Medway, Swale, C&B N Page 5

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Tour 2001

Thames Estuary, Medway, Swale, Thames Estuary, Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation, Thames Estuary and Tidal Thames to Brentford

5- Faversham Creek, including Oare Creek, Swale, Thames Estuary and Blackwater Estuary to Heybridge.

Thursday 3^rd May 2001

We left Faversham around high tide, a bit late at 08.15. This was just as well as we had trouble getting out as the creek was very silted, this far up. We got to the junction with Oare Creek at 08.55 and proceeded up it, arriving at the end in a sea of withies at 09.15. We did not knock over any of these little markers and did not go near any yachts!
Got back to junction at 09.25 and to mouth of Faversham Creek at 09.35. We proceeded up the Swale, at a slow pace, with the real idea of just going to Queenborough and contemplating the weather for a trip back home. Conyer Creek was passed at 10.40. At Kingsferry Bridge Ian C decided to go for Sheerness and a trip back round into the Medway Estuary and to run the boat up the beach at Lower Halstow, a magical little spot, that we had checked out during the Medway Explo day out.
While running out to Sheerness to go round Queenborough Spit we became aware that it was exactly high water, it was as still as a mill pond, the quick weather check with Sheerness was OK, the route was already plotted in the GPS and we would never have the chance / balls to do it again - yes it was Chelmer and Blackwater Time!!! Neil was somewhat unsure and retired downstairs feeling unwell.
Ian C and JC had a large attack of bravado and off they went (12.30) The direct route across to pick up the Shoeburyness buoys was abandoned in favour of a hack straight across the shipping lanes to just out from Southend (West Shoebury buoy) so as to take all the bow waves of the fair amount of spaced out shipping. This worked well and after a bit of speeding up and slowing down, we took the three big lots of ships bow waves, bow on.
Soon we were at the other side (13.00) and out of the shipping lanes. Havengore Tower was passed at 14.30 and Blacktail Spit buoy at 14.35. Neil contented himself with back up buoy recognition as Ian C steered all the way.
Many weather checks now ensued as once past Havengore, the next safe haven was the Crouch and that was not exactly far off the Blackwater. The N Easterly did somewhat increase up to about 12 knots and started to veer to East. It was at least clear and we had only marginal problems identifying buoys. Some of the red / white jobbies just looked rusty! The land at Foulness is rather flat and when you are 8 miles out you rather rely on buoys and GPS.
Buoy timings were as follows :-Maplin (bell) – 15.25, Maplin Edge – 15.46, NE Maplin (bell) – 16.15. About this point we picked up a small sander barge, the “Roan” heading the same way as us, it was only about 80ft long and soon came along side. It was yumping along nearly as badly as we were now, so we began to feel a bit happier. They did not want to talk on VHF, but one bloke came out of wheelhouse and gave us a wave. He soon went back in as waves were breaking over the gunwales!
The main channel from here on over the edge of Buxey Sand, follows the Wallet Spitway Channel, via the following buoys :- Whitaker No6 (cardinal), Swin Spitway (bell, red/white, red ball on top), Wallet Spitway (bell, red/white), Knoll (cardinal), Eagle (green), NW Knoll (red), Bench Head (green). Ian decided that we could not take too much more of the strengthening sea, side on. The tide was starting to flood, so we decided to sneak over the edge of Buxey Sand. This decision was taken when we were half way between Whitaker (post with balls on!) and Whitaker No6. It got a bit more comfortable as we were now surfing in with tide and wind three quarters on our stern.
The “Roan” took the official channel and was left to starboard. We spotted Eagle buoy and headed straight for it, to come in just behind “Roan”. There was a disconcerting moment, when you could actually see the yellow of Buxey Sand underneath, but with a rising tide we felt secure. Back on course at Eagle buoy (18.10) the weather really became foul and darkened over. The waves started to break on starboard side of boat, causing a noise like the hand of God on the side of the boat!
This also made the saloon radiator give a good rattle. At the worst point, before we got sheltered the only item not secured or put in bath / floor was the full bottle of cooking oil. This of course had a crap cap and went flying! Neil and Frank then managed to soak this up using a good few copies of the Daily Telegraph. With all that we could get up gone we put newspaper down on the floor. Just after this we caught the “big one!” the odd wave went over gunwale level on Starboard side and slurped under the bottom of the side hatch – result was a good few pints of water on our newspapered floor. Thank God it was not the other side, for the Commode D’Or’s bed would have got the bottom soaked.
With this mopped up with yet more copies of the Daily Telegraph we settled down to some less turbulent sea as we turned into the Blackwater Estuary with the tide and wind right up our backside. Other buoy timings as follows :- NW Knoll – 18.22, Bench Head – 18.30. Really dark and overcast from now on. St Peter’s Chapel could be just spotted and soon the blurred image of Bradwell Nuclear Power Station came into view.
No more timings until Osea Island Pier (20.00) From here on the buoyed channel was very difficult to keep up with and we came in virtually on GPS. Fortunately JC had got the main turn buoyage points from Reed’s Nautical Almanac. A few of these way point timings were as follows :- Southey – 20.10, South Double Buoy – 20.15, Blackwater No8 Buoy – 20.25.
Finally the entrance to Heybridge Basin loomed ahead (20.30) we spotted a buoy free spot and Neil chucked out the now prepared anchor. It bit first time and then with all hands free, the boat swung round. The warp was then taken it a lot and securely fastened to bow T stud. Neil then probed the bottom with barge pole we had level mud, 9ft underneath.
By 20.45 we were inside, Neil allowed the Mikuni boiler exhaust plug out and soon we were beginning to thaw out. Frank had started a cobbled together chilli mince concoction, with rice and we soon woofed the lot. A small amount of Red Wine followed and yet another early night ensued. We were amazed to find that the GPS had correctly predicted our arrival time within a few minutes!

Leaving Town Wharf, Faversham.

Leaving Faversham.

Leaving Faversham.

Leaving Faversham.

Leaving Faversham Creek.

One day we will stop there!

Turning up Oare Creek.

Oare Creek. One for the barge spotters.

The end of Oare Creek.

Tidy little 23ft Colvic - What Ian C thinks Neil should get if he wants to do more of this kind of thing!

Leaving Oare Creek.

High tide at Sheerness - the point of no return?

Funny high tide boilings at Sheerness.

We have company!

End of Sheppey.

We hang about as this aggregate carrier gets going.

There's a lot out there! We lurk below the Medway Channel waiting for a clear spot. Believed to be Medway No8 buoy. Montgomery wreck markers to right of LH coaster. (JC Slide)