River Thames Cruz - Page 4

jools · 07 March 2002, 12:30

Hmmm...

On Sat its the
"The 62nd Women’s Eights Head of the River Race
Saturday 9th March 2002 at 13.00"

Maybe we could pick up some new RIB Groupies
283 crews x 8 rowers + cox = 2547 Rib Groupies - a new record!

http://www.wehorr.org/home.html

Looking at the web site - will they be using the public "Putney" slip - or launching at rowing clubs along the river? - I would imagine the latter as they lift there boats in and out, and so require a low bank rather than a slip

Secondly - there's another race on Sunday!

http://www.akrowing.com/events.php?event=2002-hamh

(The Womens race sounds like more fun

)

I don't know - I still fancy going for it on the Sat - are there any other launch sites that would be more suitable?

Its the Parking that worries me! - There may be a lot of rowing vehicles and trailers.

Any Londoners with any good ideas?

nigelt · 07 March 2002, 12:55

I live in London and I row.

From past experience, the slipways will be busy with trailers and minibuses etc. but I imagine that there should be no problem with launching as the slipways are huge but as you say, there could be a problem with parking. (But isn't that always the case in London!) If you're there at about 8.30am, it shouldn't be too busy.

I will still be turning up but that's because the boat is kept on the river!

Hopefully most of you will still be able to make it.

Nigel

Alan · 07 March 2002, 13:51

My concern for you would be that you would launch OK at 8:30am but when you come to recover the slipway would be busy. cars and trailers would be blocked in, people all over the place etc etc.
Trouble is that if you get "stuck" on the Thames and miss your recovery slot with tides etc you've got a bloody long time to wait to recover and not much option in terms of places to moor whilst you're waiting!

If you read some of the blurb on the website it mentions about parking restrictions on Putney embankment and requiring permits etc etc. http://www.wehorr.org/note-crews.html

Alternative launching sites - only ones I personally know of are in Docklands so not much use to you all coming from the West. As I say I'll be launching nr Woolwich so wont have the problem, just thinking of you guys!

Is the rowing event on Sunday as large? If not might be worthwhile rescheduling if people can make that. HT is an hour later which gives you either another hour or two on the water or an extra hour in bed! (& the weather forecast for Sunday is better - 10% chance of rain as opposed to 40%!).

I guess the final call is upto the guys travelling the furthest.
Let us know!
Alan

jools · 07 March 2002, 15:04

How about launching further up the river - some chap with a discovery has taken some nice shots of the slips arround London!

How about

http://www.boatlaunch.co.uk/Site_dataPage336.html

looks like there would be room to park on the approach road (check the streetmap) - and the slip has access at all states of the tide.

We would just have to potter down to Wandsworth Bridge - How far is that?

It mentions turning difficult if people are parked on the road - but we should all be launching / recovering together.

Also says park high up to avoid Spring tides - Are they Neaps this weekend?

Obviously anybody with experiance of this slip please put in your 2p worth

Sat would be better for me as there is something to do with Mothers on Sunday - and they don't always understand!

Alan · 07 March 2002, 15:31

& a long way from the unrestricted area so a long way at 8kts!
Its above Richmond half tide weir which shouldn't be a problem in itself as you were only planning to be out over ht+-2hrs or so. Not sure but you might technically need a licence for that bit.

Sorry, not being terribly positive am I!

Mothers day. Done that, sent the card so no problems for me on that front. (the benefit of living 150 miles away from your folks!)

Alan

jools · 07 March 2002, 15:52

No - you wouldn't need a licence...

"The Environment Agency manages the freshwater (non-tidal) River Thames, which extends for 230km (136 miles) from the town bridge at Cricklade in Wiltshire to the boundary obelisk just downstream of Teddington lock"

which is a bit further up.

There is a lock at Richmond if we miss the "Free-Flow" times (£5 charge) see

http://www.thames-tideway.co.uk/richlock.shtm

(Blimey look who maintains these pages - he gets everywhere)

How long would it take us to get to Wandsworth Br - at 8 Knots?

