miles! and am now wondering if it can be done in one leg at all.
It will be the weekend, so spring tides and the boat does 5 knots. Can it be done or do I have to leave from Queenborough to have any chance? What rate of tide can I expect in the Thames?
Thanks, Brendan.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Re: Whitstable to St Katherine\'s dock in one go?

No problem. leave Whitstable well before low water to arrive at Thames at Low water - you then carry the flood all the way to St Kats. If you check the tide tables, from memory, you get about 8 hours of tide with you + your speed means you get there in plenty of time. I used to do it in a 20' yacht leaving Queenborough 1 hr before low water arriving at St Kats about 1 hr before high water.

 

[Abigail]

Re: Whitstable to St Katherine\'s dock in one go?

If you can''t make it in one (or don't choose to, there are places to stop:

anchor off Canvey - a bit rolly from wash but perfectly doable unless an easterly
Hide in Hole Haven - but check your draft and don't leave too early in the tide
Gravesend - three Port of London Visitors buoys up to any weight yacht
Greys YC - buoys available which can take up to 10 tons
Greenhithe, Erith and a couple of others - also various bouys
Marinas - none until Gallions Reach, then South Quay, Limehouse, St K's

Have a good trip

 

[Zippysigma]

Re: Whitstable to St Katherine\'s dock in one go?

I am coming down from Ipswich on Friday, and plan to anchor in Stangate Creek before heading to St Kats on Sat or Sun. I will look out for you!

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Re: Whitstable to St Katherine\'s dock in one go?

you need to be at Queenborough just before low water so that would either mean going outside Sheppey which is fine or traveling up the Swale on the ebb which wouldn't be so great on springs. The current up to Kingsferry (approx where it divides) is pretty strong and the channel can easily catch you out with some quirky kinks to it especially on low water springs. If you then run around you have to wait until it starts to flood, then punch it out the Medway before turning the corner. All in all I'd miss out the Swale bit.

 

[Pye_End]

Re: Whitstable to St Katherine\'s dock in one go?

I agree, you couldn't do it by going up the Swale.

The tides on the second half of the ebb don't seem as strong as earlier on, around Whitstable to Spile, so leaving Whitstable say 3 hours before low water should leave plenty of time.

 

[ianc1200]

Re: Whitstable to St Katherine\'s dock in one go?

I have often done the Spitway buoys (off Blackwater/Colne) up to Teddington in one tide in a displacement motor cruiser at 6.5 knots through water, so Whitstable to St Kats shouldn't be too much of a problem.

IanC

 

[Thresher]

Re: Whitstable to St Katherine\'s dock in one go?

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I will leave the Swale for another day.
Zippysigma, my boat's name is Nomad, I will keep an eye out for you. Have a good trip.

 

[ianc1200]

Re: Whitstable to St Katherine\'s dock in one go?

Just in case, Nomad isn't a wooden centre wheelhouse cruiser about 32' designed by John Bain & built by the Seabourne Yacht Co. about 1962?

IanC

 

[Thresher]

Re: Whitstable to St Katherine\'s dock in one go?

It sounds very nice but no, my Nomad is a 1979 Leisure 27 fibregalass.