The 2006 London Rib Cruise - Saturday the 10th of June

[CJL]

After the success of the 2005 cruise (Link) I've agreed to organise another one!

The date is set for Saturday the 10th of June. (I know its a long way off but after looking through the tide tables its the only date that works in our favour.)

Launch Site
I'm suggesting we all launch from Putney Embankment (Website) about 1000.

It is a good slipway and we will have plenty of vehicles and willing hands to help out with launching on the rising tide. Parking can be difficult but detaching the trailers makes life easy if you don't mind a short walk.

Chas Newens Marine (Website) will be open on the Embankment and they can drop you into the water if you don't feel happy doing this yourself. I think its about £8 each way

Alternative Launch Site
River Lane in Petersham(Website) seems to be a popular alternative launch site but its a good hour and a half upstream from Putney. If you choose to lauch here please leave yourself time to get to Putney for 1030.

The Morning Cruise
Once afloat we can head down the Thames on rising tide, past all the sights through the Pool of London, past HMS Belfast, under Tower Bridge and down towards Limehouse Basin and Canary Wharf. No doubt we will be stopping regularly for photos so this is not going to be a race in any form. We will be moving together.

Lunchtime Moorings
British Waterways have moorings in Limehouse Basin (Website) free of charge and we can lock into the basin up to 2 hours either side of high water.

Lunch
Last time the Barley Mow pub over looking the entrance to Limehouse Basin was popular so a repeat visit is in order. Following our previous vist this time I will book a number of tables for us.

The Afternoon Cruise
After a nice lunch we can head a bit further downstream to see the Millenium Dome and the Thames Barrier before returning through the Pool of London to Putney.

Fuel
There are no fueling facilites on the Thames that will be open during our trip. You will need enough fuel for the days trip

Interested?
So if you interested please reply to this post with;

1) Your name:
2) Boat name:
3) Your launching site:
4) Number of people on your boat:
5) Number of people who want a place setting for lunch:
6) Roughly how high your A frame is from the water line:

Chris

[roycruse]

I'm definitely interested - I just have some logistics and sleeping arrangements to sort out as I have a 300 mile drive to get to the launch site.

1) Your name: Roy Cruse.
2) Boat name: Voyager.
3) Your launching site: Probably Putney - but wherever i am likely to get help launching as i don't have a 4X4.
4) Number of people on your boat: 3 at the moment (my 2 kids and myself) - but could be more.
5) Number of people who want a place setting for lunch: 3 or more if number of crew grows.
6) Roughly how high your A frame is from the water line: 1.5m or 2m with antenna.

[Tim M]

Name: Tim M
Boat Name: TBA
Launch site: Putney
Number of people: Probably 3 (will confirm nearer the time)
Food: same again - probably 3
About 1.5m at a guess

[CJL]

A few more bits of info for those travelling a long way:

Hotels
Here are some good local hotels to "google";
Coach and Horses, Kew.
Moat House Hotel, Shepperton.
Holiday Inn, Shepperton.
Travel Lodge, Brentford.
Premier Lodge, Brentford.
The Park, Teddington
plus all the Heathrow Hotels (Marriot, Radison etc).

Boat Storage the night before
If you can't keep your boat secure overnight try these:
Shepperton Marina - This is less than a mile from the top of the M3 and has the advantage of a Moat House Hotel next to it.
Penton Hook Marina (MDL) - Near to Staines and the M3 and M25 intersection. Lots of accomodation nearby in Staines

Drop me a line via PM if you want some more local knowledge.

Chris

[Hugh Jardon]

oh no

i will still be down in cornwall then on hols, damn damn damn, hopefully the next one then

by the way which bridges have the height restriction so i know if i go there on another occassion soon
thanks

[AndyB007]

1) Your name: Andy Beach
2) Boat name: Avon RIB**
3) Your launching site: Putney Embankment - no 4x4 so probably Chas Newen assist looking at the steep slip!
4) Number of people on your boat: Two
5) Number of people who want a place sitting for lunch: Two
6) Roughly how high your A frame is from the water line: No A Frame

** Chris - I've read somewhere that boats have to be registered for inland use and therefore have to be named. Is this true?

