Some fascinating old cine film from the Medway Archive and Local Studies Centre
These are large files (35-45MB) in Windows Movie format (.wmv). Definitely not HD!
Month: August 2015
Lifeboat searches for lone sailor in Medway Estuary
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness inshore lifeboat ‘Eleanor’ were called at 4.15pm on Monday 3 August to the assistance of the 23 foot craft ‘Serendipity’ with one man on board, reportedly aground off Bartlett Creek, which is in the Lower Rainham area of the River Medway. The ILB arrived at the reported area but could find no trace of the casualty. A search of the area up to Kingsnorth was made, again with no result. The search was then expanded to the areas of Stangate and Sharfleet Creeks. The casualty was eventually found ‘hard aground’ on Slayhill Marsh, a remote area between Lower Halstow and the Sheppey Crossing – a long way from the first reported position.
The crew of the ILB secured an anchor to the craft and the owner was then brought ashore to the safety of the lifeboat station at Sheerness. Lifeboat coxswain Robin Castle said, “the craft was left high and dry on a mud bank and will be very difficult to re-float. The Medway mud gets everywhere.” After a thorough clean, the ILB and crew were ready for service again at 6.30pm.
Swale Smack & Sailing Barge Match, Sat 8 August
For the 43rd year, the Kentish Sail Association (affiliated to the RYA) presents “probably the largest traditional boat gathering on the East Coast.”
For more details visit www.kentishsail.org
Hoo Island to receive massive quantities of soil
Anyone passing Hoo Island will have noticed the earth moving machines and lorries. It has emerged that Peel Ports have arranged to accept massive quantities of spoil material from works to replace London’s Victorian water mains system. The island is a registered landfill site and was used by the naval dockyard and the port authority for all kinds of unwanted material. In a somewhat confusing press release from Thames Water, it is claimed that migrating and nesting birds on the “bird island” will be safe from foxes and cats. The spoil is being brought by barge rather than lorry, reducing congestion on our roads. Moreover, and not least, Thames Water will save huge amounts of money by not having to pay landfill tax. Read more…
Tug Touchstone hosts Hoo Ness YC raft-up
Some of the most enjoyable, interesting and satisfying boating events happen when one MSBA club or group helps another. For the third year running, the crew of the veteran tug Touchstone hosted a floating barbeque and party for crews from Hoo Ness Yacht Club. Most of the nine sailing boats, half of them multihulls, had raced down to Stangate Creek on Saturday and raced back up the river on Sunday morning.
Cabin cruiser collides with car carrier
Sheerness lifeboat crew assisted a cabin cruiser that had drifted and collided with a bulk car carrier moored at Sheerness docks. The crew of the Sheerness inshore lifeboat ‘Eleanor’ were called at 4 am on Saturday 1 August to the assistance of a 27 ft cabin cruiser with two men and and a youth on board. The craft, which had been moored in one of the many creeks in the Estuary, had apparently dragged its anchor on the strong ebb tide and drifted downstream where it collided with a very large bulk car carrier moored at Sheerness Docks. The crew suffered cuts and grazes to their legs and feet from broken glass when the windows of their craft were smashed on impact. The lifeboat crew administered casualty care to the three persons and then escorted the craft to the safety of Queenborough Harbour.