Medway Towns Rowing Club Head Race, 17 Oct

Posted on 9th October 2021 by admiral

An important “Head” rowing race will take place on Sunday 17 October, starting at Wouldham at 1pm and ending at Rochester.

A timed race over a distance of 3 miles downstream on tidal water on the River Medway from Wouldham Church to Medway Towns Rowing Club. To be rowed on an ebb tide.
The event will have a maximum of 50 crews.
The event is for eights and fours / quads, both river and coastal.

A number of motor boats will be stationed along the route to marshal the racers. Other boaters please keep clear.

Debris clearance underway in upper reaches of Medway

Posted on 4th November 2020 by admiral

Briggs Marine, working for Peel Ports, have cleared over 5 tons of debris from the river this week between Halling and Elmhaven Marina. A new purpose-built, electric “Waterwitch” vessel, that can pass under Aylesford Bridge, will soon be deployed to keep the upper reaches clear.

Naked rower rescued from Medway

Posted on 18th February 2020 by admiral

At 5pm on the wild afternoon of 15 February, during Storm Dennis, residents of St Mary’s Island spotted a naked man “sheltering in a tent” on a small rowing boat, anchored just a few metres from the shore. Apparently he was afraid to lift the anchor in case the dinghy was blown away in the extreme conditions. After a rescue operation involving the Coastguard, the RNLI all weather lifeboat, firefighters, police and ambulance crews, the man was brought ashore at 7.30pm.

More information at Kent Online…

IWA talk on River Medway, Thurs 23 Jan

Posted on 13th January 2020 by admiral

The Kent & East Sussex Branch of the Inland Waterways Association invite you to an open meeting on the River Medway (the non-tidal bit).

David Payne and Jason Adams from the Environment Agency will be giving an illustrated talk on the Environment Agency’s work on the River Medway, and all are welcome to attend, whether IWA members or not.

Thursday, 23 January 2020 at Strood Yacht Club, Knight Road, Strood, ME2 2AH, at 7.30pm for 8pm

St Ayles Skiff Talk, Faversham, Sat 21 Sept

Posted on 20th September 2019 by admiral

Alan Thorne has arranged for Alec Jordan to visit Faversham this weekend, to talk about the St Ayles Skiff community boat building project. All are welcome to this talk at the Prifier Building, 2.30pm. Faversham Creek Trust is supporting Alan to develop a Community Boat Building Project for Faversham. After Alec’s talk, Rosemary Devos of Coast for Life will be speaking briefly about her ambitions for developing connections and actions, bringing together people all along our coastline to bring many benefits to our communities.

Port Authority pays for yacht club pontoon

Posted on 22nd July 2019 by admiral

The burgeoning membership of Benfleet Yacht Club are benefitting from new £9,500 pontoon funded by the Port of London Authority. Rowers, kayakers and paddle-boarders appreciate the low level pontoon which makes acess to the water easier. Miles Featherstone, the PLA’s assistant harbour master for the lower tidal Thames, said “That’s why we are investing in practical improvements like this pontoon … to make it more accessible for people to enjoy.” John Hancock, Vice Commodore at BYC, said “We are a self-help club, not a commercial organisation, so greatly appreciate the PLA’s generosity in supporting this new pontoon. It not only widens our offering, but is fundamental to our ability to keep up with growing demand. Above all it underpins our absolute commitment to doing things safely.” In June, BYC hosted the annual 18-mile Nore Race, started in the 1920s, in which many Medway and Swale yachts take part. Read more…

Try Rowing on the Medway, 14 July

Posted on 27th June 2019 by admiral

Rowing is a great way to enjoy the river and stay fit. If you are 18 or over, come and try rowing at Medway Towns Rowing Club’s open day on Sunday 14 July.

Medway/Swale Boating Conference, 9 March 2019

Posted on 24th December 2018 by admiral

Liz Rushall

Dave Selby

Will your club exist in ten years’ time? Our 2019 conference will focus on the future of our local clubs, which still form the core of active boating on the Medway and Swale. A major report has highlighted a decline in participation in most but not all watersports. Sailing in particular is in free fall. So what exactly is going wrong and what are we going to do about it? Key speakers Liz Rushall and Dave Selby will present different views on how our clubs can adapt to a changing world. Other speakers will present how local clubs are successfully dealing with ageing membership and new styles of boating. Get your earlybird ticket here…

Dragon Boat Racing, 27 May, from 10.30

Posted on 30th April 2018 by admiral

This is the ‘flagship’ charity event for the Medway Sunlight Rotary Club and one that everybody involved in really enjoys. It is held on the Whitsun Bank Holiday Sunday in May and races run throughout the day over a short course of 250 Metres of Basin No 2 in Chatham Maritime. More information…

Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club Spring Head Race

Posted on 2nd February 2018 by admiral

Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club will be holding the Maidstone Spring Head Race on Sunday 4 March 2018. Boats will be launching from the Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club steps and King’s School Boathouse from 08:00 hours and should be clear of the water by 16:00 hours. The races will be run on a timed basis over a course from Allington Marina bend to Town Bridge, Maidstone. There will be four divisions starting at 09:00, 10:45, 12:30 and 14:15 hours. Each race should last between 45 and 60 minutes.

Would all other river users please give the rowers unhindered passage during race times. Vessels travelling upstream from Allington Lock may be asked to wait until a race has been completed.

For further information please contact Allington Lock on 01622 752864.