21st Jan 2007 Thames trip

[ian mcconnell]

cheers neil i will be in contact nearer the time

[LURCHER]

Dont worry about 4x4 we will have at least 3 discoveries in our group so no problem there ,

[ian mcconnell]

im travelling down tomorrow to putney slip, underneath the bridge ( wed 9th) i wanted to try it out. spoke to the harbour master who tells me it is the better slip to launch from!! also that the from the next bridge up it has no speed limit however they told me they will prosecute boaters who create too much wake and drive wrecklessly. i asked if 15knotts on the plain (since mine only jumps on the plain at 13-15knotts) was acceptible, his answer was simply to say we will prosercute!!! i guess they may have had a bad time with ribbers. so i intend to be on my best behaviour, but admit to being confused with what HE would consider a reasonable speed in a no limit stretch of water!

for those coming a distance i will post my verdict on slip and parking....

[John Kennett]

Try to launch and recover at high water to make it easy, otherwise it will be a challenge anywhere round there. The Putney Bridge slipway is fine around high water, but next to useless otherwise. The wide slipway opposite Chas Newens is usable for more of the tide, but is difficult/impossible at low water and the cross-current can be tricky.

The speed limit ends at Wandsworth bridge, and there is no problem with driving your boat fast so long as you are sensible. Between Wandsworth and Lambeth there's not much river traffic, just watch out for rowers and the occasional train of waste barges.

Go easy between Lambeth and Tower Bridges as that's where you'll find most of the passenger boats and it can get busy. Keep to starboard and don't get in anyone's way and you'll be fine. Once you're past Tower Bridge you can let rip again.

About the only damage you could do with your wake would be to capsize a rowing boat if you passed very close by. Give them as much space as you can and you'll be fine. If, on the other hand, you come belting under London Bridge on the wrong side of the river and cause a passenger boat to go full astern to avoid you, you should expect to have your collar felt!

Talking of which, you may find that the Police flag you down for a chat. In my experience they are a friendly lot and will be genuinely interested in what you're doing.

There are some more info and links on the RIBnet faq

Have fun!
John

[timw]

There are actually 3 slips at Putney. Two large wide slips by Chas Newens and the rowing clubs, and then a small one under the bridge which you may be referring to. That can be difficult to manouver on to due to parked cars, and it's OK at high tide but very difficult at low tide.

As to the Harbourmaster's comments about speed, you should have no problems from Police or PLA at high speeds once you are past Wandsworth Bridge. Just make sure they don't think you are messing about doing donuts etc by the passenger boats, or by moored boats and keep to the right hand side on the river. If you want to cross the river to see something, go across at a right angle.
If the yellow London Duck Tour amphibian is operating, keep well away from him as he has very low freeboard and will report you if your wash causes him problems.

Once past Wandsworth Bridge, enjoy opening up the speed for a fast run up to around Westminster Bridge, when it's best to ease down (bridge works) and enjoy the sights, and once past Waterloo, get back on the plane again and you'll be at Tower Bridge in no time. After Tower Bridge, the river really opens up to a wide expanse of water and can get choppy and there is really no problem having fun down there a bit further downstream with dun manouevers. This is where the big RIBs of London Rib Voyages do all their tight high speed turns for the thrill seekers, as it's well away from the narrower busy part of the Thames around Westminster.

PLA haven't had a particular problem with RIBS, but they have had problems with visiting boats, in the main speedboats driven by the sort of people that own pitbull terriers and speed in the restricted areas and cause carnage with their wash.
This doesn't happen very often, but resident Thames boat owners have been asked to look out for them and report them to the PLA/River police and usually a police car will be waiting for them when they recover their boat.

It's important to preserve the freedom to use private craft on the Tidal Thames without introducing speed restrictions, but if yobs in speedboats become a problem and we see a major accident, then legislation may follow.

The tidal Thames can be dangerous with it's severe currents, tide range and commercial shipping, however it can be an extremely rewarding and quite awe-inspiring place to drive your RIB.

