Datchet - Full or Empty?
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Category: General
Forum Name: Banter
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URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6101
Printed Date: 10 Aug 25 at 9:08pm
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Topic: Datchet - Full or Empty?
Posted By: radixon
Subject: Datchet - Full or Empty?
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 11:24am
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I was at QMSC at the weekend to find 3 metres or so of water drained out, but i have heard Datchet is empty, how empty is empty? Anyone know when they are putting the plugs back in and turning the taps on? |
Replies:
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 11:44am
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Grafham is pretty low too. We just haven't had enough rain this 'summer', especially here in East Angular. I think if they turn the taps on only dust will come out.... I joined Datchet for a winter season a while back but it was such a long trek to the water and the bank then was so steep as to make launching very tricky (if you were alone and let go of your trolley it would slide away very quickly), so it was hardly worth trying to sail. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: Graham T
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 11:57am
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We've had a shortage of foreshore space most of the year
with high water levels at Kielder..... ------------- Osprey 55 "Tebutinnang" Osprey 1245 "Two Bob Bit" Miracle 1358 "Thumper" |
Posted By: dave.blakesley
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 12:08pm
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Apparently at datchet if they empty it below the first levelled out section, the walls will collapse anyway, so i cant imagine its that empty, i remember a few years ago them having to do emergency structural work on the walls during a water shortage in order to enable them to empty it further. Have you checked the honda webcam? That usually gives it away. ------------- |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 12:17pm
I doubt that: I've sailed there with islands in the middle... |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 1:01pm
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As an X fast handicap captain at Datchet I can support Jim's view that the
walls will not cave in when the waters low. I have sailed when there have been islands too. In fact when the water drops below the first level it makes launching and recovery a lot easier as you can drive down to the second shelf. When it is in between it is a right royal pain. Best to use the ramps on either side. ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: Villan
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 1:15pm
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Dave - thats QMSC that could start colapsing if its too empty. ------------- Vareo - 149 "Secrets" http://www.TandyUKServers.co.uk" rel="nofollow - TandyUK Servers |
Posted By: dave.blakesley
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 1:49pm
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Ah right my bad...Knew it was one of the 2! ------------- |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 2:32pm
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and I can't see Datchet on the Honda http://ww1.honda.co.uk/webcam/ - webcam if people can can they post a picture. Talking of QMSc, there is talk of digging out the middle, but it will have to be replaced due to the way the resevoir works. I did get told why if you really want to know. ------------- |
Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 2:42pm
| if they did out the middle will the use it to build a proper slip way? The current arrangement was a nightmare at the RS inlands there a few weeks ago trying to launch of a leeshore when you couldn;t touch the bottom but your rudder was still cracking into the concrete wall. |
Posted By: Roy Race
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 2:55pm
How did they build it in the first place then? |
Posted By: timnoyce
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 3:00pm
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haha, he's got a point!
------------- http://www.facebook.com/bearfootdesign - BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 3:26pm
I can, but I can't readily get a snapshot. Looks about 15 to 20 feet down: wind should be eddying nicely! |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 3:34pm
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I have wasted 5 minutes of my life trying to see the camera shot of Datchet. It looks a little lower than QMSC but still would be worth the trip if I wanted to. As for the current shot, nice double hander on the lake at the moment! ------------- |
Posted By: Villan
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 5:21pm
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Looked like it was a LONG way down .. It was 15 meters down 2 weeks back when we picked the Blaze sail up from being repaired .. ------------- Vareo - 149 "Secrets" http://www.TandyUKServers.co.uk" rel="nofollow - TandyUK Servers |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 6:42pm
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I remember sailing at Datchet at the first SGP where there were 120 boats, the strt line was longer than the first beat! The second 'shelf' was just exposed then, it made launching and recover a breeze but dragging the boat back to the top of the hill on the Sunday was hard work! ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: Jamie600
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 7:58pm
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Only 3m? That's nothing, this is Pennine at the moment -
------------- RS600 1001 |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 05 Nov 09 at 8:29pm
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http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=97624 - This Texas lake would like some of your water , they're a bit short on their own. ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: mike10626
Date Posted: 06 Nov 09 at 1:45am
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The link to the Honda Webcam is http://ww1.honda.co.uk/webcam/ - http://ww1.honda.co.uk/webcam/ . Last weekend it was about two-thirds the way down between the top beech and the lower beech so lauching is best via the ramps at either end. The club has also recently invested in a winch for those who still insist on launching in front of the clubhouse. In many ways it would be better if Thames water let it down as far as the lower beech - but they do not think like that these days. If it carries on raining, from previous experience, it will be pumped back up in time for the Winter Warm-Up in February - hopefully sooner if the flow in the Thames gets back to normal. Mike
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Posted By: rich96
Date Posted: 07 Nov 09 at 2:04pm
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Datchet is loosing lots of active members due to this. When I sailed there we had regularly 20 + club Lasers racing throughout the year - most of the good ones have gone to QMSC or other lopal clubs. Looking at the club race results the numbers are terribly low. I can remember sailing there on just club days and the water was very busy with boats and cats of all types. Its a shame bencause the water can be great to sail on - much clearer and easier launching than QMSC.
