New promotional video
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Y1vB6lRwj60
Non-native Plant & Marine Species Workshop, 8 March
The Medway Swale Estuary Partnership, together with the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership, will be holding a FREE non-native plant & marine species workshop on Friday 8th March, 9.30am – 12pm, at the Innovation Centre.
To book a space, please e-mail: andrea.griffiths@kent.gov.uk
January Crime Update
Happy New Year and I hope while the snow is on the ground that everyone has their charts and pilot books out, planning and scheming for the summer. Here is the latest crime update from the beginning of 2013:
- 1-5 Jan Three thefts of fuel in containers from Swale Marina total cost about £400
- 7-8 Jan Theft of 250 litres of diesel from a boat on a mooring in Faversham Creek. No details of method transport, i.e. boat.
- 9-10 Jan Theft of an 8′ GRP Dinghy from Strood Pier area.
- 11-12 Jan Theft of Zodiac inflatable, Honda 15hp and Johnson 3.3hp outboards
PC David Lavender
Kent Police Marine Unit
Lookout Queenborough!
Queenborough Harbour Trust has installed a portacabin on top of a container at Crundells Wharf to give a better view of their moorings than the old harbourmaster’s office in the creek. What next, will they be getting a ladder?
Visit QHT on stand E142 at the London Boat Show
Extraordinary boats wanted
A request from friends in France: “We are organizing a boating event in Deauville in July 2013 focusing on innovation and ecology. The aim is to bring together solar boats, hydrogen motors, kite boats etc and present to a large audience the vessels of the future.”
If you are interested in this event, please contact me and I will pass on your details.
Tony Lavelle, MSBA Secretary
Kingswear Castle has left the Medway
The iconic paddle steamer quietly departed under tow for her home port of Dartmouth.
Buried warship identified at Chatham
Painstaking detective work has finally identified the 18th century ship found in pieces under the floor of the Wheelwrights’ Shop at the Chatham Historic Dockyard:
MSBA now on Facebook
Well it had to happen. In order to keep up with the youth of today, all posts on this site will now also appear on Facebook. Please go to www.facebook.com/MedwaySwaleBoatiing and “Like” us.
Cruising Association Winter Talks
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.
Fresh start for MSBA
At the AGM on 4 December 2012, the Medway Yachting Association confirmed its change of name to the Medway and Swale Boating Association, with the single aim “to promote and protect boating (any waterborne sport or pastime) on the tidal Medway and Swale.”
Almost all current members were represented and a few more indicated their intention to join in 2013, including the Medway Queen Preservation Society and Discover Your Estuary. These groups represent boating activities (paddle steamer restoration and canoeing) not previously associated with the association.
We welcomed both the new chairman, Stephen Galpin and Cruising Representative, Bill Shepherd, from RYA South East. Also Clifford Mickleburgh attended as the Cruising Association’s new representative to the association.
The difficulties at Queenborough were discussed with some passion. Watch this site for updates as we get them. The All Tide Landing remains the sole responsibility of QYC and for the moorings you need to deal with QHT. Both groups will welcome visitors and it is hoped that a trot boat service will be operating in time for the new season. please remember to pay your mooring/landing fees, even if it means a search for the honesty box!
Keep watching this site for more news on Medway/Swale boating!