On Thursday, 12 December 2019, we will have minced pies and mulled wine during the break. James and Carol Littlewood will be stepping in at short notice with an exciting and well humoured talk as, unfortunately, the talk on Morning Star and the Morning Star Trust has been cancelled at very short notice, more details on the night .
Having “sailed” the coastline from the Norwegian Arctic Circle to La Rochelle, James and Carol Littlewood decided it was time to visit the “inside”. In 2014 they started to explore in a “motor boat” the gutters of France, the ditches of Belgium, the canals of the Netherlands and the big waterways of Germany. James will talk about some of the differences between “outside and inside”, will compare locks with crocodiles and will give us a glimpse of French champagne country and the German Mecklenburg Lakes.
We are all invited to these excellent Kent Cruising Association talks, which are held at 8pm at the Dog and Bear, Lenham, near Maidstone. It’s a good idea to book a meal (by 5pm please) on 01622 858219 for 7pm, before the talk. A special CA menu is available.
GridLink Interconnector Limited (GridLink) is proposing to develop a high voltage direct current interconnector linking the British and French electricity grids. The GridLink project will consist of two converter stations, one close to the existing National Grid 400kv substation at Kingsnorth and one near Dunkerque. The converter stations will be connected by underground cables (onshore) and subsea cables (offshore).
Intertek has been appointed by GridLink as Marine Consultants to support the development of the project. GridLink is intending to submit an application for a Marine Licence (to the Marine Management Organisation) for the construction, operation and maintenance of a new electricity interconnector under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, in May 2020. In support of the Marine Licence application, GridLink will provide environmental information and an assessment of potential environmental effects. For example, the application will demonstrate that due consideration has been given to navigational safety, the historic environment, effects on nature conservation sites (e.g. marine protected areas) and effects on other marine stakeholders (e.g. recreation and fishing). [Webmaster’s emphasis]
Intertek is currently preparing an Environmental Report to support the Marine Licence application. This will provide a baseline for each environmental topic; describe the likely effects of the proposed development on each topic, including identifying those that are potentially significant; and if necessary outline project-specific mitigation to be followed to avoid or negate adverse effects.
Stakeholders and the public will have the opportunity to review and comment on the Marine Licence application through a consultation exercise once the application is submitted. However, Intertek would like to ensure that the application documents address any concerns that stakeholders have prior to this consultation process.
Further information on the GridLink project can be found here. Intertek would welcome any questions and/or concerns regarding the project for consideration in the preparation of the Environmental Report, particularly from clubs or organisations close to the proposed route. From experience in the Thames Estuary, the MSBA is concerned that the works may require exclusion zones that may block access in or out of Stangate Creek for instance, affecting several clubs. The information supplied does not give reassurance on this point.
Comments can be provided by letter or email to the following address: Anna Farley, Intertek, Exchange House Liphook, Hampshire, GU30 7DW Email: Anna.Farley@intertek.com Tel: 01428 727800
The MSBA has published a third edition of the Medway and Swale Visitor Charts. This time Gavin had the brainwave of including visitor moorings, slipways and fuel berths in addition to general updating.
What’s more, Peel Ports London Medway (yes really) have just published Official 2020 Tide Tables for Sheerness and Chatham. Print them off and don’t forget to add an hour for BST come next summer.
Find these and other useful free stuff on our Downloads Page
The Marine & Coastal Biosecurity and Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) workshop will be held at Riverside Country Park, Gillingham on Thursday 12 December. It is primarily targeted towards people involved with the management of coastal/marine waters, or for those who work, organise, or deliver activities in coastal/ marine areas. For example:
This is the first of two workshops to be held in this area, and is designed to provide attendees with the tools to better manage the threat of INNS and help create a draft biosecurity plan. It will include:
• An overview of regionally important INNS • Improving site biosecurity • Tools to write an effective estuary biosecurity plan • INNS reporting
This workshop is free to attend and there will be refreshments available throughout the morning and a light networking lunch provided at the end of the workshop.
A
second, follow-up workshop will be held in early 2020 with the aim of pulling
together the outputs from the first workshop and producing a draft estuary-level
biosecurity plan for the Medway Estuary area.
If you have any questions about the event or would like more information, please feel free to contact Alice Morley, Marine Conservation Officer, Kent Wildlife Trust, phone 07702 551524 or email Alice.Morley (at) kentwildlife.org.uk
This bi-annual cruising/racing conference is aimed at the motor and sailing yacht fraternity within the RYA London and SE region and is for RYA personal members, and members of RYA affiliated clubs and organisations (including the MSBA) as well as members of stakeholder organisations in the region.
It aims to provide interesting and cutting-edge talks and workshops to inspire sailors for the upcoming season, providing a forum for networking and discussion on topical issues. The event schedule can be viewed here.
The conference is free to attend with an optional £12 pre-bookable hot lunch payable at the latest on the day. Book here
If you didn’t get to the RYA Regional Affiliated Clubs seminar last Sunday you missed some very useful tips and information for keeping your club members engaged, particularly with regard to volunteering for the committee, work parties and so on.
All is not lost however; an access-for-all webinar will be broadcast on Thursday 5 December (7-8pm) to delve deeper into the findings and recommendations with the chance to ask questions. If you can’t join us please sign up anyway and you’ll be able to hear the recording after the live show. Register here for the webinar.
Medway YC are organising their last Powerboat Course of the year on 5 and 6 December. The RYA Powerboat Level 2 course covers the theory and practical skills needed to be a competent powerboat driver. Focusing on low speed close quarters handling, man overboard recovery, an introduction to driving at planing speed and collision regulations. This course is governed by the Royal Yachting Association, who sets the syllabus for the Level 2 powerboat course. This course will also allow you to apply for an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) should you wish to go boating abroad. If you are interested contact Inti Guaschino at training@medwayyachtclub.com or come to Medway Yacht Club’s Office.
Please make sure your club or organisation is represented at the MSBA Annual General Meeting at Medway Yacht Club, Lower Upnor, ME2 4XB on 26 November 2019 at 19.00hrs, followed by a Business Meeting.
At the AGM, there will be the election of officers for the MSBA committee. Please consider volunteering for the committee as there are vacancies.
As this is the last meeting of the year before Christmas, a buffet will be provided free of charge and there is a bar in the clubhouse.
If you didn’t receive the agenda and minutes by email please contact secretary@msba.org.uk. We look forward to seeing you there.
