When the River’s in Flood – What to Watch Out For
There are days when you look at the River Thames and instantly know it’s up to mischief. The water’s higher, faster, browner, and charging past the moorings with all the enthusiasm of a Labrador that’s spotted an open gate. The Environment Agency boards have flipped to yellow or red, the landing stage creaks under the strain, and even the ducks are thinking twice about where to stand.
Sailing in flood conditions isn’t just “a bit lively” – it’s a completely different sport. If you’re learning to sail, teaching someone else, or simply trying to avoid ending up in Maidenhead unexpectedly, here’s what I’ve learned about the Thames when she’s running fast.
The Stream Takes Charge – Whether You Like It or Not
Normally, when the river is calm, you have a reasonable say in where your dinghy goes. In a flood, the stream has other ideas. It grabs the boat, drags it sideways, and does its best to introduce you to every overhanging branch within half a mile.
Tacking becomes an Olympic event. Landing at the club waterfront becomes a lottery. And if you miss the mooring? Well… there’s always Bourne End and a long walk back.
Debris: The Moving Obstacle Course
One of the more charming features of a flooded Thames is the endless supply of floating “treasures”:
• tree branches
• fence posts
• footballs
• the occasional unidentifiable object that you hope is just a log
These happily lurk just below the surface and pop up at the worst possible moment. A fast-moving dinghy meeting a half-submerged branch is not something you want to experience twice.
Always look upstream, keep the crew on watch, and remember that debris can move surprisingly quickly in a strong stream.
Launching and Landing – The Tricky Bits
Launching in a flood can feel like stepping onto an escalator that’s going the wrong way. You push the bow out, hop in, and whoosh—the stream is already dragging you halfway to Cookham before you’ve even sorted the jib.
Landing is even more fun. The usual gentle approach becomes a high-stakes exercise in timing, angle, and optimism. If you come in too slowly, the stream sweeps you right past the jetty. Too fast, and you might arrive with enthusiasm but not with dignity.
A safety boat on standby is an absolute must.
Reduced Space and Faster Consequences
On a normal day, the Thames gives you room to get things wrong. In flood conditions, that margin evaporates.
The channel narrows. The stream accelerates. Every manoeuvre needs to be planned several boat lengths earlier than usual. If you miss a tack, you don’t just lose momentum—you lose half the river.
It’s excellent for teaching quick decision-making. It’s less excellent for staying relaxed.
The Invisible Hazards
High water hides everything you normally rely on:
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submerged mooring lines
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the edge of the slipway
-
the exact position of that shallow bit that everyone forgets about
-
the weeds that snatch at your centreboard
You can be sailing over what appears to be smooth brown water only to find the rudder scraping the bottom because the river has changed shape again.
When NOT to Sail
There’s a certain romance in battling the elements, but there’s also wisdom in admitting defeat. Flood conditions are one of the few times when staying ashore is the correct seamanship.
If the EA boards show red, the stream is roaring, the pontoon is lifting, and the only boats moving are trees, then it’s officially “coffee-in-the-clubhouse weather.”
Even experienced sailors at Upper Thames sometimes give the river a respectful nod and stay off it until things calm down.
What You Can Do on a Flood Day
Just because you’re not sailing doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the river:
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check and tidy your boat
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practice knots
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help with safety boat maintenance
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film some atmospheric flood-flow footage
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write yet another blog entry about how much you wanted to sail today
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drink tea and chat about the glory days when the stream was only half as fierce
A River Worth Respecting
The Thames is beautiful all year round, but in flood she demands respect. It’s not about being fearless; it’s about knowing when she's in one of her moods. Once the water drops, the boards go back to green, and the stream calms down, we can get back to tacking practise, gybing drills, and the usual gentle chaos of learning to sail at 65+.
Until then, stay safe, stay sensible, and remember—no one ever regretted not launching in a flood.
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