Thanks

Andy

[CJL]

Hugh,
The reason for the A frame height question is due to the swing bridge into Limehouse basin not any of the main navigation bridges. It hopefully wont be a problem unless you have a monster A frame bolted on the back! Even then it means you just have to use the visitor pontoon outside the basin. (see pic below)

Andy, I'm pleased to say no registration is needed for the tidal Thames (ie below Teddington Lock)

The Port of London Authority has posted a notice to mariners on the use of ribs on the Thames. (Click here for notices) and also a guide for recreational river users. (Click here for the guide)

None of these links covers anything that a basic RYA Level 2er couldn't cope with but it does offer some interesting reading. I suggest you have a brief read if this is your first trip particularly if you are launching at Petersham and therefore going through Richmond Lock.

Chris

[CJL]

Originally Posted by AndyB007

** Chris - I've read somewhere that boats have to be registered for inland use and therefore have to be named. Is this true?

Problem solved......a random boat name generator!!

Random Boat Name Generator


Chris

[osprey__viper]

Sorry Chris aint gonna be able to make it. Just changed jobs and that means working on Saturdays for a bit. Were gutted we aint gonna be able to make it, But the new job means driving new Land Rovers off road all day Once things have calmed down i'll give ya a call and perhaps meet up another time.

If any of you going thats not done the Thames before, then you are in for a real treat One of the best days ribbin you could ever want.

Sorry mate

Martin

[Dino]

Hi Chris
We fancy coming,2 questions,what is the local road access like to Putney embankment(my rib is normal width 8.5 approx,but she is long)and how steep is that slip,is our elderly Cheeryokay diesel gonna cope

Now to remember the order
1 Dino
2 Andromeda
3 Putney embankment
4 2 people
5 2 for lunch
6 2m(ish,i will go measure it properly!)
Looking forward to it

[CJL]

Originally Posted by Dino

Hi Chris
We fancy coming,2 questions,what is the local road access like to Putney embankment(my rib is normal width 8.5 approx,but she is long)and how steep is that slip,is our elderly Cheeryokay diesel gonna cope

Dont worry.

Access to Putney Embankment is pretty good with wide roads all the way from the M3. The length really wont make that much difference as Buses and trucks use the route regularly. I will look at posting some directions from the top of the M3 to Putney nearer the time.

Your Cheeryokay should manage fine with the slip. My Audi A3 pulls a 6m out from there at an angle no problems and we will have plenty of 4x4s and willing hands around.

Chris

[Dino]

Thanks Chris
We'll be there then

[PeterR]

I would like to think we will be their hopefully find out more and give you a definate answer in a couple of weeks it mainly depends on the return journey back from France on the 4th of June(not in the rib but from Holiday)Hope to see you on the 29th may on the Felixstowe trip

[Andre]

Oh yes this is a must. Pls put us down for this one

1) Your name: Andre
2) Boat name: Seahawk 3
3) Your launching site: Putney
4) Number of people on your boat: 4
5) Number of people who want a place setting for lunch: 4
6) Roughly how high your A frame is from the water line: ? quite high


Mike C, how about you?

[Alex-341]

Yep, we'll be there

1) Your name: Scott
2) Boat name: Zodiac Rover
3) Your launching site: Putney
4) Number of people on your boat: 2
5) Number of people who want a place setting for lunch: 2
6) Roughly how high your A frame is from the water line: 1.5-2m

[CJL]

Thats 10 boats confirmed so far and one maybe!
I'm getting concerned that the pub isn't going to be big enough . Lots more places nearby though!

Chris

[Under the Thumb]

1) Your name: Will
2) Boat name: Southern Comfort
3) Your launching site: Putney
4) Number of people on your boat: 2 possibly 3
5) Number of people who want a place setting for lunch: 2 or 3
6) Roughly how high your A frame is from the water line: 2.5m


My A-frame is bigger than yours, and my boats faster

[CJL]

Originally Posted by Under the Thumb

1) Your name: DIV
2) Boat name: Orange is so last years colour
3) Your launching site: Putney
4) Number of people on your boat: 2 possibly 3
5) Number of people who want a place setting for lunch: 2 or 3
6) Roughly how high your A frame is from the water line: 2.5m Yeah right!!

My A-frame is bigger than yours, and my boats faster

D'oh you've already said you're coming.

And yes your boat is faster.....just a lot smaller!!!!

Chris

[PeterR]

It seems we can give a thumbs up
1.Peter
2.The Bizz
3Putney
4.4on board
5.4 to eat
6.1.4metres high
Shorter than yours but hopefully faster

[Alex-341]

Originally Posted by CJL

Thats 10 boats confirmed so far and one maybe!
I'm getting concerned that the pub isn't going to be big enough . Lots more places nearby though!

Chris

Your own falt for makeing the trip sound so good , cant wait.

Alex