On Thu, 9 Oct 2008 12:14:09 +0100, "Julian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>Alrewas may be a special case but in general it is safer to go against the >flow, so much so that at Chertsey if the river is up and I am going >downstream I will turn the barge upstream and go through the bridge >backwards as I then have much more control. I'm aware that this is recommended, but I've (thank goodness) had to do it, nor even seen it done. I'd be interested in learning more about the practicalities; could you describe the process a bit? Presumably, for safety, you have to turn well upstream of the bridge, but then you have to steer, in reverse, quite a long way downstream to get your stern lined up in the navigation arch. How easy is it to steer like that? Do you rely on the direction of your prop-walk, on bow or stern thrusters, on ferry-gliding or on prayer? bjg
