Passage Planning

I have been asked recently just what planning goes into a trip like the one we are due to undertake next week. So as a little taster here is a sample of just what goes into planning each stage of the trip.

The following plan is just for the first leg of the trip from Torksey to Grimsby.

Torksey to Grimsby – Saturday 13 July 2013

Tide Times:

HW Hull = 10.00am

HW Torksey = 1.30pm

Flood @ Torksey = 11.30am

Flood @ Trent End (evening tide) = 7.05pm

HW Grimsby (evening tide) = 10.00pm

Free flow Grimsby = 8.00pm – Midnight

Passage Plan:

Leave Torksey = Approx Midday

Arrive Trent End = Approx 3.00pm

Leave Trent End = Approx 7.20pm

Arrive Grimsby = Approx 8.40pm

Sunset = 9.30pm BST

Notes:

On leaving Trent End anchorage and entering the Humber inform VTS Humber of your intentions (VHF CH15). Change to CH12 below Humber Bridge.

On arrival at Grimsby radio ahead to Fish Dock Island (VHF CH74) to request permission to enter the lock and travel through the dock to Grimsby Yacht Club. In the yacht club basin the visitor moorings are immediately to the left outside the club house.

Paperwork to be completed Sunday morning with berth master when refuelling. Be on fuel berth for 7am.

Free flow Grimsby on 14 July = 8am to midday. Aim to be ready to leave 8am.

Now this is just a simple passage plan. On top of this there is also the ringing around to confirm your arrivals and departures with various ports and also the plotting of the waypoints for the trip and inputting them into the chart plotter and onto the paper charts.

Trips of this nature take a lot of forward planning; it isn’t just as simple as firing up the engine and heading out on the canal. To a point though the planning of a big trip like this is part of the fun of the adventure.