Visit to Londinium 1 on 16th April 2011
On Saturday 16th April myself, David Russell, Doug and Des drove up to London for a trip on the Thames on Londinium 1, the Thames Regional craft, a Nelson 42, moored at H.M.S. President by Tower Bridge.
We arrived at 0930 and after a little bit of bother getting in passed the MOD Guard, went through the usual checks on the boat and set off with a total crew of 8, firstly through Tower Bridge (they wouldn’t lift it for us), around the Pool of London past the Tower and H.M.S.Belfast and then set off downstream towards Greenwich.
Just below St. Katherine’s dock we saw the River Police Station, with 4 Targa 31s alongside and then we passed “The Prospect of Whitby”, one of London’s oldest pubs on the edge of the river, and now surrounded by converted warehouses and modern flats.
On past Canary Wharf, Greenwich Naval College, the Cutty Sark enshrouded in plastic, the O2 arena, Thames barrage and out into the wider reaches till we passed over the Dartford tunnel and under the QE2 bridge. We picked up a buoy at Thurrock Yacht Club where Gravesend Unit members were assisting with the annual launching of the members boats (a bit of back scratching I gather) and some of the crew went ashore to find some essential matches and after a brief lunch it was time to head back.
Unfortunately we had the tide against us both ways and the river is surprisingly narrow as the tide ebbs, especially as in the afternoon the Tourist traffic increases, particularly some very fast Clipper catamaran River Buses, which go at quite a speed and frequently cross from side to side to visit the various piers. Londinium 1 alarm is regularly sounded on these occasions, one ring meaning “Waves” or watch out for the wash, which can be considerable!
A good day out finished when we berthed at President just after 1600 and after a quick clean up we went ashore and took the Skipper home to Fleet where tea was drunk, arriving home at 1945. In spite of the early start it was generally voted a good trip and travelling was easier than I thought in spite of the Marathon the next day – we declined to wait and run!
Many thanks to David Lockwood (Skipper) and members of the City of London and Gravesend Units who made the trip possible.
Peter Lockwood
02/04/11