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Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 07 Nov 09 at 4:40pm
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Spare a thought for Wier Wood as well. They were saying that they were only at 43% of their level. Not sure what this will equate to in feet below normal but it was a long way from the top of the slip to the water across some very yucky mud!
------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: laser4000
Date Posted: 07 Nov 09 at 6:31pm
So like sailing in a 1/2 full pint glass then - with the breeze going across the top. Not fun.
Eh? Put trolley on combi trailer and tow up the hill - how hard can that be? |
Posted By: Jon Emmett
Date Posted: 07 Nov 09 at 8:40pm
Eeeek We have Laser regional race training at Datchet the first weekend of December... I can not believe I am saying this but I hope it rains lots this month!!! ------------- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Your-Own-Tactics-Coach/dp/0470973218/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312565831&sr=8-1 - |
Posted By: mike10626
Date Posted: 07 Nov 09 at 10:10pm
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That sounds like a glass half empty response. Low water levels just makes Datchet like any other inland venue with hills or trees surrounding a reseviour. The wind is a bit more shifty than when it is full but unfortunately London seems to be using the water. It just makes you appreciate what a great place Datchet is to sail at when it is full.
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Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 08 Nov 09 at 11:40am
Nice idea but they were not allowing vehicles down there because there were so many boats, it would have been 1 in 1 out and taken hours. Most people teamed up and helped drag boats up the ramp. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 08 Nov 09 at 5:46pm
Here at Island Barn just down the road close to Hampton Court the water level is down too - about a foot I reckon as you can see. 
We've got "open" days for RS200s every second Sunday and Solos every third Sunday of the month over the winter if your own club is suffering with water levels... The RS200s seemd to have a good session today... 
We're lucky: it seems to be Thames Water's last choice reservoir although that comes under the heading of famous last words... |
Posted By: Skiffybob
Date Posted: 08 Nov 09 at 8:48pm
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Oxford is only down a couple of feet too. We have a few defectors from Datchet. ------------- 12ft Skiff - Gordon Keeble and the Furry Fly-by AC - GBR271 - Whoosh B49 - Island Alchemy |
Posted By: mike10626
Date Posted: 15 Nov 09 at 6:02pm
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As expected Datchet is now filling up again - currently at about 30 cm a day. It was noticeably higher today compared with last Sunday. Hopefully with the rain we are having at the moment they will put the pumps on full power soon. In the past they have managed to raise the level right from the lower beach to the top in less than a month ! (I'd ask for the defectors back but I cannot see any on Oxford's results sheets). Mike |
Posted By: mike10626
Date Posted: 29 Nov 09 at 6:01pm
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Datchet is now full - at the current rate it may be overflowing by next weekend. Now we are back to having the easiest launching for miles around with no mud to contend with and (when the are not 170 Optimists there) the ease of rigging your boat right next to your car. I won't make any claims about the smoothness of the breeze as that never happens inland. I hope to see you all at the Winter Warm Up over the four Sundays in February. Mike P.S. There were five RS500's out for club racing this morning. |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 29 Nov 09 at 6:30pm
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I've heard tale that King George (Lea Valley) recently got so low the windsurfers were scraping their fins through the mud on the bottom. ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: Jon Emmett
Date Posted: 30 Nov 09 at 11:19am
Great just in time for the Laser Regional training this weekend! ------------- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Your-Own-Tactics-Coach/dp/0470973218/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312565831&sr=8-1 - |