Location, Parking & facilties
The Safety and Committee boats are moored at Royal Quays Marina. The Marina is at NE29 6DU. Follow signs for Royal Quays and the North Sea ferry. Leave the car ferry terminal to your right and carry on down Coble Dene to the Tyne Anew sculpture (orange crane). Turn left at the sculpture into the parking area for the Royal Quays Marina.
Royal Quays Marina now has parking charges. Berth holders, including TSC, are exempt. But, we must record members’ car registration numbers to avoid automatic charges. A parking management company now operates cameras. They read registration numbers and fine cars parked without authorisation. Upon arrival, you must visit marina reception. Please record your car registration number on an iPad on a pedestal in the marina office. This will eliminate the need to buy a ticket at the machine in the car park. It will also avoid a fine for non-payment.
There is a changing room (and toilets) at the marina. The office staff will tell you the security password to access them.
Keys / radios & pontoon Access
The TSC Committee Boat “Buoy Racer” is moored on Row A of the Royal Quays Marina NE29 6EU.; at berth No A2.
TSC Safety Ribs “Daphne” and “Doris” sit on their ‘Tetradocks’ on berths A4 and A6 adjacent. Row ‘A’ is closest to the river to the left of the marina entrance gangway. See here for satellite picture with boats marked
To gain access to the pontoon, you need to get keys for the boats you will use from the Royal Quays office (upstairs). The keys have a fob giving access to the pontoons. You will need to sign for the keys.
The committee boat “Buoy Racer” and the safety rib “Daphne” (the larger rib) have marine VHF radios on board. The marina reception keeps VHF radios for safety. Use them in rib “Doris” (the smaller rib) or as a backup on “Buoy Racer” or “Daphne”. All users must sign for and return all hand-held VHF radios to Reception after use..
Equipment & fuel checks
All items required by the Race Officer and Safety Crew, except the radio and key for the RIB, are on the boats. This includes a spare fuel tank. Sometimes, equipment gets misplaced. So, it’s good to check it before locking out. Check fuel before launching – let Quays know on Channel 80 if you need fuel.
tetradocks & locking out
An instruction video on use of the club’s Tetradocks is here
To arrange individual tuition on Tetradock use, contact the Sailing Secretary.
Exit the marina via the lock. Use Channel 80 to request lock opening. Traffic lights at each end of the lock control entry to the lock. Dead slow in the lock and moor as far forward on pontoon as possible using breast lines. Listen for the lockmaster’s instructions and stay aboard.
The river is tidal, but the marina is not, so it is necessary to use the lock to gain access to the river at lower tide. It takes approximately 10 minutes to get the boat ready and get to the lock. Royal Quays will lock in/out on request. Tune the radio to channel 80 to contact them & ask for lockout and listen for instructions.
- Traffic lights: RED – lock gate closed. Please wait.
- Traffic lights: GREEN – proceed into lock.
In the lock, moor to the pontoon as far forward as possible. If the pontoon is full then raft up to the forward vessel. All vessels in the lock must secure themselves with breast lines. Be prepared to take instructions from the lockmaster. Do not leave the vessel during the lock cycle.
Speed Limit
Dead slow in the marina, 6-knot speed limit to the Groyne (G on the Estuary diagram), then 10 knots are allowed. It takes about 10 minutes to get from the outer lock gate to our sailing area in the estuary.
Fuel
There will normally be at least one full tank in each boat. Petrol for the RIBs and Committee Boat is obtainable from the pontoon just outside the lock. Call Royal Quays and ask for fuel and moor up next to the fuel pumps. Only Royal Quays staff can operate the fuel pumps. Sign the form Royal Quays personnel give you. Note that the new committee boat red tanks are filled with 100% neat petrol. The engine is a 2 stroke but the 2 stroke oil is fed from a separate tank in the top of the motor. The oil will normally be topped up by the Sailing Secretary and does not need to be touched.
Contacting the Marina
This can be done on VHF channel 80 – Call sign “Royal Quays Marina”. Also by phone on (0191) 272 8282.
The whole cycle of going to the marina, picking up the boats and travelling to TSC sailing area will probably take an hour, make sure that you are aware of this so that the racing / sail training begins on time
return to the Marina
Stick to speed limit on the right side of river and use Channel 80 to request lock in. Mount the tetradock, secure rib, and flush engine using TSC collapsible ‘X-hose’ (hanging on tap) which screws directly to engine coolant hose on side of engine. Do not run engine during flush (2 minutes min) & re-attach coolant hose to engine on completion of flush.
Isolate battery on Daphne (Knob in bottom locker)
Replace cover to Buoy Racer and “Daphne”, & please, return keys & handheld VHF to Marina Reception before you leave.