Some of the historic vessels in today’s sail past, plus the impressive Switzer Meridian fire tug which danced like a ballerina.
Category: Sailing barges
Medway Barge Match
This photo was captured just after the start of the race using the MSBA’s own CCTV camera in Gillingham Reach. This year the Barge Match is part of the Medway Regatta, of which the MSBA is a sponsor.
Faversham Nautical Festival, 6+7 July
Queenborough Classic Boat Festival, 31 Aug – 1 Sept
The 4th Classic Yacht & Motor Boat Festival is open to any boat, large or small, designed or built before 1970 – wood, steel, aluminium, fibreglass, ferro cement, sail, power, steam or other, the bigger the variety of boats the better the show. If in doubt as to whether your boat qualifies please email a photo and a short description. Without classic boats, we will not have a festival, so we are delighted to offer free berthing for up to 5 nights for qualifying vessels that register with us before 2 August 2019. If you have any info on how to make this classic boat event even better than the last 3 we would be grateful with any suggestions. You must register by email and have received a confirmation email to attend. To register your Classic Boat please email admin@queenborough-harbour.co.uk. For visitors (by foot) entry is FREE, the harbour will be open to the public to view the boats and meet the skippers. In addition, we plan to run passenger trips around the harbour and visit classic boats on their moorings. Last year almost 1000 people attended and the atmosphere was terrific.
- Opening Times:
- Friday 30th Most of the Classic Boats arrive in harbour
- Sat 31st Festival open 10am to 5pm
- Sun 1st Festival open 10am to 2pm
1982 Swale Barge Match photo
Sue Ballard very kindly sent us this framed photo which her mother, Mavis Crocket, bought in an antique shop many years ago. It’s identified as the 1982 Swale Match. Can anyone identify the boats?
This year’s Swale Smack and Sailing Barge Match will take place on 9-11 August
Lena Reekie
We are sad to announce the death from cancer of Lena Reekie, who founded the Faversham Nautical Festival and was the match secretary of the Kentish Sail Association for over 40 years.
Dick Durham writes, “I know it’s frowned upon these days to describe a person by their physical appearance, but if you were describing Lena Reekie to an alien you would say: ‘She’s slim, blonde and Swedish.’ Had the alien then been blessed with the good fortune to be invited to her birthday bash last August, as I was, he would have bought the wrong greetings card: one which read: ‘Have a Happy 60th Birthday.’ That she was 80 surprised Lena as much as everyone else. ‘I know,’ she said, ‘I know,’ in her husky voice, when I protested, genuinely, that this could not be so. If I can get halfway near to approaching my own demise with the grace, good humour and happiness that Lena displayed, I will die a happy man. RIP Lena”
Does the Medway have the finest maritime heritage in the world?
Yes, the Medway has one of the finest (if not THE finest) collections of heritage vessels in the world! MSBA Chairman Brian Corbett is passionate about the Medway being a leading centre for British, European and World Maritime Heritage. He has drafted a paper to encourage the agencies involved with the River Medway to meet, as an interested and integrated forum, to share in and mutually benefit from, the River Medway attaining its rightful status.
Faversham Nautical Festival is success
Faversham Nautiocal Festival went with a swing at the weekend (14+15 July) with colourful traditional vessels, sea shanty singers and stands from all sorts of voluntary organisations.
Sail on the historic barge Cambria, 26-28 May
Swale Smack & Sailing Barge Match, 4 (not 14) Aug 2018
The annual Swale Smack & Sailing Barge match is probably the most prestigious traditional boat event on the East Coast, and has been running since 1972. It is open to all Thames barges, smacks, bawleys and gaff rigged craft as well as classic Bermudian rigged vessels, small open boat gaff and lugsail dinghies are also welcome.
Prizegiving is at Hollowshore in the evening and is a lively and convivial evening with live music, hog roast, burger van and bar.
For full details contact: Match Secretary Lena Reekie. Email: lenareekie(at)talktalk.net, phone: 07968 058398, website: www.kentishsail.org