This morning the huge, unprepossessing “accommodation barge” that has graced Rochester riverside for 8 years was towed away by GPS Marine to Upnor where it will be refitted. KentOnline reported that the vessel will be transformed into 400 “luxury” holiday apartments in Gibraltar by a mystery businessman.

Apparently, and not a lot of people know this, the barge is known as “Hillside” and was originally built for the Dutch navy. GPS has been maintaining the vessel since it arrived from Portsmouth where it was used by the Royal Navy for crews in the process of changing ships. It has three decks with air-conditioned rooms plus leisure and communal areas, including a bar, dance floor and had a cinema or lecture theatre.

Read more at KentOnline…

A vessel moored at Rochester Pier without permission, sank on Thursday 9^th September.

We believe the boat was a liveaboard and would like to contact the owners.

If you have any information, please contact adam.taylor@medway.gov.uk

UPDATE 16.09.2021: The vessel was lifted yesterday by Peel Ports and moved across the river to the Strood side, where it will be broken up and disposed of.

We don’t normally feature news that is not specific to the tidal Medway and Swale but this has just been passed to us from Peter Norris, MSBA committee member and Director of Network Yacht Brokers. There are new Customs and HMRC rules that come into effect from 31 December 2020.

Notice 8: sailing your pleasure craft to and from the UK – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The little red boat that was cast adrift by vandals has been stolen again. Last time she was found on the Medway Estuary salt marsh by the police and returned to her owner.

UPDATE 6.11.2020: Members of Hoo Ness YC found Glug Glug today and we have informed the owner.

Further to reports of diesel being siphoned from moored vessels at Queenborough and Strood, we are now hearing of outboards being stolen from boats at Medway Yacht Club and Hoo Ness Yacht Club in the last few days. We would welcome a response from Kent Police as we have received no information from them so far.

An orange and white tender was found drifting past Chatham Docks yesterday evening. It has the name Dee Dee on the bow. Let us know if it’s yours or if you know whose it is. Contact info@msba.org.uk

Customers of Jetstream Tours were treated to the rare sight of about thirty short beaked common dolphins, which indicates a good supply of fish this year. Or it could just mean they took a wrong turning from the North Sea.

This rare lifting-keel Sadler 32 was seen on Greenborough Marsh, near Stangate Creek. Thanks to helpful members of the boating community, the owner was traced and informed. It appears that Allegretto became detached from her mooring in Gillingham Reach during a storm and drifted 4.5 miles eastwards. After heroic attempts by members of Segas Sailing Club the salvage operation was eventually left to the professionals and the boat is now ashore awaiting a survey.

Come and visit Medway Yacht Club for our first event of the season. It is open to everyone and free of charge: you can go for a sail with an experienced club member. If you already have some sailing experience, you can try a different class of boat. If you are an absolute beginner and you would like to try the great feeling of sailing on River Medway, this is an unmissable opportunity!

Also try our Stand Up Paddleboard with one of our instructors, guiding you for your first experience on a board!

Medway Yacht Club offers a warm welcome to all new visitors and members, we have a new training programme including sailing on regular basis, powerboat, paddle and shore based courses. We are family friendly with a strong focus on our junior and youth sailing pathway, but we also offer a lot of learning and racing possibilities for adults.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/98759699921

https://www.facebook.com/events/187680585872474/