Sharpness to Gloucester (the old way!).

In September 2020, Wye Invader Two made the trip from Sharpness to Gloucester the way ships used before the Sharpness and Gloucester Canal was built in 1827. This route is not recommended for normal navigation and has rarely been travelled by narrowboat since 1941 when the lock at Llantony Weir was closed.

[@flyfisher2426]

A very good video. Showing the complexities of steering through a difficult river which tended to move tge bow hither and thither. Well done the crew.

[@johnanthonycolley3803]

Awesome..
The Adventure of a Lifetime 🤗
( Other than very light craft )
It all my years ive nether seem or heard of anybody sailing this route ..
The amount of flotsam is unbelievable ( and that final section upto the weir certainly needs maintenance)
Would be great to reopen Llantony Lock ..
May God continue to His Grace for you all.
John .. Colley

[@barclayyonks4390]

I had no interest in bloody narrowboats before I bloody came across your bloody channel. I think we both share a bloody passion about that bloody river but in different ways. I have also bloody scouted the river between Gloucester and bloody sharpness. My favourite area is the Hock cliff section. I have been in the river as far as Awre and know every bit of that river upto bloody maismore. I admire your knowledge to navigate those bloody treacherous sections. Knowing first hand on something 10 ft long the power of that tide. Enough to knock you off your feet in a foot of water, mark my words. I wish the weirs were destroyed and like years ago we could see the Bore travel down both channels and hit one another.

[@Gintonics2]

Bloody hilarious but i feel ya!

[@DARKNIGHT1310]

Outstanding! Perfectly planned and masterfully executed. That part of the river is so full of mystery and fear! fantastic to watch 👍😀

[@jasonchess7698]

Very skilful on a very trick waterway. Well done chaps.

[@Tyley61]

Fantastic footage. The passage over Llantony Weir looked easier that I was expecting.

[@johnb7644]

Wow , that was brilliant, well done, 👍👍👍👍

[@MichaelJohnson-hw7om]

Well done Frank - we discussed this a lot and I'm glad that all went well. On a slightly higher tide we have experienced greater difficulties pushing through the rubbish that adorns the eastern section of the Lower Parting; it's far "easier" via Maisemore but, as you say, it would have taken you a little longer 😊

[@quavernote4307]

How about trying it with a Rib with two 300 hp outboards it shoult cut your time by 2 hrs
Also very safe boats on that river !!

[@gordonbucher1090]

Well done lads that looks like it was well planned and I think you could maybe try some drone footage next time..

[@chriswalford4161]

What’s the main challenge? Keeping water under the boat or keeping way against the flow? Can you read the river to see where the sandbanks are with confidence?

[@WyeInvader]

An understanding of a 10.5 metre Spring tide at Sharpness would be a good start. At 1.5 to 2 hours before high water, with almost 30 feet of tide at Sharpness, the tide has already reached Gloucester 26 miles up river and is being held back by the weir at Maisemore on the River Severn and Llanthony Weir on the Lower Parting downstream of Gloucester Lock, the more rain there is, the more river water there is flowing down the Severn and the greater the depth of water, the less risk there is of smelling her bottom!
The total distance from Sharpness to Gloucester is about 26 miles. You have to be confident that your boat or narrowboat is capable of doing an average speed of about 10 mph, this allows you an option within the first hour and the chance to return to Sharpness if there is a problem. Otherwise, you have about 3.5 hours to complete the navigation, departing 2 hours before high water from Sharpness, to pass under the Old Rail Bridge at Gloucester with sufficient air draft and then to pass under Maisemore bridge, again with sufficient air draft and to then to pass over the weir at Maisemore to clear the weir.
Keeping way - Having in the last 9 years, been up and down the River Severn from Sharpness about 45 times navigating the Severn with tide is not a problem however, going against is almost impossible for a narrowboat,
If you Lock-out from Portishead to return to Sharpness and you are locked out early, Yes you can see the sand banks and its only possible to do this if you stay within the navigable channel, and I understand that is the reason for Sharpness Lock to insist on no Lock ins earlier then 2 hours before high water.

[@roycarpenter6380]

Not a trip for the inexperienced ! Imagine in days of yore doing this on a saling barge !
We did it using a RIB about 20 years ago and don't recall anywhere near as much rubbish. It must be a sign of the times and part of the worldwide ecological problem of all our rivers and seas. Let's hope that our leaders realise the damage being done to our aquatic life and ultimately to ourselves.