Now for some good news. This is Sun Pier yesterday, looking good with new landing pontoon and bridge. Medway Council plans to have the pier in service by Easter 2014.
Sun Pier
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Bad news from Hollowshore
Martin Ashton, Commodore of Hollowshore Cruising Club writes, “The Oare Creek entrance was not dredged as planned due to a late objection from Faversham Oyster Company (that have the fishing rights in the Swale). [Because of the tidal surge] we lost the pub (the Shipwrights) and it won’t manage to re-open in time for the holiday period. The clubhouse at the top of the creek had a couple of inches to spare!”
The Hoo Freezer is back!
Good news for hardened dinghy sailors: the Hoo Freezer is back on 15 and 16 February 2014. The event will be run by Wilsonian SC and Hoo Ness YC but will be hosted by Medway YC. More details will be available soon and a dedicated website has been created at http://www.hoofreezer.org.uk/
Proposed Medway buoyage changes: what do you think?
Deputy Harbourmaster John Gurton would like to know what we think about changing buoys 15 and 16 (green and red channel buoys between Oakham Ness and Bishop Spit) to quick flashing. It is suggested that this would reduce confusion with the other lateral buoyage. Use the Reply button to let us know what you think and we’ll pass your views on.
Environment Agency consultation closes on 22 December
Mark Loos of the Medway Swale Estuary Partnership reminds us that the closing date for comments on the Environment Agency’s ‘Challenges and Choices’ consultation is Sunday 22nd December. Please submit your comments at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/33252.aspx
Launched Sideways in Faversham Creek
This is a trailer for A Sideways Launch by Mike Maloney, available on DVD from www.cwideprods.co.uk
Do you listen to the Shipping Forecast?
That is the question being asked by the BBC. However their poorly designed questionnaire refers not to the forecast but to “Maritime Safety Information” and is really about whether they should keep their aging long wave transmitter going. Moreover the answers are on a scale of 1 to 5 but 1 is high and 5 is low so the survey may give misleading results. A cynic might conclude that the decision has already been taken!
For more comment and the survey itself: http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/specials/535619/bbc-to-assess-future-of-shipping-forecast
Yacht Design Course
Yacht Design Course 6 evenings – Jan to March 2014 Central London and Southampton
The International School of Yacht Design (ISYD) is running a Yacht Design Course over 6 evenings in Winter 2014. The course ran successfully in 2013 and this year is being offered as a ‘RYA Member offer’ for RYA members but the course is open to all and there are likely be members of your Club who might well be interested who are not RYA members.
Many attendees are interested in understanding the basics of stability and seaworthiness, or the aerodynamics of sails or the effect of hull surface roughness on performance plus many other topics from modern materials to the strength requirements of mast, boom and spreaders. Others are interested in understanding the design of their yacht, either to improve the yacht’s performance by modification of the hull, keel, rudder or sail plan, or simply to become a better sailor. The course is also of interest to those who want to learn how to evaluate the performance of a yacht based on its main data, for instance when buying a new yacht. A smaller group of interested course participants are those who ultimately want to design their own yacht.
Lectures will be held in Southampton on starting on Wednesday January 29th and in Central London on Thursday January 30th, 2014 and on successive Wednesdays/Thursday for 6 weeks but omitting the week of Feb 17th which is half term. The Lecture time is 18.00-22.00.
There are further details on the ISYD website – www.isyd.org – including the lecture syllabus and registration/payment details. Registration and payment needs to be made by December 15th as places are limited.
Medway Queen has arrived
Film by OCR Studios
Medway Queen under tow off Herne Bay. Photo Dick Holness, www.eastcoastpilot.com
Source Kentish Times
The Medway Queen, which was rebuilt in Bristol with a new riveted hull just like the original, berthed at Gillingham Pier on 19 November with a welcome from crowds of cheering onlookers. It is hoped that the “Heroine of Dunkirk” will soon be able to act as a floating museum and venue for events. One day she may even venture out under her own steam. Those who have given their time and money to revive the old girl can only hope!
Will Qatar gas deal scupper plans for airport on Grain?
In a £4.4bn deal, Centrica, which owns British Gas, announced a four-and-a-half-year agreement yesterday to buy up to 3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas from Qatargas. Sixty percent of our gas will be imported by 2020 and the Isle of Grain terminal is the largest in Europe. For security reasons, the terminal would need to be moved at huge expense if an airport were to be built there. Read more…