And so it turned out.
Mrs B delivered me to Sharpness dock in time to stand on the "high
bridge" and take pictures of the fleet passing the swung "low bridge"
The fleet comprised gravel boat Perch, nb Jasper, steel cruiser "Welded
Bliss" and a surprise extra in the form of nb Best Mates. Perch went
about it's business in the docks and by the time I reached the lock the
3 tidal venturers were assembling themselves to be dropped into the
tidal basin to tie onto the pontoon.
nb Best Mates is owned by Jennifer & Graham, continuous cruisers who
happened upon the excursion an hour before departure. Bill Singleton
was solo on Welded Bliss as Mrs Bliss had a prior engagement as seems
so often the case for ladies of vessels embarking on "big water" trips.
While we waited at the pontoon the coaster Remora arrived (as
anticipated) following usual practice of winding at the dock entrance
and then only a perfunctory hold against this small 5m tide before
swinging straight in.
We all waited a little longer before departing. BW folk seemed anxious
that we should be on our way asap, but our leader Capt Jasper waited
until the pre-planned 14:45 departure time. Then we zoomed out into a
very demure estuary and made very good speed to the other side in 15
minutes. Lydney Yacht club had a small dinghy race in progress and
their safety boat buzzed us all and gave us a many thumbed up welcome.
When we rounded the Lydney "pier" we found the gates closed and
weiring, the basin thus full. We were 15 minutes ahead of our EA
advised latest arrival time (15mins pre Sharpness HW) but by the time
the basin was emptied our entrance was 30 mins behind the decreed cut
off. The water was flat calm and there was no concern. The 20 or 30
throng at Lydney gongoozled auspiciously as at the 3rd attempt the
hydraulic gates prevailed over the 3" of water still held behind the
sluices.
It was a most pleasant excursion on a watery sunny spring day with a
low high tide (only 5m). The meagre tide meant we had no critical
timing to overcome. We'll be trying this again, hopefully on Uncle Mort
and with slightly more demanding combination of weather and tide, as
further practice for the gathering scheduled for 15/16 July.
I have now been "recovered" by Mrs B and sit aboard Uncle Mort at
Parkend enjoying my 2nd G&T.
Tomorrow I will be helping on the return leg. The weather report and
our barometer suggest reduced clemency.
Beeky
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