A surprisingly good programme on BBC1 about the Thames sailing barge, featuring Nick Ardley and other experts. Many of the beautifully shot scenes are local to the Medway and Swale.
Month: September 2017
MSBA launches CCTV to monitor rogue jetskis
Here’s some terrifying video from the new CCTV camera sponsored by the MSBA and hosted at Medway Cruising Club, giving a good view of Commodore’s Hard and Gillingham Reach. The antisocial and dangerous behaviour of some PWC/jetski users (and other speeding vessels) has been a safety issue for many years but neither the harbour authority nor the police have been able or willing to put a stop to it, despite the 6 knot speed limit. Gavin Parson, MSBA committee member and acting Secretary, hopes to provide live access to our camera via this website soon. As they say, watch this space…
Gillingham Marina End of Season Sale
Help wanted to raise old tug, 12 Oct
MSBA fan Mark Thorne, known to many as the first mate on X-Pilot, has acquired the classic Tom Pudding tug “Water Haigh” which is currently on the mud near Strood Pier. He is requesting help from 3 or 4 able-bodied people to refloat the tug on Thursday 12 October. X-Pilot will be assisting but someone with a workboat would be a great help. Contact webmaster@mbsa.org.uk or click Reply and I will pass on your details.
Oyster trestles obstruct navigation at Whitstable
Following a complaint by Whitstable Yacht Club, a report published on the Marine Management Organisation’s website acknowledges that the presence of oyster trestles causes or is likely to cause obstruction or danger to navigation, whilst concluding that the farm’s operations are nevertheless acceptable as a low risk to marine navigation.
In response, the RYA has formally written to the Director of Marine Licensing at the MMO setting out their concerns with the report and arguing that the measures put in place since the investigation started do not negate the need for a marine licence. The RYA considers that these trestles require a full marine licence on the basis that they could cause obstruction or danger to navigation.
MSBA Business Meeting, 26 Sept
Please make sure your club or organisation is represented at our next business meeting on Tuesday 26 September, 7pm, at Strood Yacht Club. You should receive the agenda and minutes by email very soon. If you don’t receive anything please let webmaster@msba.org.uk know so we can update our list.
Huge Fire at Iron Wharf, Faversham
In the early hours of this morning, a huge blaze has destroyed eight boats, three cabins and a workshop at Iron Wharf, Faversham.
UPDATE: A 30 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson.
Do you know this boat?
John Kempton at MDL Chatham Marina asks if anyone knows anything about this 25ft approx cabin cruiser that has been left on their upstream lock fendering. There are no markings on the boat. Please contact j.kempton(at)mdlmarinas.co.uk
CA Relaunches Lobster Pot Campaign
Poorly marked lobster pots and fishing gear are the most difficult and unpredictable hazard facing coastal cruising people. Fishermen, too, report the loss of expensive gear as a result of entanglements. These encounters could even be life-threatening. In one year alone the RNLI dealt with 295 incidents of fouled propellers. Most Cruising Association members say they would try to sort the problem out themselves so this could be a fraction of the actual number. One lifeboat station said 25% of their call-outs were purely from boats caught up in fishing gear.
River Medway to be closed to boaters yet again!
Network Rail will be closing the non-tidal River Medway to navigation at the railway bridge, just upstream of the disused lock and below Branbridges at East Peckham, (known as East Peckham Rail Bridge). This is effective from the 1st October until mid December – for essential Bridge repairs.