Category: Motor cruising

RYA responds to renewed Red Diesel concerns

The advice on the RYA’s website concerning going to Belgium with red diesel in your tank does not seem to have changed. However the latest Yachting Monthly states that the Belgian government has announced that it will once again be enforcing its ban on dyed fuel. The MSBA has today asked Gus Lewis, Head of Legal & Government Affairs at the RYA, for clarification and this is his reply:

“Last year the Belgian Government issued a formal statement to the effect that UK boaters would not be penalised for the presence of red diesel in their yachts’ fuel tanks. That formal position statement was time-limited and it expired at the end of last year.

“The Belgian Government has so far declined to reissue its formal position statement but our understanding is that, at a practical level at least, nothing has changed since last year and while it continues to be unlawful for recreational boaters to use red diesel in Belgium no action will be taken in relation to fuel bought in the UK.

“We are not aware of any UK boaters having been fined in Belgium this year for having red diesel in their yachts’ fuel tanks.”

UPDATE: RYA urges local marinas to lobby Belgian Government on red diesel

CA Kent Section Winter Warmer, 12 March 2015

Cruising AssociationNext Winter Warmer at the Dog and Bear, Lenham, will be on Thursday, 12th March 2015, 8pm. Members will be giving short presentations:

  • Storms, engine failure and some tricky manoeuvres !  – David Long
  • The River Seine through the canals and home via Dieppe and Boulogne – Ken Marsden
  • Best laid plans, don’t always work out ! – Alan Dann
  • Sailing a junk rigged Virgo Voyager single handed ! – Tom Wallace
  • The Sandwich Rally August 2014 – Clifford Mickleburgh

Clifford says bring a friend, non-members are also always very welcome.

Kentish Stour chartlet

Stour ChartletIf you cruise to Sandwich, as the Cruising Association recently did, you may find this chartlet by Robert Holden useful as the entrance from Pegwell Bay, near Ramsgate, can be tricky without such local information. Click here for printable version of Pegwell Bay Charlet and photos of approach marks,  scanned from paper copy.

Boat sinks in Strood Yacht Club blaze

A 36ft Fairline motor cruiser has sunk and two neighbouring vessels and a pontoon were damaged on Sunday evening after a major fire at Strood YC.  Club members used a workboat to tow the burning cruiser away from the pontoon to prevent further damage to other vessels. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Fortunately it seems no-one was injured.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-25490361
http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/story/2013-12-22/firefighters-tackling-serious-fire-a-yacht-club/

Is your club vibrant? Nominate it for Club of the Year!

The closing date for the RYA Club of the Year 2014 is 18 November. Make sure your club has completed the Expression of Interest form to be in with a chance of being selected as on of the best clubs in the UK. Shortlisted clubs will be invited to complete a full application by 6th January 2014, and five finalists will be chosen by the RYA Honours and Awards Panel later in January, to attend the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show in March. Full details at www.rya.org.uk/go/cluboftheyear

Boat and Chandlery Fair, Gillingham Marina, 6 and 7 July

Established in 2010, the Medway Boat & Chandlery Fair is the largest boat show on the Kent Coast.  There will be over 60 sail and motor boats on display.

There will be trade stands from 3D Tenders, Dolphin Sails, English Braids, GJW Insurance, Medway Watersports, Raymarine, Robert Bingham Yacht Surveyors, Suzuki. This is an ideal opportunity for you to meet and discuss with specialists all aspects of boat ownership.

For more details and fast-track registration, see http://www.clarkeandcarter.co.uk/boat-and-chandlery-fair

On Saturday a free shuttle bus will carry you to and from Chatham Waterfront where you can see the Medway River Festival.

Gillingham Marina “On the Water Weekend” brought out the sun and smiles

Gillingham Marina’s On The Water Weekend, run on the 27/28 April in association with Medway Watersports Centre, marked what seemed to be the start of the boating season in regard to the weather by getting prospective boaters on the water.  The nationwide boating and watersports event was launched by the British Marine Federation (BMF) to encourage more people of all ages and abilities to get on the water and try something new.

Clinton Lyon of Gillingham Marina said “We are very pleased to spread the addiction to boating on the Medway and put a smile on a number of faces. To top it all, the sun finally came out.”

Trevor Peen and the team from Medway Watersports Centre had a very productive weekend recruiting a number of adults and youngsters to join the weekend dinghy sailing session which runs until December from the Strand, a site next to Gillingham Marina on the River Medway.

If you missed the opportunity to join us during the On the Water Weekend, come along to the fourth Gillingham Marina and Clarke and Carter’s “Medway Boat and Chandlery Fair” to be held over the 6/7 July where, as well as the on the water experience, the marine trade will be on hand with demonstrations, technical advice and question and answer sections. There will be an array of pre-owned and new sail and motorboat to be viewed with Clarke and Carter along with RIBs, dinghies and kayaks in the Chandlery.

It is hoped that a connecting shuttle bus service from and to the Medway River Festival on Saturday 6 July, on Chatham waterfront, will swell the numbers at both events.

Medway Council intend the festival to be bigger than ever, with the landing of a seaplane, races and river processions, colourful displays of yachts, rowing boats, historical craft, barges, tugs and kayak demonstrations. On shore amongst the children’s entertainment, live music, food and trade stalls you will find the Gillingham Marinas Boat & Chandlery Fairs stand directing show goers to the bus and booking On the Water sessions.  Please do come and join us for what promises to be a very enjoyable weekend.

For further details relating to the Boat & Chandlery Fair please contact Clinton Lyon on 01634 280022 or Clinton@gillingham-marina.co.uk

Cruising Association Winter Talks

Cruising Association Kent Section

Clifford Mickleburgh writes “It’s crisp, fresh, a gentle breeze and blue skies as I motor gently down the River Medway and think that this is what boating is all about…”

The Kent section of the Cruising Association holds winter evening talks on the 2nd Thursday of each month at the Early Bird PH, Grove Green, Maidstone, just off Junction 7 of the M20 Tel 01622 734237 [SAT NAV ME14 5TQ]. Non-members are welcome.

The meetings begin at 19:00 hours for those that would like to eat with the talks beginning at 20:10 hours. The charge is £3.00 a head. It helps to know the numbers attending, but don’t let that stop you coming and please “bring a friend”, just a simple email to Ian will suffice. If you forget, don’t let that stop you turning up…….

Ian Galletti (the other Joint Secretary) can be contacted on 01959 562075 or 07721 411598 or email iangalletti @ btinternet.com

Our next talk is on Thursday 13 December 2012 – John Barry on the “How and Why of Tides”.

The First Aid course on Saturday 23 February 2013 is now full but the CA are intending arranging another First Aid course at the Early Bird on Saturday 2 March 2013.