SPCC NOTES ON VISITING THE RIVER MEDWAY
THE TRANSIT TO THE MEDWAY
THIS IS A CRUISE THAT REQUIRES PRE-PLANNING AND IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED
Once you leave BOW LOCKS there are few places to land, and only barge buoys on which you can lay over. The last of these barge buoys are in the GRAVESEND REACH. Once you clear Lower Hope Reach you are very much ‘on your own’ until you are back in the Medway Channel. Good weather forecasts are essential for this section. If weather conditions change, there is a transit mooring pontoon at Gravesend, installed by the local Council in 2012. It will hold 12 narrowboats and can be booked via Chris Bentley at Gravesend Embankment Marina <chris@theembankmentmarina.net> Tel: 01474 535700.
Navigation skills become critical when you reach the start of the THAMES buoyed channel at LOWER HOPE buoy, opposite MUCKING No.3 buoy. From here aim for the red WEST BLYTH buoy, which you can pass inside; that gets you around the end of Blyth Sands. From here look due East and steer for MID BLYTH, Yellow with Black Cap, North Cardinal buoy which is opposite Hole Haven Creek on the north bank. Take this buoy again on the inside, i.e. just outside of the main shipping channel. From here the next buoy lies ahead some three miles, east south east, and guards the edge of Yantlet Flats, (Binoculars are a must). Pass on the outside of this buoy and look ahead for the red can buoy of WEST NORE SAND which follows. Pass on the north side.
Your route on the next section is quite critical as you need to avoid Nore Sand and follow the inner Swatchway channel past the length of Nore Sand. Thus, when leaving WEST NORE SAND buoy, identify and head for the green conical MID SWATCH buoy and pass to the south of it. This buoy is on the southern edge of Nore Sand. Look ahead and to the south east to identify the red can buoy of NORE SWATCH. Head for it and pass round to the north of this buoy and then, in a sweep, alter course to the south to pass over the Sheerness Middle Sand, which marks the end of Grain Spit, to head for MEDWAY BUOY No.11. Just before you reach it turn south south west, to pass between it and GRAIN EDGE buoy, which you will pass on the outside. From here head west south west to GRAIN HARD buoy; this is opposite Garrison Point. From here turn south south west to head for NORTH KENT buoy in Sheerness Harbour.
You are now in the River Medway Channel. This tends to be busy with craft, but you will be passing through at low water when there is usually less big shipping on the move. Proceed parallel to the southern shore of the Isle of Grain. Turn at STOKE BUOY No.13 down Keyhole Reach past Bee Ness Jetty and Oakham Ness Jetty to BUOY No.15. Here head for BUOY No.17 and then turn due west, along Long Reach, turning south south west again at BUOY No.23, opposite Folly Point with its Napoleonic Fort, to proceed down Pinup reach to BUOY No.25 and thence to BUOY No.27 in GILLINGHAM REACH.
For Skippers who need a break, the floating jetty of GILLINGHAM MARINA is over on the south side of the river. A call on VHF Channel 80 will reach Marina staff – Phone: 01634 280022.
From here the trip up the Medway to the tide lock at Allington is quite straight forward. Remember that quite large craft use the river up to Rochester Bridge and that the final section of this reach before Strood Pier and the bridge, has two blind bends.
From Rochester Bridge the river becomes more rural apart from the M2 bridge. Also remember that there are no more stopping places between here and ALLINGTON LOCK. Take care under the low Aylesford Bridge and your transit to the non-tidal section of the Medway is nearly at its end. From Allington the nine locks and 19 miles of the non-tidal section of the Medway will make your epic voyage well worthwhile. You may, however, need a long swing Medway windlass to get some of the heavy lock gear to budge, but that is a minor point.
For the return journey, it may be easier to overnight at Gillingham Marina, or better still, rafted to Queenborough Yacht Club’s lighter in the Swale. Both provide a shorter hop to Grain Edge.
