PLA Notices

Notice to Mariners (NTMs) – Upper Thames

Notice to Mariners - Upper Thames

Lights Up!

Tuesday 23rd March 2010

Some of us from CKC attended a get together of local clubs on Tuesday night to test and compare a number of lights/ torches that paddlers are using for after dark Tideway paddling.  Representatives from the Port of London Authority (PLA) and BCU were there too.  The PLA are keen that paddlers operate as safely as possible and common sense and good practice prevails.

The trials were held at Shadwell Basin – so a very busy stretch of the river – and arranged by our very own Centre Manager (Harry Whelan).  Some earlier trials were held in February so this was the second round and was attended by more paddlers from several clubs around London.

Several of the Tower Hamlets lot volunteered to go out in their boats and help trial lots of different types of lights and combinations in different points of the river, i.e. dark/light/facing forwards/backwards/side on/close and faraway.  These were observed and assessed from the shore for the most effective and visible arrangement to other river traffic.  The performance of reflective materials on equipment was another aspect of the exercise.

No firm conclusions were drawn however it was decided that one light only was not enough and head torches are not ideal as they disappear when people turn their heads (head torches could instead be attached to BAs).

The best light of the night came from our very own Richard B’s ‘Blue Peter special’ the now named “diffuser” light.

So as a keen and eager Kit Officer following the meeting I wanted to earn my very own Blue Peter badge and have made some of these ‘diffuser’ lights for CKC.  These are relatively inexpensive and comprise an LED diving torch (44mm OD) with a 250ml Narrow Neck HDPE Bottle with the top cut off and inserted onto the torch to ‘diffuse’ the light and make it visible from the sides (max £10ea).

CKC Diffuser Light - On CKC Diffuser Light - Off

White flashing lights were also considered very effective – however care needs to be taken that these are not so bright that they blind other paddlers.  I will also endeavour to make some smaller flashing diffuser lights for shoulders – ideas on a postcard please!

I believe that there will be a formal email going around about the light session and guidance on the PLA website updated shortly thereafter.

Here’s to safer paddling on the Tideway and to me earning my BP badge :-))!

Jac

March 26th, 2010 | Category: Club, Equipment, Hot Topics, Safety | Leave a comment

Maiden Voyage

Thursday 11th March 2010

Tonight was the night – the maiden voyage, so to speak, of Chelsea Kayak Club on what will become our ‘home turf’ – padding on a flood tide, it’s from Chelsea Wharf outbound along the Thames to Westminster and the foot of the London Eye.  It was also an opportunity for some of the founding members to take a look at the facilities we’ll be sharing, get to grips with the Club’s enhanced safety protocols and sit in a sea kayak for the first time in ages.

This was the first of a number of introductory sessions, where the CKC river leaders (those who either hold or are in training for a 4-star qualification) are taken out by one of the experienced pros from the centre and given first-hand insights into the skill of navigating London’s busy River Thames.

We had a great night for this first outing – hardly any wind, reasonably warm and no rain – eight of us managed to get on the water a little after 6.30pm, truly the only thing missing was the bottle of Champagne smashed at the side of a boat to christen the trip.  Anyway, armed with a couple of water proof cameras, head torches and the eagerness of toddlers on Christmas Eve, we set off on what would be around a seven mile round trip.

Once finding our sea kayaking legs again and adapting to the stability of the boats, the first of the sights was the beautifully lit Albert Bridge reflecting off the calm waters of the river beneath.  After this we headed on down to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park, then up past the four great chimneys of Battersea Power Station, we then sloped by the MI6 building at Vauxhall and approached the Houses of Parliament as Big Ben chimed 8pm.  We continued on, under Westminster Bridge and stopped to catch our breath in the lights casting down from the pods of the London Eye before turning around and heading back with the tide.

This wasn’t just some sightseeing tour of London’s greatest tourist attractions in a sea kayak – throughout the 2 hour or so paddle we were constantly being shown the rules of the river; the eddies to head for, the ferries to watch for, the bridge lights to observe, the things needed to keep the group together and safe.

Back on terra firma a little after 9pm we stowed away the kayaks and hit the changing rooms and showers – keen to see what the other local Chelsea sites had to offer… it wasn’t long before we found the one we were looking for; the Lots Road Pub and Dining Room to celebrate CKC’s inaugural trip and recap everything we’d learnt from the session over a pint and a portion of chips.

John M

March 13th, 2010 | Category: Club, Cremorne, Weekly Sessions | Leave a comment
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