This page features
UK Molly-worthy Waterways - (2019?)
Abroad eg. The Great Lakes of Mazuria - (2019?)
A possible future "Long Sail" - London to The Medway (2019?)
A possible future English Raid - Medway (2020?)
A Possible Future Long Row - Lee & Stort (2019?)

Other ideas include Sail the Greek Mediterranean .
and A Thames Sailing Barge for a day.

UK

Which of these UK Waterways would you like to explore in Molly?

Most would need research. See the table below for more information

ABROAD

Various waters compared.

Several "Whalers" are interested in
exploring The Great Lakes of Mazuria

We could charter one or more live-aboard yachts
(PW has experience of chartering here)

Want to know more? - Click the map above.

Ideas please to Webmaster. Use this handy reply form for inspiration and your reply.

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A Possible future "Long Sail" - Thames to the sea - eg Gallions Point to Southend, Sheerness or Rochester (Medway). - (Could also be a "TASTER" for a Medway Raid?).
35 miles Gallions to Sheerness, or reverse (either way is tide-dependant).
(PW has experience of this area. - eg several runs Greenwich to Medway in one day)

DESCRIPTIONS
Jim Shead Waterways .Medway - Include tidal section and to Sheerness - Distances. Details, Links to Pictures (loads). Many other links.
Canal Plan - Thames, Tidal section, Woolwich Barrier to the sea.
Canal Plan.org.uk - Medway - Tidal section - Useful map and chart.

NAVIGATION, etc - (Data being collected - PLEASE SEND ANY USEFUL LINKS.)
Port of London Thames Recreational Users Guide - Teddington to Broadness - Broadness to Sea Reach.
Slipways -
Need to identify suitable slipways at each end - London end - Gallions? Estuary end; North side & South Side. Medway & Swale - See Medway Rowing above
Might need overnight mooring, accommodation en-route, eg Gravesend, North Kent, Essex..

(Canal Guide = Nope) - ("Waterways Routes" = nope)

"Map" Gallions to Sheppey, Measured

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A Possible Future English Raid - The Medway, its Estuary, and The Swale. Back to Top
Famous for wildlife, Rochester Castle & Cathedral, Chatham Historic Dockyard, Isle of Sheppey, The Swale, Harty Ferry, Faversham Creek, Real Ales!
An estuarine and bay area of creeks and islands, a similar size to Golfe Du Morbihan - See comparison..
(PW has experience of this area.)

2018 would be the 351st anniversary of the Battle of the Medway (The Dutch inflicted one of the worst ever defeats on the British Navy)

DESCRIPTIONS
Jim Shead Waterways .Medway - Include tidal section and to Sheerness - Distances. Details, Links to Pictures (loads). Many other links.
Canal Plan.org.uk . Medway tidal section

NAVIGATION, etc
(Data being collected - PLEASE SEND ANY USEFUL LINKS.)
Need to identify suitable slipways Thames Estuary; North side & South Side. Medway & Swale.
Need to identify moorings for overnights and day visits. Thames Estuary; North side & South Side. Medway & Swale.
See Medway Rowing above.
Need to identify overnight accommodations - Thames Estuary; North side & South Side. Medway & Swale.
Consider combination of Arethusa and Medway Yacht Club.

The Swale -
Faversham -

(Canal Guide = Nope)? - ("Waterways Routes" = nope)

Slipways - Bottom end:-
Medway Yacht Club - Expecting us
Otherwise "fall-back" at
Gillingham pier, Slipway 51.397289, 0.554601 Picture.
Queenborough. TBC

ACCOMMODATION:-
Arathusa - "Ensuites for Staff...." (worth checking) - Close to Medway Yacht Club
IN OR NEAR THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD:-
Ship and Trades Hotel
Premier Inn Chatham/Gillingham Victory Pier
Travelodge Chatham Historic Dockyard, Western Ave, Chatham ME4 4NT, UK
University of Kent, Medway Campus. Liberty Quays Blake Ave Gillingham ME7 1FL UK
Some of the above are near Gillingham Marina.

