Navigation

The river bank at Chepstow is a busy and interesting place, especially during the season.

There are realistic speed limits on the small distance between the Castle and Road & Rail Bridges. Please adhere to them to avoid danger and damage to the river margins and craft moored on the steep banks.

The river is considered coastal waters all the way up to Bigsweir Bridge.

Tides

The area boasts the second largest tidal range in the world. In the River Wye, the tidal pattern is radically affected by fresh water levels, wind and barometric pressure. Because of this, mariners need to be aware, particularly, of the possibility of a reduction in the effective clearance beneath electricity cables and bridges over the river.

Chepstow (off the town)

H.W. Avonmouth + 20 mins.
L.W. variable but approx Avonmouth + 1 hour.
Dries out except mid-stream.
Tidal/River flow rates on the ebb, at Spring Tides:
- Summer - 8 knots.
- Winter - 10.5 knots.
- On the flood: Summer - 6 knots.
- Winter - 4 knots.
There may be no discernible flow on the flood, if the river is swollen badly upstream.
River Entrance at Beachley
- Mean Spring range - 12.5 metres.

View this great tide chart for Chepstow.

FROM AVONMOUTH

If you set out from the Avonmouth area, or perhaps you have used the pool at Portishead to await a suitable tide, shortly after half flood, with a westerly wind, or under power, you can safely make Chepstow in good time. To make life easier, aim to arrive at Chepstow about 1 hour before H.W. Try to let someone know that you are coning. Night-time passage is not recommended unless you have good local knowledge.

You will have spotted the Second SWIM cm (M4) road bridge before reaching Avonmouth. The channel beneath the bridge is recognised as running under the longest un-piered section. The leading marks at St Plum are not easy to see from this distance.

Set out from GM Bllly(port hand, off Denny Shoal), keeping Portishead astern, aiming at the channel under the bridge. Check progress regularly, but at 5 knots or more, at this stage you should only need to make small corrections to your steering. You will begin to feel the tidal stream more as you approach the shoots between the Lunar Shoots hem The lighthouse on Chilton Rock will now be a good front marker against the shore. You can use ‘eyeball’ transits along this stretch to check your progress. The waters swirl about a bit as you approach the bridge (and will continue to give you an interesting ride until you are past Charston rock).

Having passed under the bridge, two more solid beacons guide you past Old Ian's Had to starboard. The stream splits at Charston rock, so you will need to be positive early on about which channel to take. Unless you are bound for St Pierre, for the easiest channel, leave the lighthouse to port. (See Chepstow and District Yacht Club notes on www.cdyc.co.uk). Clear Chilton Slldl with clearing bearings off the mun Down at St Pierre. A magnetic course, then, of about 035 will guide you towards the entrance of the River Wye.

Once the approach is made, the general rule will be to tend to the starboard side of the mid-water line of the river; (the Wye is not a busy river, but you may come across a sand dredger or water skiers). The charted clearance of the electric power lines across the entrance to the Wye is 18 metres, (see notes on tides), but if you are worried, keep to the Beachley (eastern) side of the catenary for a bit of extra clearance. There are tracts of M.O.D. land at Beachley. The nearby road bridge (M48) crossing the Wye should not be a problem.

The last obstacles before Chepstow are the rail and road bridges (A48) just below the town. The construction of the rail bridge means that clearance in the channel is down to about 3.5metres (M.H.W.S) but there is extra height over to port near the west bank if your air draft is critical. Once clear of the rail bridge, the road bridge presents no problems.

You have now arrived in Chepstow. The pontoon is on the port side, adjacent to the BOAT INN. Stout mooring lines will be needed.

A small donation towards the upkeep may be left behind the bar at The Boat Inn if possible please. Thanks

Further up the Wye

The river is tidal a number of miles up but how far you can go up depends on the type of boat and the height of the tide. If you're unsure it's best to seek futher information from the club before pushing too far up.