[IJC 38]

Just a note Oilskin, the Yellow Perils could not get under the bridges on the Thames, I only mentioned them from a navigating point as opposed to the flatties which kept out of the counter currents opposing the tide as they didn't need to they had the speed to judge their passage time. The yellow perils we took close inshore to take advantage of every counter current known to assist our passage, sometimes only left us a foot under the keel, couldn't use the shortcuts in bad weather as the bow would have bounced along until it came to a full stop, and squat at the stern when going full ahead even on these tortoises would have increased draught by 4 -6 inches at the stern. The navigators on the Yellow Perils had to be on their toes at all times as you were always in a close quarter situation, hard work but interesting, also hard work in port with three hatches of dominoes and king and queen beams to play around with.


Cannot recall two vessels alongside at the same time, couple of reasons why not, if the waiting vessel was loaded and the tide goes out and she sits on the bottom then you have more difficulty for her coming afloat as she has sucked herself into the mud and will pop out causing a strain on the moorings when the tide is running, also whilst a visual inspection is made of the river bottom at low tide by the wharf foreman, he cannot see what's underneath the mud, loaded vessels usually waited for the berth and tide and anchored down at Gravesend Reaches.


When the loaded vessel arrives it is always on high water and discharging is started straight away, so by the time low water arrives the vessel is probably more or less half discharged lessening the suction affect and by the time there is enough water to sail the vessel will have completed discharge. Even if arriving late Saturday they would commence discharge to lighten the vessel, so she wouldn't be sitting over the weekend in the mud fully loaded, which may have induced sagging or hogging stresses apart from the suction affect.


If a vessel was in ballast it would sail as soon as it floated to ease the passage under the bridges giving you more airdraught, and it is always easier to navigate stemming the tide than it is running with it.