Have fun

[timw]

JK, posted just after you and hadn't seen what your post said, but agree

[John Kennett]

Good point about the London Duck, I hadn't thought about that. It's exactly the sort of interesting thing that someone might zoom towards for a better look without realising the potential consequences!

John

[Bern Hanreck]

Also keep an eye for Canal boats and other narrow boats , whether under way or moored up .There are quite a few in use at the moment in the Royal Docks ( accommodation during the Boat Show ) . They don't like ripples on their cuppas .

[ian mcconnell]

went down to putney on wednesday, as tide was half out i paid the £10 to the chandlers at putney for launch using there 4x4, parking was free further down after 10.30am and there was loads of room for trailers.

Got passed wandsworth bridge and opened her up, then spent a very good 6 hrs seeing the sites and heading out passed the thames barrier, i found that all the police and enviromental launchs waved me back and considering i was occasionally doing 25knots and definately plus in some areas it did not bother them in the slightist as long as you were being sensible.

tower bridge and surrounding areas were very busy, but who needs to go fast with a view like that!!! when the tide finally turned in areas it was suprisingly choppy, under one of the bridges there were rolling waves 1.5m high, this i had some fun with. Also again when the jet powered tour boats took of from tower bridge there wake is any think but small again made for a good photo oportunity for the tourists and some grins from a rescue/fire launch.

Hopefully weather will be good for the 21st as it was a great day, all will enjoy.

[PeterR]

When we went on the one last year it was great but alas we cannot attend this one.One particular think i remember was how much trouble it was to recover ,this was i,m sure due to lack of experience and the odd rower using his right of way power they seem to come from nowhere also shouting abuse.Who can give good info on the recovery proceedure with stong falling tide at putney Thanks

[fuzz]

can you let me know where and what time you are meeting on sunday as hoping to join you at some point(back from spain sat eve). what is the plan for lunch

[Neil Harvey]

Originally Posted by fuzz

can you let me know where and what time you are meeting on sunday as hoping to join you at some point(back from spain sat eve). what is the plan for lunch

Hi, Looking down the thread, this is the latest I saw on start time:-

Originally Posted by LURCHER

Yes weather permitting we aim to leave Putney at around 1100 and count so far

[Narcosis]

Looks like I'm going to give this one a go, see you there.

Aqualegends
5.4m Searider 90 YAM
David & 1 (awaiting to here if my mate is up for being stupid enough to go out on an open boat in the wet windy weather)

Regards
D.

As shown on the Vrc web site for Putney
2007-01-21 3:15 AM GMT 7.05 meters High Tide

2007-01-21 7:54 AM GMT Sunrise

2007-01-21 11:06 AM GMT 0.27 meters Low Tide

2007-01-21 3:45 PM GMT 7.01 meters High Tide

2007-01-21 4:30 PM GMT Sunset

2007-01-21 11:25 PM GMT 0.68 meters Low Tide

[Neil Harvey]

Originally Posted by Narcosis

Looks like I'm going to give this one a go, see you there.

Aqualegends
5.4m Searider 90 YAM
David & 1 (awaiting to here if my mate is up for being stupid enough to go out on an open boat in the wet windy weather)

Regards
D.

As shown on the Vrc web site for Putney
2007-01-21 3:15 AM GMT 7.05 meters High Tide

2007-01-21 7:54 AM GMT Sunrise

2007-01-21 11:06 AM GMT 0.27 meters Low Tide

2007-01-21 3:45 PM GMT 7.01 meters High Tide

2007-01-21 4:30 PM GMT Sunset

2007-01-21 11:25 PM GMT 0.68 meters Low Tide

Hmm, so which sources to trust?
The Almanac ties in with the 11:39 and 16:04 I posted before for low and high resp. on a spring.

Either way, a 11am launch as has been discussed on here before means a launch at low tide on a spring. Anyone any experience of this?

Wouldd a 10am launch time be better?

