| Subject: |
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Bristol to Sharpness |
| Name: |
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PeterScott |
| Date Posted: |
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Dec 20, 06 - 12:33 AM |
| Email (optional): |
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p&e@homescott.free-online.co.uk |
| Boat Name: |
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Odyssey |
| Message: |
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I agree with Howard on waiting to see what happens to the weir.
Odyssey did the trip about ten years ago. We were all concerned about the insurance requirements, which OS sorted out in time for the trip - the insurers made pilotage a mandatory requirement iirc.
But narrowboats are not made for sea passages, and the holiday-loss consequences of losing the boat are not really covered by any insurance scheme at the moment.
I remember the description of the passage: it required waiting alongside a dock at Portishead for the tide to drop and then to start the Severn leg, with a different pilot as it happened. Odyssey had to wait most of the day for this and fend off the wall as the tide dropped eleven feet during that time.
Well, they were prepared for the eleven feet drop, but were surprised when they had misread the papers. Actually it's an eleven METRE drop.
The boatlog says that as they hadn't filled with fuel since Honeystreet, they were relieved to reach Sharpness with the engine still going. I still get the heebiejeebies when I read that bit :-) And there are some pictures in the picture-log of happy people under the Severn Bridges not wearing lifejackets. More heebiejeebies. Sigh. Anyway they and the boat survived the experience, as have many others before and since.
But not an experience to be contemplated lightly. And certainly not with a pressure of a timetable to be met. Best to be prepared to wait in Bristol Floating Harbour for the ideal day - not cheap - fees say 60' boat costs £160 for 15 days in the Floating Harbour. |
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