Medway Estuary "map"

Thames and Medway "map".

Aerial view from North

Medway Estuary and
Morbihan compared

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A Possible Future Long Row - Lee and Stort Navigation. eg Hoddesdon to Bow Creek
Mixed rural and urban/industrial. 24 miles (TBC) + Locks.

DESCRIPTIONS
Canal Guide.co.uk .Lee & Stort - History. Route description with pictures.
Jim Shead Waterways . Lee & Stort .Distances. Details, Links to Pictures (loads). Many other links.
Canal Plan.org.uk ..Lee & Stort. Useful map and chart.
Waterway Routes.co.uk .- Lee & Stort, Limehouse Basin, River Lee, River Stort, Hertford Union - Tables of distances, etc. Cruising maps to buy.

NAVIGATION, etc
Canal & River Trust .River Lee Navigation - Useful for Map, stoppages, etc.- C&RT license required.
Boaters'Guide to London's Waterways - Info and maps.

Slipways - Top end
Lee Valley Marina. (& crane). Stanstead Abbas, Herts SG12 8AL, 01920 870 499, .email .
Rye House, Rye Rd, Hoddesdon, EN11 0EH. 01992 465151 ? . Lee Valley Park (Free? but need permission).
Hallingbury Marina ?. 01279 723568.. email.
Boatlaunch . (Use the map to find slipway then details)
I W A. - L&S - List of boatyards.

Bottom end - At Thames, need to consider - Tide height & direction. Possible slipways.

BB has kindly offered to do the on-site research for this region, and currently suggests:-
"Possible itineraries might include:

1. Friday PM: Launch at Lee Valley Marina (Stanstead Abbots) public slipway see Boatlaunch
   Up to Hertford to moor overnight.
   Hertford -> Thames (at Bow, or Limehouse via the Cut). Through the Olympic Park towards the end.
   Total trip (excl. Fri) under 30 miles 19? locks.
OR
2. Fri PM: Launch at Kecksy’s Farm (Sawbridgeworth) 51.820573, 0.158198 (but slipway will need checking)
   Up to Little Hallingbury marina or Stortford to moor overnight.
   Stortford -> Thames as above
   Total trip (excl. Fri) 32 miles 30? locks
   Alternative might be to crane in at Little Hallingbury if they can do it.

Both the above are shorter than our normal two day rows, but we’d need to add time to reach whatever slipway we finish at and possibly account for the tide. If Poplar Rowing Club, we could potentially choose to emerge at whichever of Limehouse or Bow gives us the best passage to the slipway for the state of the tide."

Map - Lee & Stort

Lee Valley Slipway

Lee & Stort Navigation

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Misc info sources and technical stuff:-

NAVIGATION, etc
EA River level at Newbury. Theale. Blakes Lock.
EA River Thames closures etc. . < CHECK "Last minute".

Weather forecasts (based on Reading) - "Dark Sky". TWO . Metcheck, YR, Met Office, TWC..
To get an idea how far ahead you can trust them, see these "Ensembles" - WeatherCast, Wetterzentrale.

Slipway - Top end -
Newbury Marina. Mill Lane, RG14 5SG. 01 635 282 208, 07584 566 197. email.
Boatlaunch . (Use the map to find slipway then details)

Other sources:-
Canal Guide.co.uk - Kennet & Avon . History. Route description with pictures
Jim Shead Waterways . Kennet & Avon .Distances. Details, Links to Pictures (loads). Many other links
Canal Plan.org.uk .River Kennet. Useful map and chart
Waterway Routes - Might be useful?
Canal & River Trust - Kennet & Avon . Useful for Map, stoppages etc
Inland Waterways Association .

Boatlaunch . Use the map to find slipway then details.
River & Canal Licensing - A list of authorities.
Canal Guide.co.uk - Online guides to many UK canals & canalised rivers...
Canal Plan.org.uk - Maps of many waterways.
Jim Shead Waterways . Distances. Details, Pictures (loads). Links. Interactive map.
Waterway Routes.co.uk . A source of cruising maps to buy.