Festival – Page 4 – Medway and Swale Boating Association

Maidstone River Festival Cancelled

Our upstream partner organisation, the Medway River Users Association, has just announced that “due to complete incompetence of Maidstone Borough Council the towpath/footpath is closed from this week until late Aug 2017; this will prevent any visiting craft from mooring. The Maidstone River Festival that was due to take place on the last weekend in July has therefore been cancelled.”

The MRUA spokesman added, “Our dedicated committee are completely frustrated by the complete lack of any vision from Maidstone Borough Council, they have a plan that highlights the use of the river to promote Maidstone, but this has been completely ignored. To all the companies and professionals, clubs and associations, the committee sincerely apologise but thank you for your promise of financial support. Very many hours of personal time have been committed to this event and the committee are devastated at this outcome.”

Battle of Chatham / Medway in Flames – Latest Update

The Dutch are well underway with the registration of the 200 or so yachts and ships coming to the Medway for the historic event. The really good news is that the bulk of the Dutch visitors will be split into two fleets.

Fleet 1, consisting of; tall ships, including the HNLMS Urania, the brigs; Merganster and Aphrodite; many yachts from the Royal Maas Yacht Club from Rotterdam, and; historic steam and motor vessels, will gather at Queenborough on Wednesday. 7 June 2017 and sail, in company, up the Medway, on the morning of Thursday, 8 June 2017, with the Dutch royal prince taking the salute at Upnor castle. Fleet 1 will leave the Medway on 12 / 13 June 2017.

Fleet 2, up to 90 yachts, largely from the Dutch Offshore Sailing Club, will gather at Stangate Creek and sail up the Medway on 14 June 2017, leaving on 18 June 2017.

Many of the historic ships will be open to the public as well as the visiting Dutch and British naval vessel, which will be berthed in Chatham Docks, Basin 2.

The event grand finale takes place on Saturday, 17 June 2017. The day includes entertainment on the river; a parade of sail with Dutch and local yachts and ships, including a modern steam vessel and many of the Fleet 2 yachts. The day culminates with the ‘Medway in Flames’, a son-et-lumiere and firework display with Upnor Castle as the backdrop, with magnificent views from MYC.

The Medway and Swale Boating Association (MSBA) and member clubs and marinas, including Medway YC and Upnor SC, are providing moorings for our Dutch visitors and arranging river activities.

Our Medway and Upnor clubs are working together to provide breakfast and evening meal galley facilities, and; to arrange Hog Roast evenings with a sea shanty band, at MYC, on Saturday 10 June and Friday 16 June 2017. There will also be a ‘Pub Night’ meal, served from the counter, with Upnor SC running a Quiz, on Thursday 15 June.

Hoo Ness YC, together with Medway Cruising Club and Segas SC are providing moorings and hospitality for a small fleet of ‘Gaffers’ from Holland and the east coast.

Websites providing further information can be found at www.deruyter.org and www.visitmedway.org

Brian Corbett, MSBA Chairman

Dragon Boat Challenge, 28 May 2017

Promotional Clip for Medway Sunlight Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge and The Food Festival. The festival takes place on St Mary’s Island Chatham from 27 to 29 May. The Dragonboat Challenge takes place on Sunday 28 May.

A maximum of 30 teams can participate and MSRC currently have 9 firm bookings and 14 expressions of interest so don’t delay. Last year the event raised over £12,000 for charity and they hope to exceed that figure this year. If you would like to enter a team contact Allan Smith on 07956 452331 or email dragonboat@medwaysunlightrotary.org.uk or visit www.medwaysunlightrotary.org.uk.

Stakeholder meeting for “Battle of Medway,” 14 Dec

If your club or organisation has an interest in being involved in next year’s “Battle of Medway” (Dutch Raid) 350th anniversary you may wish to attend a meeting, to be chaired by Cllr Howard Doe, on Wednesday 14 December at 2.00 pm in the Bar Area at the Corn Exchange in Rochester.

If you wish to attend this meeting as a stakeholder please contact Gina Graham, PA to Richard Hicks, Director of Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation. Email gina.graham@medway.gov.uk

The week-long “Battle of Medway” event, on 8-17 June 2017, will incorporate the annual River Festival, and will culminate in a “Medway in Flames” spectacle. Hundreds of boats are expected to come from Holland where the 1667 Dutch Raid is better known as the Battle of Chatham. If your club can offer moorings or hospitality to our Dutch visitors, who will be on their best behaviour, please contact Ed Woollard at Medway Council. Email ed.woollard@medway.gov.uk

Classic Yacht & Motor Boat Festival, Queenborough, Sat 8 Oct

Queenborough Harbour Trust are organising a classic yacht & motor boat event open to all boats built or designed before 1970. We are delighted to offer free berthing for up to 2 nights for qualifying boats that register with us before 30th September.

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