[Narcosis]

Originally Posted by Neil Harvey

Hmm, so which sources to trust?
The Almanac ties in with the 11:39 and 16:04 I posted before for low and high resp. on a spring.

Either way, a 11am launch as has been discussed on here before means a launch at low tide on a spring. Anyone any experience of this?

Wouldd a 10am launch time be better?

Quick panic now, I have'nt trusted the VRC site before, so I have gone looking for other Tide Plotters on the net and I found the Admiralty Easytide Site
http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide...ictionLength=7
This one states the tide time for Albert bridge which is about 2.75m from Putney Bridge via the River and Mortlake is about 3.85m further upstream.
The results are a bit confusing, unless someone can shed light on where I am going wrong with my tide times....please.....

From Admiralty Easytide - Sun 21 Jan @ Albert Bridge
HW LW HW LW
03:25 11:02 15:57 23:08
5.9 m 0.2 m 6.1 m 0.4 m

From Admiralty Easytide - Sun 21 Jan @ Kew Bridge
HW LW HW
03:55 12:31 16:27
5.0 0.0 m 5.2 m

Neil, can't find my Almanac, so not to sure what to say re accuracy of the sites I have been using. Oh and yes I am for an earlier launch( more play time)
Regards
D.

[ian mcconnell]

guys, i launched at low tide a week ago on a wednesday. Had no probs got the local marina to launch on back of landrover for £12. came back at half tide again very easy.

weather on metoffice is looking good for sunday, sun 8deg and 13mph wind. espeacially considering the rest of the week..

look forward to seeing everyone

[Neil Harvey]

Originally Posted by Narcosis

This one states the tide time for Albert bridge which is about 2.75m from Putney Bridge via the River and Mortlake is about 3.85m further upstream.
The results are a bit confusing, unless someone can shed light on where I am going wrong with my tide times....please.....

From Admiralty Easytide - Sun 21 Jan @ Albert Bridge
HW LW HW LW
03:25 11:02 15:57 23:08
5.9 m 0.2 m 6.1 m 0.4 m

From Admiralty Easytide - Sun 21 Jan @ Kew Bridge
HW LW HW
03:55 12:31 16:27
5.0 0.0 m 5.2 m

Neil, can't find my Almanac, so not to sure what to say re accuracy of the sites I have been using. Oh and yes I am for an earlier launch( more play time)
Regards
D.

Hi David,

By your easytide times (which I also use) and distances, I would trust the times I posted earlier, and not the VRC website times.

Here's my logic:-
Assume that the tide travels at the same speed along the river.
Total distance between Albert Bridge and Kew Bridge = 6.60 miles (approx).
Total time difference between low tide at two bridges is about 90 mins (12:31 vs 11:02)

So for every mile upstream from Albert Bridge, low tide should be 13.64 (90/6.6) minutes later than low tide at albert Bridge.

If Putney is 2.75 miles upstream of Albert Bridge, then it should have low tide about 37.5 minutes later than Albert Bridge, or about 11:40.

The VRC website is the only source I have that does not seem to tie in with the other, either that or I'm doing something stupid (always possible )

Neil

[Neil Harvey]

Originally Posted by ian mcconnell

guys, i launched at low tide a week ago on a wednesday. Had no probs got the local marina to launch on back of landrover for £12. came back at half tide again very easy.

weather on metoffice is looking good for sunday, sun 8deg and 13mph wind. espeacially considering the rest of the week..

look forward to seeing everyone

Hi Ian,

Agree, forecast is looking good, fingers crossed.

Looking forward to it.

Still not sure about launching at low tide though. You launched on a neap (or near enough) and we will be on a spring. I just do not know what it's like at really low states of tide.

Cheers

Neil

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Neil Harvey

Still not sure about launching at low tide though. You launched on a neap (or near enough) and we will be on a spring. I just do not know what it's like at really low states of tide.

If you want to be sure, give Chas Newens a ring on 020 8788 4587 -- they are the chandlers/boatyard there and will be able to advise (and possibly launch you too).

John

[Tim M]

They will launch you for a fiver I think it was....