RYA Affiliated Club Conference, 2 Dec

Posted on 21st October 2017 by admiral

RYA affiliated clubs can send up to four people for free to this excellent all-day conference which will be held near Maidstone. Lunch and refreshments are provided.

This year we will be unveiling the regional plans for the next four years and delivering the RYA national updates. There’s a choice of workshops that could help benefit your club and there will also be the opportunity to meet members of other clubs within your region. This conference is perfect for your committee members.

The day will be hosted by your Regional Development Officer Steve Mitchell. If you have any questions about the event please do not hesitate to contact him via email steve.mitchell@rya.org.uk

Please see conference documents.

Hovercraft in Faversham Creek

Posted on 20th October 2017 by admiral

This photo of a group of hovercraft forming an orderly queue in Faversham Creek was taken by MSBA committee member Bob Telford. Bob is active with the Faversham Creek Trust and keeps his boat in the creek.

RNLI attends grounded yacht

Posted on 13th October 2017 by admiral

Photo Derek Chalk

The crew of the Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) were called by the UK Coastguard at 8.33am on Friday 13 October reporting that a yacht had run aground on Hoo Island in the River Medway with its sails still set. The crew located the craft at 9.09am and found the yacht hard aground on the island. The single male occupant of the craft reported that he lived onboard the boat and was quite happy to await the next high tide to re-float him and then make his way back to his mooring at Strood. The ILB was released at 9.26am and was back on station at 9.50am. Weather conditions at the time of the incident were fair with the wind SW force 5.

Harbour Controller Wanted

Posted on 13th October 2017 by admiral

Applications are invited from enthusiastic pro active persons in the Leisure Boating Industry to join the team at Queenborough Harbour Trust CIC in the role of Harbour Controller. The harbour is a not for profit Community Interest Company which is rapidly developing and expanding. The successful candidate will be responsible for the day to day running of the harbour, management of staff and plant equipment, as well as be part of the team developing the harbour. The successful candidate will also need to show evidence of a successful track record in the industry as well as qualifications, expertise and experience in management and marketing similar organizations. In order that there is a smooth transition from the current post holder the Directors wish the successful candidate take up the post as soon as possible before the new year, if at all possible.

Interested persons should apply, for full further details, in writing, including a CV, to the Chairman at the following address by 31st October 2017.

Queenborough Harbour Trust CIC
Harbour Masters Office
Town Quay, South Street
Queenborough, Kent
ME11 5AF

Blue Yacht seized by Peel Ports

Posted on 10th October 2017 by admiral

Photo Rob Chandler

The nameless blue yacht was evicted from Sun Pier and then moored unsuccessfully on the Historic Dockyard slipway, as shown in this photo taken on Sunday. The vessel, which has been the subject of more than one RNLI call out, has now been towed away to Sheerness. Medway VTS informed us that the boat will be held until the owner comes forward with proof that he has a legitimate mooring for it. Well done Peel Ports!

PS Waverley visits the Medway

Posted on 9th October 2017 by admiral

Photo by Jason Thomas

PS Waverley, the last passenger-carrying sea-going paddle steamer in the world, visited the Medway on Saturday as part of her annual round Britain cruise. The historic tug Touchstone was among the local boats that went out to meet her.

Vessels obstruct Faversham Creek

Posted on 7th October 2017 by admiral

Peel Ports have advised that the exceptional high tides have caused some vessels in Faversham Creek to float into the wrong places, in some cases out of the creek altogether. The infamous “pirate ship” Revenge, which has featured on this website several times before, is obstructing the channel having tipped onto its side towards the middle of the creek. Photo from Peel Ports Notice to Mariners No 31 of 2017.

“I’ve got a dead whale on my bow”

Posted on 5th October 2017 by admiral

Jack Smedley and the whale carcass he and his crew brought into Sheerness docks

Sailing past Sheerness Dock on Saturday, your webmaster thought he was imagining it when he heard the captain of the huge car carrier call Medway VTS saying, “We’ve got a whale carcass on our bulbous bow.” He later called again to say it had slipped off when the ship reversed away from the dock. Read more at Kent Online…

CA Winter Warmer talks start on Thurs 12 Oct

Posted on 4th October 2017 by admiral

Carl Madjitey will give a talk on the 1667 Raid on the Medway. The 350th anniversary was commemorated by Medway Council this year.

In June 1667 the Dutch, under the command of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, bombarded and captured the town of Sheerness, sailed up the River Thames to Gravesend, then sailed up the Medway to Chatham and Gillingham, where they burned three capital ships and ten lesser naval vessels, and towed away HMS Unity and the English flagship, HMS Royal Charles.

The Cruising Association Kent Section Winter Warmers are held at 8pm on the 2nd Thursday of each month at The Dog & Bear Hotel, The Square, Lenham, ME17 2PG. Situated 8 miles east of Maidstone, just off the A20 in the village square. All are welcome. There is a small charge of £3. Many eat beforehand and it helps speed up service if you telephone the pub on 01622 858219 and order your meal before 5pm.

Further CA Winter Warmers will be as follows:

9 November 2017: Matt Craughwell on Rowing the Atlantic Ocean
14 December 2017: Jeremy Littlewood, HM Coastguard, on Safety Equipment for yachts
11 January 2018: Patricia & Neil Lynn, Engineering Our Way Across Europe aboard Sea Griffin
8 February 2018: Members’ Confessions, what went right or wrong?
8 March 2018: Jeremy Batch on 110 Years of Cruising

Narrowboats to the Medway, IWA Talk, 11 Oct

Posted on 3rd October 2017 by admiral

A talk by Simon Judge on last year’s visit by eleven boats from St Pancras Cruising Club. A narrowboat convoy went from London to the Medway last year: 11 went, 10 came back.

Kent and East Sussex IWA
Wednesday 11 Oct 2017, 7.30 for 8.00pm
At Gravesend Sailing Club, East Promenade, Gravesend. DA12 2BS

Map of venue available here: https://www.waterways.org.uk/kent/ke…dwithclarendon