Best state of tide to leave Gloucester?

[Theo]

Since it's just past the springs I thought that we hight take advantage of the tide to start us on our way to Tewkesbury.  What's the best time to leave? I would guess an hour before high water at Gloucester.

 

N

[ditchcrawler]

51 minutes ago, Theo said:

Since it's just past the springs I thought that we hight take advantage of the tide to start us on our way to Tewkesbury.  What's the best time to leave? I would guess an hour before high water at Gloucester.

 

N

Are you coming up the Avon?

[fatmanblue]

I would speak to the lockkeeper at Gloucester.  They will advise.

 

When the tide comes in, it goes up the West Parting quicker than the East (navigable) Parting.  So the tide can flow into the East Parting both upstream and downstream ... at the same time.

[john6767]

You just need to watch out for the debris that comes up with the tide when it overtops the weir at Lower Parting, think trees, fridges, all sorts.

[Rob-M]

There was an old thread about tides between Gloucester and Tewkesbury,

 

 

 

[PeterScott]

24 minutes ago, john6767 said:

...watch out for the debris that comes up with the tide when it overtops the weir at Lower Parting, think trees, ...

[Mrs Bearwood Boster]

We did the partings today(from Tewkesbury) & have never seen so many trees...& I mean trees !

[blackrose]

Although there's good advice above I don't think you can completely avoid the the flotsam and jetsam whatever time you leave. That's just part of going on tidal rivers. 

 

From memory it was about an hour before high tide at Gloucester when I left but the lockkeeper is best to advise. There's a floating pontoon at Tewkesbury you can use to wait for the lock.

[Chewbacka]

If the tide is going over the Gloucester weir you don’t want to be near Gloucester.  Call Gloucester lock and they can tell you if there are problems and when to avoid.

If you have a tide times app on your phone you can check tide heights at Sharpness and from memory a high tide at Sharpness needs to be a bit over 8m to overtop the weir, which it does about an hour later.  But check this with Gloucester lock in case my memory is off.

Even if the river above Gloucester has calmed down but is now draining the excess back to the sea the flow can be significant, and if going up river will seriously slow you down, so high engine revs & plenty of diesel.  Better to wait.

If you haven’t checked in advance, the lock keepers at Gloucester and Upper lode lock will usually warn you when you arrive if there is a trouble ahead.

3 minutes ago, Chewbacka said:

.

 

Edited August 3, 2023 by Chewbacka

[ditchcrawler]

If I remember correctly I left Gloucester before high tide and it caught me up, but that is several years back so not 100% sure, probably clear of the partings

[Rob-M]

I always locked out of Gloucester at 8am but I always looked to avoid a day when there was a tide likely to overtop the weir.

[Francis Herne]

October last year, high tide Sharpness 0918, I entered Gloucester Lock at 0830, left the bottom gates at 0847.

 

Outgoing tide plus quite a bit of fresh (last day of yellow boards) was quite fierce in the Partings and especially after joining the main flow at Maisemore at 0936 - I was going backwards at 1700rpm and nowhere at 2000.

 

Plugged very slowly up to Ashleworth where the tide caught me up (with a noticeable leading wave) at 1022, and after that quickly upstream, by Lark's standards anyway - Haw Bridge 1105, Upper Lode on the level at 1205 after a 10-minute pause at Lower Lode.

 

Wouldn't want to leave any closer to the tide than that, you need the option to turn around and return to Gloucester if you find a tree stuck across the Partings. That did happen to me on the way down, but fortunately the 70ft widebeam I was following ploughed straight through it!

 

Bear in mind the restriction on opening Llanthony Bridge between 0830 and 0900. Almost caught me out - you need to be on the right side of it beforehand if leaving that time.

Edited August 3, 2023 by Francis Herne

[GUMPY]

This could make it exciting 🤔

 

 

[Theo]

6 hours ago, Francis Herne said:

October last year, high tide Sharpness 0918, I entered Gloucester Lock at 0830, left the bottom gates at 0847.

 

Outgoing tide plus quite a bit of fresh (last day of yellow boards) was quite fierce in the Partings and especially after joining the main flow at Maisemore at 0936 - I was going backwards at 1700rpm and nowhere at 2000.

 

Plugged very slowly up to Ashleworth where the tide caught me up (with a noticeable leading wave) at 1022, and after that quickly upstream, by Lark's standards anyway - Haw Bridge 1105, Upper Lode on the level at 1205 after a 10-minute pause at Lower Lode.

 

Wouldn't want to leave any closer to the tide than that, you need the option to turn around and return to Gloucester if you find a tree stuck across the Partings. That did happen to me on the way down, but fortunately the 70ft widebeam I was following ploughed straight through it!

