A very pleasant Saturday in Lydney was spent deliberating. The question
was "when shall we cross back ?"
The discussion was mainly centred on whether the wind would drop for
Sunday from the very stiff easterly blowing all day Saturday. Also
there was some understandable anxiety about tangling with a coaster
full of fertiliser, due in on the evening tide. On the weather front,
the BBC website for Sharpness showed 20 mph for Saturday (which was
about right) fading to 6 or 7mph Sunday and Monday.
There were several captains' meetings and finally at the last decision
minute, about 18:15 we decided to go out on the 20:04 high tide. Marie
2 was keen to get back asap since they were cruising back to their
abandoned trailer at Upton and then on to Coventry behind the
Landrover. We made for the lock with all speed and David Penfold the
EA Harbourmaster dropped us and the contents of the tidal basin (which
inluded 3 pilot cutters and 3 or 4 cruisers) down to river level by
about 19:15.
We could just about glimpse the river through the open gates, and it
was still running quite fast, but tame-ish. I scurried up the lockside
ladder to have a look down towards the Severn bridges and indeed a
coaster was making it's way upstream. A combination of communications
with Sharpness by phone and overheard radio messages lead us to
understand that there were boats coming out of Sharpness before the
coaster entered, that the coaster would then take priority and the 3 of
us were to keep out of it's way but follow it into the lock. We decided
to depart at the earliest of 3 events - 1) when we could see the
coaster straight ahead through the basin gates 2) when Sharpness told
us to or 3) 19:40, 24 mins before HT. At about 19:25 we saw a cruiser
coming across and although it stayed in sight for a while the tide
dragged it out of sight. The clock ticked on and Sharpness phoned
Jasper at about 19:30 telling us to come on over.
There was slight confusion as we attempted to leave because some
cruiser skippers moored in the basin shouted that we should stop
because one of their type was coming in, although we couldn't see it.
After a hum a hah and some black smoke we continued out just as the
cruiser indeed went past from left to right, well away from the pier
head and intent on taking photos of us rather than entering the basin.
I must improve my radio competence, although it is tricky on the
counter of a narrowboat and with a fair measure of deafness. I think
Sharpness had briefed the cruiser to let us out first just as they had
briefed us to let the coaster in first on the other side. In this
respect Sharpness were very correct and professional, and the local
"expert boaters" were the confusion-mongers.
And so we were off, with usual hard lean on the tiller to counter the
tide, once clear of the protection given by the pier. It was all fairly
uneventful as the 3 of us took slightly varying courses, all different
themes based on heading to the Bristol side of Sharpness. The tide
effect in mid river was not really all that obvious and we made swift
progress arriving about 400 yds off Sharpness as the coaster "Hoo
Beeches" just finished it's 180 degree turn just beyond the dock
entrance and was stemming the tide/creeping back around the breakwater.
We had to waste some time, nb Jasper had quite wisely throttled back
early and the tiny cruiser Marie 2 was pirouetting about courtesy of
it's two outboards.
This was where I made a mistake. I did one fairly leisurely and wide
circle and left about 60/70 yards of water clearly marked by our wake.
I was relaxing and counting the job as done when I noticed that instead
of being south of Sharpness we were now in line with the northern
breakwater. I wound on some revs and at first it seemed we would not
stem the flow, but then I could see that we were very slowly
progressing in the right direction. Phew !
The contingency plan was quickly hatched and if we could not hold
position at full revs there was no point thrashing hell out of the JP.
I was willing if necessary to be carried gently backwards upstream
fighting the tide at sensible revs, and wait for help from above, which
would surely arrive within 10 to 15 minutes. (I don't mean a helicopter
!)
It was, as ever, a relief to get into the safety of the outer basin.
Then we were directed to tie onto the coaster for the locking. Looking
back into the river, before the gates were shut, all was serene and
several dinghies from Lydney were swanning about enjoying the slack
water. Once again the adrenalin urge to get on with the job caused us
to leave too early. 19:40 would have been an excellent departure time
and we would have arrived without much tide and with the coaster tied
up and waiting.
In conclusion - it's the usual thing . . . . don't muck about on
dangerous water. We will be doing it again in July, well Uncle Mort and
I will be. Mrs B is reserving her position. After arrival at Sharpness
we took on 206 L of diesel from Stokie at 52p each. The little green
ball in my Fuelset bottle popped out and straight into the filler !
I'll have to have a think about what might happen to that, rolling
around in the tank !
Overnight against one of the derelict barges by the ponds at Purton,
through the bridges and on mooring at Parkend by 10am. At Saul we
couldn't fail to spot Sue B and Roger who had motored down apparently.
Sue had seen us from the carpark and frolicked down to the canal,
waving her arms extravagantly. I thought it was Kate Bush at first {;>)
Now it's back home for 24 hours and then out from Sharpness again on
Tuesday, aboard Waverley. I suppose they might let me drive.
Beeky
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