On 16, Jul 2006, at 19:18, Martin Phillips wrote:
> We eventually moved through into the lower basin and tied up to the
> harbour wall in a raft of six boats.
I think it was 5 rafted out, plus 3 behind, I counted only eight out on
the briny, which was the expected fleet.
> We had decided to depart at about 12:10, with high water
> expected at 12:34.
Sharpness Pierhead had indicated that the tides were "all funny" and
they expected HW 10 to 15 minutes late and between 0.30 and 0.50 metres
below the 8.20m prediction. I think the coaster pilot wanted to use
every cm of available water to get him into the docks so he wasn't to
be "intimated" by a fleet of pesky narrowboaters swarming astern. His
radio tone certainly indicated a little anxiety about getting the brute
in and I suspect his mariners fag packet had been extensively doodled
upon deciding how much to allow for the small and late tide. In the end
I think he did take all of it, but when Uncle Mort entered the
breakwaters the tide was still definitely incoming. We had been hanging
about quite close in and in full view of the entrance, so that the
pierhead folks inside didn't forget us. After about 15 minutes of
winding down the speedwheel to just above idle it was quite fun out
there leaving a wash but going nowhere. Folks on the shore said we
looked like we were anchored. I couldn't see anybody else coming in
because we were quickly out of sight on the pontoon, but we entered the
breakwaters more or less sideways, but very gently.
One other remark about departure time, we were a little bit energised
because one of the nb party had arranged to pick up a pilot from the
floating pontoon for onward trip to Portishead. He felt that his pilot
wanted him there promptly and the time set was based on the predicted
time, not the modified one. Even though the eight boats were widely
spread on the crossing by skippers' choices (I think) we all wanted to
leave Lydney simultaneously. When Uncle Mort arrived first at the
pontoon the pilot said he wished his boat (nb Doinmein) would hurry up,
but I feel this was more a reaction to the time than the real state of
the tide.
This really is a case of deciding between the devil and the deep blue
sea. Experience shows that 10 to 15 mins before HW is more than
adequate for the homeward trip on the end of flood. Leaving prior to
that makes the crossing rougher than necessary. Being late could have
even worse consequences so one is psychologically compelled to favour
the devil. Also one remembers the outward crossing taking 30 minutes or
more, for which reason one always allows 40 minutes or more.
> We had taken a more southerly course than the other boats, and held
> position below the pier heads, the gps proving its worth in telling us
> that we were stationary over the ground.
I held my position by lining up a couple of sets of lighting poles in
the lock.
> I was getting slightly nervous, as the tide was definitely slackening,
I was also getting nervous, not for Uncle Mort since we were less than
a minute from shelter, nor for Boden fairly close but some of the
others seemed to have gone about 1/2 mile upstream. I knew how much of
an effort it had been for UM to haul back against the end of the
incoming tide on our previous trip, but again that was a result of
leaving too early.
> By 1245 the big boat had more or less squeezed into the
> lock, and Sharpness radio invited us in.
In fact it wasn't so much an invitation as a response in the
affirmative to my plaintiff request for permission to enter the basin.
I didn't much fancy being retrieved from Arklow Swan's weedhatch !
> No sign of Mr Tripod and his little friend today.
Ah . . . small flotation aids then {;>)
> Lydney Harbour is a "must" destination for the bolder boater. The yacht
> club who hosted us were wonderfully welcoming, and the EA impressively
> helpful.
Yes but !
I have had a wonderful trip with a great spirit of adventure and fun.
Superb hospitality and Mediterranean weather. Decent comnpany and beer.
Lovely setting far exceeding common perception.
I also had two anxious nights pre crossing and I won't be taking Uncle
Mort again. I spent a lot of time looking at that river since we moved
down at Easter 2005 and it can be fearsome at times. Even when it's
playing pussycat in fair weather at full tide the potential for
disaster should not be forgotten. There isn't much time for any but the
most skilled accompanying narrowboat skipper with a very powerful
engine to offer appropriate assistance to a stricken colleague. I'll
possibly change my mind if I see a demonstration by two average boats
realistically simulate an engine failure for the crowd at Lydney next
summer, much like the rescue boat demo of picking up a man overboard
this year.
A little bit more on this trip follows - see Lydney trip - Epilogue
Captain Beeky - Severn Sailor - retired
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