SAFETY NOTE: THAMES ESTUARY – WEATHER WARNING
It is essential to verify that the WIND is not greater than Force 3, but preferably Force 1 or 2, before proceeding past SHORNMEAD LIGHT (TILBURY) on the way out, or past GRAIN HARD / GARRISON POINT on the return. You should turn back at these points if increases in WIND are forecast, as the journey through the ESTUARY takes 3 hours in an unprotected area with no shelter easily accessible
TRANSIT TO THE MEDWAY
This trip can only be undertaken when the weather forecast is Fine with Good Visibility and maximum Wind Force 3 in the Estuary. Transit starts from BOW LOCKS which need to be booked 24 hours in advance. (Phone 020 7517 5570) Avoid strong SPRING tides. The best CHART for the transit around GRAIN SPIT and the tidal Medway is Stanfords Chart No.8 The NORTH KENT COAST. Chart, compass and binoculars are essential for the lead boat. The remainder of the Thames route is on Imray Yachting Chart C2 River Thames (Teddington to Southend).
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Check Weather Forecast before departure with Met Off ice (Phone 0891 226 455) and Medway Radio at Sheerness, Channel 74 (Phone 01795 663025). Speak to Port Control London to check the condition of and traffic on the lower tideway, Channel 13 (Phone 01474 560311). If forecast is not good — DO NOT GO. (i.e. Wind in excess of Force 3).
DEPARTURE ROUTINE
Notify Thames Barrier/London VTS, Channel 14 (Phone 020 8855 0315) of your planned Barrier Transit when you clear Blackwall Point; and seek permission to transit when you have the barrier in sight
TRANSIT MONITORING
The timing of the transit is the key to success and you must keep a log of Way Points to verify your speed. In the Estuary and going up the Medway, mark off the buoys on your chart/checklist as you pass them. This way you will know exactly where you are. Remember to keep to the right hand third of the river and out of the Fairway channels used by larger craft.
TRANSIT TIMINGS
Timings of the transit are as follows:
Leave BOW LOCKS HW LB –1 hour
THAMES BARRIER AT HW LB
FORD MOTOR WORKS DAGENHAM HW LB +1 hour
BROADNESS POINT/GRAYS HW LB +2 hours
MUCKING No.3 BUOY/LOWER HOPE HW LB +3 hours to +3.25 hours
EAST BLYTH BUOY HW LB +4 hours to +4.25 hours
NORE SWATCH BUOY HW LB +4.75 hours to +5.5 hours
GRAIN EDGE BUOY or Medway Channel No.11 HW LB +5 hours to +5.75 hours
MED WAY TRANSIT
Follow buoyed channel up Medway, keeping to RIGHT of Channel.
GRAIN EDGE BUOY to ROCHESTER 12 miles or approx. 2 hours
ROCHESTER to ALLINGTON TIDE LOCK 13 miles or approx. 2.25 hours
(Allington Lock High Water is Sheerness +50 minutes)
POINTS TO REMEMBER
Timings of the Tideway can vary depending on tide flows. It is essential to be within the above Way Point timings for a safe passage. Non-tidal section of Medway—At ALLINGTON LOCK, which is open from THREE HOURS before to TWO HOURS after high water, buy your MEDWAY LICENCE for the non-tidal River. Chart The Upper Reaches of the River Medway. (Imray, Laurie Norie and Wilson). ALWAYS ENSURE THAT YOU GIVE LOCK KEEPERS ADVANCE WARNING OF YOUR E.T.A.
MED WAY TIMINGS
ALLINGTON to MAIDSTONE 0.5 hours
MAIDSTONE to YALDING (8 miles 3 locks) 2.5 hours
YALDING to TONBRIDGE (8 miles 6 locks) 3.75 hours
Craft with air draught of less than 5.5 feet can proceed for about half a mile, turning just beyond the Tonbridge to London Railway Bridge where the river widens to return to the moorings at Tonbridge Town Wharf just below the main town road bridge.
FOR THE RETURN JOURNEY USE THE SAME TIDEWAY TIMINGS IN REVERSE ORDER.
Boats can break their Medway transit at Gillingham Marina, VHF 37/80 (Phone: 01634 280022). Allow 11/4 hours to Grain Edge or overnight rafted to the Queenborough Harbour Lighter. Contact Queenborough Yacht Club, 7 High Street, Queenborough, Sheppey, Kent ME11 5AA. Email secretary@queenboroughyc.co.uk for details. Allow 1/2 hour to Grain Edge.
ALL BOATERS AND SKIPPERS ARE REMINDED THAT THEY UNDERTAKE THE CRUISES COMPLETELY AT THEIR OWN RISK. THE ST. PANCRAS CRUISING CLUB AND ITS OFFICERS CANNOT ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF CRAFT ON RIVERS, CANALS OR THE TIDAL THAMES