St Katharine’s Dock, London
26th June – 2nd July 2021
With Haven Bridge still undergoing its major improvement works & remaining resolutely shut the most challenging logistic was ensuring our fleet that were largely based in Brundall could negotiate the railway bridges to Oulton & lock through to Lowestoft Harbour. In the event it was a very easy and unstressed event with Paul & his team on Mutford Lock & their positive can-do attitude, getting all of our boats through by mid-afternoon.
We had a very pleasant evening at the RNSYC after a skippers briefing & retired early ready for an early start the following day.
We departed Lowestoft Harbour at 0530 on Saturday with weather & sea state both very pleasant as forecast. It was the first time since lockdown that many of these boats had had a good run so our engineer Speedo & the NYA Rib were kept busy for the first couple of hours attending to minor issues. After that the fleet settled down to an 18 knot passage into the Thames as far as Gravesend Reach. Here we slowed down to displacement speed for the run up –river to the Thames Barrier & on to Tower Bridge & our destination St Katharine’s Dock & Marina.
We locked into the Marina & relaxed into a few days of sightseeing, shopping & socialising in the Capital.
We departed on Thursday morning, again in excellent conditions & returned to Lowestoft via Wolverstone on the Orwell for a night & farewell meal & drinks at the Lock & Quay restaurant.
Early start again on Friday morning to arrive at Lowestoft for the 1115 bascule bridge lift.
After a lot of lockdown it was great to get back out on the water in great company.
