Michael Askin wrote: > Hi Folks, > > Is there anyone who knows if there is an organised cruise crossing the > Wash after the national? > > There must be someone doing the trip, if only because they don't have > a narrowboat! Any ideas on how to contact them? > > Cheers, > > Mike
We only ever do disorganised trips accross the Wash! ;-) http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_01/fen7.html http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_04/Tour04_19.html John Chapman has retired from active Wash duty. The way things are we would NOT like to do and exit from the Great Ouse outfall, coming up on the top of the flood was bad enough. Clinton Dorrington (number below) is the ONLY bloke we would trust to organise a pilot. If you are doing it, then PLEASE try to visit the Welland and Glen. Ye Olde TNC Notes.... ******************************************************* RIVER GLEN, WASH AND TIDAL RIVER GREAT OUSE Navigation Authority for the River Glen: Environment Agency, Anglia Region, Kingfisher House, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough PE2 5ZR: Telephone: 01733 371811 - Fax: 01733 231840 Entrance to River Glen: Surfleet Sluice, Keeper - Richard Creasey: 01733 371811 Surfleet Sluice has to be passed through on the falling level, to avoid any length restriction. The Sluice arch is of limited dimensions, width 10ft 6ins x 7ft 6ins (max height of arch). A 70ft narrowboat would be able to wind at Tongue End, but not at many places before! Personally we think the best way to deal with the Environment Agency, the navigation authority for the River Glen, is to have a BW/EA Gold licence, then deal with Surfleet Sluice keeper direct. Water is unofficially available at Surfleet-Seas-End from a mystery tap - we never found it! Denver Sluice Keeper, entrance onto the non-tidal River Great Ouse- Mike Fairweather: 01366 382340 Fosdyke Yacht Haven. Contact David Parkinson: 01205 260240 Wisbech Yacht Harbour Master- Clinton Dorrington: 01945 58859 / 07860 576685 The best source of Wash pilots. British Waterways Boston Grand Sluice, entrance/exit from the River Witham: 01205 364420 The Wash is not the place for inexperienced sailors, let alone narrowboaters! Our passage to access the River Glen and go across the Wash was not conventional and relied on the extensive experience gained by one of our members. As ever, a well-prepared, seaworthy and powerful narrowboat is called upon if that is to be the craft used. The River Glen can be accessed with a passage from and to Boston without having to venture out into the Wash, BUT any craft doing this must be powerful enough to punch the fast ebb and flood tides present in the Tidal River Welland and Tidal River Witham. A low tide place of refuge must be used, for this we recommend (although not tried by us) Fosdyke Yacht Haven at Fosdyke Bridge on the tidal Welland Outfall. We do not recommend boaters to cross the Wash to Kings Lynn and access the inland waterways system via the Tidal Great Ouse and Denver Sluice. The sole Wash passage we would recommend would be from Boston or Fosdyke on the Welland Outfall to the River Nene. The only source of reliable pilots and help we are aware of is through Clinton Dorrington, the Wisbech Yacht Harbour Master. RIVER WELLAND, WASH AND TIDAL RIVER NENE Navigation Authority for the River Welland: Environment Agency Recreation and Navigation, Region: Anglia Region, Kingfisher House, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough PE2 5ZR: Telephone 01733 371811 : Fax 01733 231840 Entrance to River Welland: Fulney Lock - 01775 723350 Fulney Lock has to be passed on the level, so there is no length restriction. It is possible to wind a full length narrowboat at the end of navigation at Peakirk and a good few places before. Environment Agency Spalding Sub-area office: 01775 762123 Welland Yacht Club: 01775 769175 Fosdyke Yacht Haven. Contact David Parkinson 01205 260240 Wisbech Yacht Harbour Master- Clinton Dorrington - 01945 58859 / 07860 576685 The best source of Wash pilots. British Waterways Boston Grand Sluice, entrance/exit to the River Witham - 01205 364420 ******************************************************** ps John Chapman rides again!...this time on the Tidal Barrow/Suir/Nore...and probably if he has his way the Shannon Est... -- Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest - Shannon Reg 7410 Read about the start of our Irish travels at: http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_07/April_07/index.html Visit this site and help save our waterways from the DEFRA cuts http://www.saveourwaterways.org.uk/