 

Bear in mind the restriction on opening Llanthony Bridge between 0830 and 0900. Almost caught me out - you need to be on the right side of it beforehand if leaving that time.

Should be OK.  We will be leaving at 0815 (We're in Gloucester Dock) HW will be at 1405 and all the river levels up from Gloucester are at either Normal and Steady or Normal and Falling.

 

Thanks for all the useful advice as ever.

 

Nick

[Mrs Bearwood Boster]

Just realised I could see you ! We're moored on the wall to your left & will be heading along the G&S (again) tomorrow including a Sainsburys stop. Have a good trip.Our trip along the partings was interesting...lots of trees to negotiate & it was a verrrrrry quick turn onto the partings themselves.Stay safe.

[Onewheeler]

I used to leave a couple of hours before high water at Gloucester. Go against the flow as far as the boat at Ashleworth, time for a couple of pints then jump on board as the flow starts to reverse. The pub is shut now though so ignore me.

[Theo]

We took note of the closed pub.  The mooring now has a laminated paper nitce saying "Private Mooring".  Very sad.  It looked a lovely place to stop.

 

N

[GUMPY]

42 minutes ago, Theo said:

We took note of the closed pub.  The mooring now has a laminated paper nitce saying "Private Mooring".  Very sad.  It looked a lovely place to stop.

 

N

It was.

Even better before they built the landing stage.

Beach the boat and tie to the trees/bushes.

[Theo]

Note to self: read through reply before posting.  Reduce mistakes which make you look foolish.

Edited August 5, 2023 by Theo
Correct mistake because I didn't take my own advice! Duh!

[Tracy D'arth]

The best state of tide to leave Gloucester depends on various factors such as the size and draft of the vessel, the intended destination, and the specific navigational challenges along the route. However, there are some general considerations that can help determine the optimal tide for departure.

One important factor to consider is the depth of water in and around Gloucester Harbor. Gloucester Harbor has a relatively shallow entrance channel, which can be a limiting factor for vessels with deeper drafts. It is crucial to ensure that there is sufficient water depth to safely navigate out of the harbor without running aground. Therefore, it is generally advisable to depart Gloucester during a high tide when there is more water available.

Another consideration is the tidal currents in the area. Tidal currents can have a significant impact on a vessel's speed and maneuverability. Departing during a favorable tidal current can provide an extra boost in speed and make navigation easier. On the other hand, departing against a strong tidal current can result in reduced speed and increased fuel consumption. Therefore, it is beneficial to time the departure to coincide with a favorable tidal current if possible.

Additionally, weather conditions should be taken into account when deciding on the best state of tide to leave Gloucester. Strong winds or adverse weather conditions can make navigation more challenging, especially when leaving a harbor or navigating through narrow channels. It is generally safer to depart during a slack tide or when the tidal currents are at their weakest to minimize the impact of wind and waves.

It is important to note that local knowledge and up-to-date information from nautical charts, tide tables, and weather forecasts are essential for making an informed decision about the best state of tide to leave Gloucester. Mariners should consult these resources and consider any specific guidance or recommendations provided by local authorities or experienced sailors familiar with the area.

In conclusion, while there is no definitive answer to the best state of tide to leave Gloucester as it depends on various factors, departing during a high tide when there is sufficient water depth, timing the departure to coincide with a favorable tidal current, and considering weather conditions can contribute to a safer and more efficient voyage.

 

[Francis Herne]

@Tracy D'arth Between the spelling of 'Harbor' and mention of nautical charts etc., isn't that advice for Gloucester, Massachusetts?

 

It seems too vague to be helpful even for the right place to be honest.

 

(It feels like I'm missing a joke but not sure what -- something in Theo's deleted post?)

[Tracy D'arth]

2 minutes ago, Francis Herne said:

@Tracy D'arth Between the spelling of 'Harbor' and mention of nautical charts etc., isn't that advice for Gloucester, Massachusetts?

 

It seems too vague to be helpful even for the right place to be honest.

 

(It feels like I'm missing a joke but not sure what -- something in Theo's deleted post?)

Ha, Ha.  Its me being silly.

That's what you get with AI, Americanisms, bad spelling, incorrect locations, its nonsense.

[Theo]

22 hours ago, Francis Herne said:

@Tracy D'arth Between the spelling of 'Harbor' and mention of nautical charts etc., isn't that advice for Gloucester, Massachusetts?

 

It seems too vague to be helpful even for the right place to be honest.

 

(It feels like I'm missing a joke but not sure what -- something in Theo's deleted post?)

I reckion that TD'A asked Chat GPT and out it all spewed. 😁

1 minute ago, Theo said:

I reckion that TD'A asked Chat GPT and out it all spewed. 😁

I was RIGHT!! 😁🙂😄

Edited August 6, 2023 by Theo