Leaky gates and a flooding boat

A month ago we were descending the Watford Locks on the Leicester Section. We'd done everything right: we'd "booked in" with the lock keeper and were following his instructions. At least, we thought we were. We might have been just a little too quick.

This is what happened. We were following a boat down the flight and had just entered the top lock of the staircase. Suddenly, the lockie rushes up and tells us - in a calm but obviously concerned way - to back out of the lock. As quick as you like. We comply, and the lockie draws the paddles to start emptying the lock.


In the lock below an almost-full length boat was getting swamped by the water gushing through the ill-fitting gates between "our" lock and his. Our efficient and speedy passage through the single top lock of the flight had brought us to the top of the staircase rather quicker than the lockie had anticipated. When we refilled the lock which the boat in front of us had just emptied, the water spurted through the gates onto the counter of the boat below, and was in danger of flooding it. The steerer had to stand on the side lockers to avoid getting completely soaked. By lowering the water level in "our" lock the lockie was able to reduce the water pressure and avert disaster.


The gates were known to be leaky, and I think the lock keeper said that they were due to be replaced at the end of the season. Did we misinterpret the lockie's instructions and attempt to follow too closely? I hope not. When the boat in front had got through things proceeded as normal. Shadow, being a few feet shorter at 58 feet (above photo), was able to keep clear of the fountain by nudging the bottom gates.