Cheers
Jools - trying to be positive!

Charles · 07 March 2002, 16:49

Once you guys have decided what, where and how, please let me know as I am leaving this rock on Friday to spend the week-end in London and would like to come down and meet you all.

geoff · 07 March 2002, 17:49

I spoke with the Race Secretary and it looks as if Putney is out. From 8am onwards you can expect lots of novice university crews bashing around on the slipway and river. 6 or more RIBs trying to launch will be about as popular as bobbing turds in the punch bowl. Furthermore the river will be closed from around 11am to 2pm so recovering could be a problem.
My advice is to head downstream to the docklands. For those of you coming from the west, I would come in on the A40 and head across north London to the Isle of Dogs. The best launch site is Johnson Drawdock at the southern tip of the Isle of Dogs. http://www.boatlaunch.co.uk/Site_dataPage8.html
It is available at all states of tide and parking should be OK at this time of year, especially at 9am. There are a couple of other slipways in the area if this one is blocked for some reason.
I plan to be at the slipway at 8.30am and hope to meet up with others there or on the river unless we move the event to Sunday.

Jono Garton · 07 March 2002, 18:12

I agree with Geoff.

I plan to be at this Slip (Isle Of Dogs - Opp the Cutty Sark) @ 9.00am Saturday.

I'll be coming M1, North Circular, A10

Graeme, Jools, Scubakid, Anyone else- Whats your plans????

Jono Garton · 07 March 2002, 18:17

Geoff

Is there a pontoon/jetty/somwhere to tie up at this slip?

GraemeCooper · 07 March 2002, 18:38

Jools / Jono

One of the great advantages of launching at Putney was to cruise past Westminster, See all the sights an go to see the barrier.

This puts us straight in the middle - what are the cruising plans?

Please let me know asap

Graeme

Jono Garton · 07 March 2002, 18:41

Graeme, I suggest going to the barrier then up to putney see the totty in the boat race and praps a bit uf lunch/swift pint and back down to the isle of dogs.

At least launching here were not restricted by the tide.

What do you think.

GraemeCooper · 07 March 2002, 18:59

Plan B

Yes - agree that would e great - I take it if this slip is not affected by tide etc we could recover at our leisure?

Trip to the barrier then back to Putney would still get us to see all the sights.

As for the Totty - Sian says she has a new Dyson you can borrow if seeing all the Totty is just too much for you. Cant think what she means!

If we are going to that slip my route takes me down the M40 rather than along the M4. That means we could meet up at South Mimms Services on the M25 at around 0745 if that is OK with you?

Jools

What are your plans now?

Jono Garton · 07 March 2002, 20:05

Graeme

Its better for me to come straight downthe M1, is it not better for you to come M40 - A40 straight through Ealing?

We could drop Sian & Amy off in town why we take a steady cruz up to Putney to check out the local oars, sorry i mean rowers.....

GraemeCooper · 07 March 2002, 20:08

Jono,

No probs with that as long as we can take ALL your credit cards with us..........

Sian

Jono Garton · 07 March 2002, 20:11

No problem, they're all up to their limits..............

GraemeCooper · 07 March 2002, 20:18

Sian says in that case you'reup the creek without a paddle !!!

Not sure which would be best route for me to take to get through London Towing this Monster!

Its still on for us - we will work it out and see you at the launch site at 0900.

Jono Garton · 07 March 2002, 20:54

I dont mind if ya wanna meet @ South Mimms that way we could go straight down tha A10. I think i know the way from there.

GraemeCooper · 07 March 2002, 21:01

Jono

Must admit it would be good t meet with someone who knows the route.

What time do we need to be at South Mimms to get us to the launch place by 0900?

(got message re PB2 - thanx)

Jono Garton · 07 March 2002, 21:11

About 0745-0800 would be good for me, think that about 120 miles for both of us; so a 0600 start.

I'm sure i know the way??? straight down the A10 hook a right at the bottom and were on the river. Easy!!!!!!