Left circling on the tidal Trent

I WAS rather intrigued by the articles in narrowboatworld about CaRT encouraging boaters to use the tidal Trent below Cromwell weir, so here is our first experience of boating on the Trent, taken from the log for 2012, writes Mick Fitzgibbons.

 

We had consulted the day before with the lock keeper at Torksey and booked our passage for 10:30am. In the event we actually locked early (on the advice of the lock keeper at Torksey) onto the Trent and we departed at 09:40. Steady if uneventful progress was made down river on a good ebb tide.

Maiden voyage

I had done some safety preparations for our maiden voyage, in what was a new to us boat. I set up the heavy anchor, chain and warp on the bow. I also prepared the small anchor ready for deployment on the stern. I then programmed the VHF radio to channel 16 and 74 so that we could monitor any large traffic movements on the Trent, just in case of any eventuality. I did all the usual pre-start checks—radiator water level, engine oil level and stern gland greaser. The weather was superb the sun was exceedingly hot in an almost cloudless sky. We had a set of Trent charts ready to follow as we dropped down-stream.

When we passed West Stockwith Lock, the Trent was at a low water point and the lock cill was clearly visible. We could not have exited the Trent in an emergency if we had wanted to do so. We did not meet with any other boats until we were about five miles from our destination. When we caught up with several narrowboats including Mojo and Sailor Vee. We joined the back of the convoy and adjusted our speed to match theirs. Mojo was trying to raise Keadby Lock by VHF marine radio as he passed under the M180 as did Sailor Vee a short time later. But there was no answer from the lock keeper.

Things begin to change

However, when we were in sight of the wharf cranes, at about 13:30 we heard the keeper say via radio that he would not be able to lock any boats before 2:45 due to the low water level over the cill. This meant that Sailor Vee and ourselves were all sailing around in a circle on the Trent to kill some time. We did this by returning up river between the M180 and the railway bridge.

When the first tranche of craft eventually came out of the lock at about 3pm, the locky would only allow two vessels into the lock including Mojo. He turned the lock then released a second tranche from the canal onto the Trent. However, this time he would not allow any vessels from the Trent into the lock!

In full flood conditions

He turned around an empty lock to eventually release a third tranche from the canal. At about 16:00 we were called into the lock, whilst the river had by this time changed from a steady ebb into full flood condition. We were at this point at the head of the circle of boats and had to manoeuvre into the lock first. This was a good test of Rosie's engine. Keeping half a boat length from the wharf we edged up to the lock entrance and with a quick burst of speed and hard over on the tiller, we entered without a problem. Not a bad result for a first attempt to lock at Keadby on a full flood tide. Sailor Vee who was behind us also managed to complete the manoeuvre without a hitch much to the relief of both crews.

Beware

It should be born in mind that we were working to the advice of the Trent lock keepers. We were released from Torksey early, on the lock keeper's advice. Only to arrive at Keadby almost an hour and a half before any boats could be accepted in off the river. It was two and a half hours before we entered the lock. I would have thought the priority would be to pen waiting boats in off the river. However the lock was turned empty to release another pen of boats off the canal. Leaving us to push against the now turned tide. I am not complaining about what happened. I am giving a heads-up that even with best advice things can and sometimes do go wrong. I also like to know where any refuge points are, along the river such as the dolphin moorings.

Now I use on-line tide tables and prefer to calculate my own passage departure and arrival times before consulting with the lock keeper. But the wind, the tide and the amount of fresh water entering the river can have significant effects.