If you haven’t already booked, please be aware that with the Jubilee Pageant and several large group bookings, Queenborough Harbour is expecting to be VERY FULL, especially on the Friday. You are advised to check with the harbour (07456 459754) before planning on coming to Queenborough on the Jubilee weekend.
Category: Motor cruising
Dover Marina to close mid-May to end Aug 2022
Boaters planning to cruise to Dover and beyond this summer should be aware of the following notice buried inconspicuously on the Dover Marina website: “Final work is being undertaken to enable our new marina to open along with a wider marina improvement programme that will unlock a number of further benefits, including the opening of our new boat yard. These are exciting times, and we can’t wait for you to be part of it, but to enable us to continue making progress as quickly as possible and be ready to welcome you properly in 2023, we need to deliver other works in 2022, which will require us to temporarily close Dover Marina to new customers including Visitors this summer from 13th of May to the end of August 2022.“
Diesel stolen from moored boats
With the rocketing price of diesel this was bound to happen! Several boats at Strood Pelican Cruising Club, near Rochester Bridge, have reported that fuel has been siphoned from their tanks. Please check your tanks and report to the police if you believe a theft has occurred. Also please inform info@msba.org.uk so we can share the information with other boaters.
CA Brexit webinar now available to non-members
The Cruising Association hosted a Brexit Webinar for members on 22 January 2022, which is now published for public viewing by the wider cruising community. The CA’s Regulations and Technical Services group (RATS) continues to be at the forefront of lobbying on behalf of the cruising community to mitigate the impact of the UK leaving the EU, and there have been some significant changes in the past year which are presented in the webinar.
The webinar covers in detail the latest updates on:
- People issues – including Schengen immigration and the 90/180 day visa rules
- VAT issues – the latest on EU and UK VAT and the changes to Returned Goods Relief
- Recreational Craft Directive/Recreational Craft Rules – compliance and how it will affect you
HMRC Notice 8 Updated Today
MSBA committee member Peter Norris of Network Yacht Brokers has today been notified that HMRC has updated Notice 8 regarding rules on reporting required from 1 January 2022 for outward journeys to and inward journeys from EU countries. As Chairman of the Association of Brokers and Yacht Agents (ABYA) Peter has assisted HMRC in drafting the notice.
For the Notice including updates see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-8-sailing-your-pleasure-craft-to-and-from-the-uk
Rochester Pier still closed but there’s hope
Adam Taylor of Medway Council advises that Rochester Pier remains closed to all river users, please do not attempt access via the brow (walkway between the pontoon and main pier).
Medway Council are working hard to secure resources to repair the pier and bring it back into full use, more updates will follow.
The MSBA understands that the pontoon is safe to moor on and this is allowed for short stays (no overnight mooring) but you must not attempt to go ashore via the brow.
Fingers crossed for funding!
CA Kent Section
Clifford Mickleburgh has handed over running of the Kent Section of the Cruising Association to Sue and David Long, who many of us have met at the popular Winter Warmer talks. They will be using the CA system for newsletters and Eventbrite for bookings for face to face meetings. This year’s Winter Warmer talks will be held as Zoom webinars to give some certainty. The CA Zoom licence allows up to 1,000 participants so numbers shouldn’t be a problem.
They are planning to resume face to face meetings when it is safe and financially viable to do so. Anyone who wishes to receive the programme flyer and newsletters and is not a CA member can contact Sue and David at kent@theca.org.uk to be registered as prospective CA members. They will need to agree to their name being on the CA list under GDPR regulations. The CA will contact them annually to check they are still happy to remain on the list. This will allow them to be invited to the face to face meetings when they resume.
Allington Lock to reopen tomorrow, 3 June
Good news for motor boaters! After a protracted period for major refurbishment, the lock will reopen on 3 June 2021. Initially it will be operated by the contractors, and the lock will be available for two hours before high water and two hours after, between 7am and sunset.
The Environment Agency staff expect to take full control of the lock [and resume normal service] in the week commencing 7 June. For any queries, phone 01622 752864 or email allington.lock@environment-agency.gov.uk
Is this your boat? (UPDATED)
This 26 ft Bayliner motor cruiser (no name visible) appeared on Temple Marsh this morning trailing its mooring lines. Last night it was on the other side of the river by Hathaway Court.
UPDATE: The boat was towed back to Cuxton Marina by the Strood Yacht Club work boat. Please note it’s a lot easier to trace the owner if the boat displays a name.
Gillingham Marina is for sale
Since the death of the owner, 103 year old Mr Parham, there have been rumours but now it can be confirmed that Gillingham Marina is for sale by Savills. The property is open to offers as a going concern but is said to have development potential subject to planning permission.