Sail on Thames Barge Centaur

SB CentaurSB Centaur, originally from the Medway, is owned and operated by the Thames Sailing Barge Trust,  which is a member of the MSBA. The barge will be berthed at Lower Upnor (GPS yard), for a 2 day overnight cruise of the Medway and Swale area, with boarding at 7.30 pm on 14th August and returning by 3.00 pm on the 16th, costing £120 per head for 12 persons. Contact Chris Martin 07810 586318 for booking and other information. Please mention this website!

This local cruise by Centaur from TSBT’s recently acquired visiting berth at Lower Upnor is a first attempt to promote the Trust’s objectives again on the Medway, and the surrounding waterways of the local Thames Estuary, after a long absence.

Adopt a Plank at Queenborough Harbour

Queenborough Harbour Trust is inviting individuals and yacht clubs/associations to Adopt A Plank on the newly refurbished walkway. For £25 you get a silver plaque with a message of your choice for one end of a plank and for £50 you get a gold one for a whole plank. There are about 1200 planks to adopt.

The new 60 metre pontoon and existing ATL hammerhead allow vessels to berth alongside and you can walk safely ashore along the completely refurbished walkway. In addition there is a free trot boat and free gate tokens are given to overnight visitors. ALL monies raised will be used to provide services such as toilets/showers, electricity, enhanced security and other necessary services. Read more

Medway Queen goes to Ramsgate

Medway Queen
Medway Queen on way to Ramsgate, photo Wil Pretty

At midday on Sunday 17 May the Medway Queen departed from her berth on Gillingham Pier for Ramsgate, towed by the tugs Christine and Nipashore. After anchoring for the night off Margate, she arrived on Monday morning to commemorate the venerable paddle steamer’s role in the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation, codenamed Operation Dynamo. She is due to return at the end of the month. For updates, see Medway Queen Facebook page

Faversham Creek Basin Dredging Application

Faversham Creek Basin 2The proposed works are to restore the Basin as a working resource in the centre of Faversham, to enable traditional vessels such as Thames Barges to be berthed, restored and maintained there. This is part of a wider project to restore the whole Creek for the benefit of Faversham Town and its visitors, and to develop marine based employment.

The application to the Marine Management Organisation for the licence to dredge the Basin, is now out for public consultation. Please follow this link to the Faversham Creek Trust Dredging Application to find out more and respond with your support for the dredging application.

Raid on the Medway

In June 2017 the Medway will see the commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the Dutch Raid, known to our Continental cousins as the Battle of Chatham. The biggest humiliation of the Royal Navy was brought about by admiral Michiel de Ruyter, the subject of a new Dutch film: view the trailer for Admiral.

Dylan Winter spent some time in the Medway on his 19ft Mirror Offshore motor sailer and produced some excellent films for his Keep Turning Left series. This one deals with the embarrassing events of 1667: