NO MORE SAILING UP MILTON CREEK
It was a sad day for Swale when local sea cadets and members of Sittingbourne Yacht Club members took to the waters of Milton Creek for their last rally. Yachts and dinghies from Sittingbourne were joined by others from Queenborough, Hoo Ness yacht clubs along with dinghies sailed by the sea scouts. The creek will soon be unnavigable by sailing craft due to a new bridge to be built across it as part of the Northern Relief Road.

SAILOR NAVIGATED WITH GOOGLE ROAD MAP
Lifeboat and Sheppey Coast guard were launched when a Ukrainian man got lost when he intended to sail his 30ft cabin cruiser from Chatham to Gravesend using the Google road map that he had down- loaded from the internet. The Coast guard said that he was very lucky as he had no marine charts, flares or radio. See the danger when Gravesend RNLI patrol the river Thames on our programme page.

40th Birthday Party

On Saturday 2nd May from 11am Medway Bridge Marina celebrates.
Everybody is welcome with something for all the family.
You can view the marina. Boat displays, live music (inc Abba tribute band), display stalls, food and drink. www.medwaybridgemarina.co.uk

Queenborough Yacht Club Open Day

Queenborough Yacht Club are having an open / fun day on the 11th July 2009.
Members of the public are welcome to come along and meet the members of the yacht club. The club house will be open all day serving food and drink.
Trips around the harbour on member's yachts are available to the general public and the Isle of Sheppey Sailing club may be present to show and inform the public about dinghy sailing. Queenborough rowing club may also be present and will be able to answer questions from the public in how to get into the sport.

During the morning there will be in dinghy sailing and rowing races. In the afternoon there will be a series of silly games that will involve one man inflatable dinghies.

Any other visiting yacht clubs are also welcome to join in. Other attractions include a face painter and toy boat races for the children.

Admission is free and the event will start at 10.00am and go on all day.

For more information e-mail queenboroughyachtclub@yahoo.com

Are you between 15 and 25 and live in Kent?

Young sailors are being given a chance to sail on board 62 ft ketch Morning Star for just £10.00. 14 berths are available on two of its east coast cruises from April 3rd to 8th and April 13 to 19th. Previous sailing experience is not necessary, safety equipment and protective clothing will be provided.

The normal price is between £190 - £220. Applicants must complete an application to the trust's Kent Youth Bursary Fund and pay just £10.00

More details are on www.morningstar.org.uk

mOare Music is back in 2009!

Date confirmed as bank holiday weekend 29/30 August 2009! Then you'll have the Monday to recover!

Building on the sucess of last year, mOare Music is returning in August 2009 to fill your ears, stretch your bellies and cram your souls with funky music, stunning food and a cracking ambience.
Last year the weather was beautiful, and as the sun went down, the full moon was magical. The is no official word on lineup yet, but expect this year's artists to meet the same standard met last year by artists such as Hamish Stuart, Natalie Williams, Jim Mullen, The Allstars Collective, Tony O'Malley, Robbie Macintosh, Ben Mills and many many more.
The big stage constructed in garden of The Three Mariners will be back, bigger and better. The sound will be just as sharp and crystal clear as it was last year. The food will be as fresh, original and tasty…

Come along and see what a perfect natural amphitheatre the garden is.

This is not music, this is mOare Music! Ticket prices to be confirmed.

UP DATE: LONE SAILOR HILARY
Hilary Lister, who lives in Dunkirk and is paralysed from the neck down, is due to set sail on her Round Britain Dream in May, less than a year after her first attempt was cut short by bad weather. She is now more determined to complete the trip. Last year the weather was the worst on record for years. Despite reaching Newlyn in Cornwall when Hilary was forced to quit she wants to start from scratch but is depending on sponsors. It is said that we're in for a nice summer this year.
For more information email paul@hilarylister.com
Afloattv.com will be keeping you up to date over the coming months.

NO MORE TALL SHIPS FOR SITTINGBOURNE CREEK
Plans for Milton Creek lifting bridge have now been ditched. Campaigners who wanted access to the creek for boats with tall masts have been told that a fixed link will be constructed following a public enquiry that has delayed the Ł43 million Northen Relief Road.
Sittingbourne Yacht Club SECRETARY Wil Perry said he believes the planning inspector could not agree to the arguments that the creek could be an asset to the town if boating was made accessible to residents as it is on Faversham Creek.

FIRE DESTROYS THE DOLPHIN SAILING BARGE MUSEUM
On Sunday 26th October, Sittingbourne's historic and unique sailing barge building, housing years of sailing heritage, was destroyed by fire. Police said that they suspected arson.
Trustee Clive Reader told AfloatTV's producer Ken Rowles that many of the items lost could be replaced. It is hoped that the museum will be restored. The fire destroyed CCTV cameras, but maybe the police forensic teams will be able to salvage something.
Will this change the situation with regards the bridge? A new building could be built at another creek side location within Swale and would help KCC start its development of the northern relief road and the building of the bridge over the creek. Watch this space for further news! see the website www.aboutbritain.com/DolphinYardMuseum.htm

RNLI BLAME LEISURE BOATS FOR INCREASE IN CALLOUTS
The RNLI launched 165 times in Kent between January and June this year compared to 142 times for the same period last year. Wetbikes and speedboats saw the largest increase. RNLI East divisional inspector Andrew Ashton asked owners to take more care of maintenance of their craft. Kent has eight RNLI stations – Dover, Ramsgate and Sheerness have shown the largest number of callouts throughout the county. Ramsgate with a near 50 percent rise. The RNLI is holding a national day of fundraising on January 30th next year, The day is being supported by Olympic sailors Sarah Webb and Sarah Ayton, who won gold together at this year’s Games. Mr Ashton said “We are totally dependent on donations to help us continue providing a lifesaving service to all our boating community”

For a fundraising pack visit www.rnli.org.uk/sos

SIMON WARD TELLS OF THE SS RICHARD MONTGOMERY & ESTUARY AIRPORT ATTACKED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS When London Mayor Boris Johnson suggested building an airport with six runways two miles off the coast of Sheerness did he know that the SS RICHARD MONTGOMERY, with it deadly cargo of explosives, is on the flight path? In response, Swale council leader Cllr Andrew Bowles, along with the leaders of Kent Medway, Gravesham, signed an open letter to the mayor calling for him to abandon the idea. Some years ago the Afloat production team produced a short film and interviewed Derek Wyatt, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, and the Captain of Medway Ports who keeps a daily eye on shipping around the wreck plus members of the local community who tell of what they think of dangers. This is your opportunity to see for yourself the story and tell us what you think should be done about the ship and Boris Johnson's ideas. (view film here)
Afloat TV will be keep you up to date with developments.

More information about the SS Richard Montgomery can be found at http://www.ssrichardmontgomery.com

LIFEBOAT AND RAF HELICOPTER GO TO MAN WHO FALLS OVERBOARD
On Sunday morning, 24th August, George Grove a 62 year old man died after falling from his yacht 10 miles of Sheerness. Sheppey Coastguard said that the experienced sailor was not wearing a lifejacket. The RAF helicopter flew the man to Colchester Hospital but he was found dead on arrival.

SAILING BARGES CRASH OFF SHEPPEY.
Choppy seas almost caused a sailing barge Marjorie to sink during the annual Swale and Sailing Barge race last Saturday. A collision with Faversham based sailing barge Repertor left the 80ft Marjorie with a 4ft-wide hole in her. Whitstable lifeboat arrived to find the crew attempting to make repairs to the 100-year-old barge. Two members of the lifeboat crew boarded Marjorie with pumps joined by the crew of Gladys and Repertor. The hole was patched up using plywood and tarpaulin.
Strong winds with moderate gales of up to force seven had been forecast and some craft withdrew from the 61 boats that had registered to take part. Only 36 made it to the finish line.
Whistable lifeboat also went to the aid of Sally B a gaff-rigged yawl that ran aground half mile from the Sand End Buoy at the entrance to the Swale. The lifeboat towed her to safety before she continued to her own mooring off Hollowshore in Faversham Creek.

RESULTS Smack – Faversham-based William and Mary skippered by Ian Barker; Replica smack – Faversham – based Privateer, skippered by Nick Relf; Fastest large gaff-rigged yawl – The Crew, skippered by Bob Berk; Fastest small gaff-rigged yawl – Fanny of Cowes, skippered by Nigel Waller; Fastest open category for gaff-rigged yaws – Bumble skippered by Jeremy Nesham; Non-east coast smacks – Empress, skippered by Jim Johnson; Barges – Edme, skippered by Andy Harman; Terry O’Sullivan and Nooit Volmaakt, skippered by Doug Nicholls; Historic powered vessels, judged on their appearance – Barking belonging to Ian Woolet and Silver Sula, skippered by Jerry Ohlson. Classic Bermudan – Andy Hills

Princess Alexandra III is Kent’s new police boat. The prototype Tamar class lifeboat, that never saw service with the RNLI has been sold to Kent Police Marine Unit and is the largest police launch in England. After having a refit for her new service she will be taking up her official duties from her home port of Sheerness and will be used to patrol the Kent Coast from the Dartford Crossing to the East Sussex border at Rye, up to 12 miles offshore, plus the River Medway and Swale.

BRIDGE OVER MILTON CREEK SITTINGBOURNE WILL BE DECIDED AT WESTMINSTER. (see story below) Sittingbourne Yacht Club and Dolphin Museum attended the public inquiry that was set to last three days was extended to last seven days. The planning inspector John Watson said he would pass on his recommendations to Ruth Kelly, the Secretary for State for Transport within the next six weeks. The secretary of Sittingbourne Yacht Club Wil Pretty told the East Kent Gazette that they felt the inquiry went well and they managed to inform the inspector of the impact a fixed link would have on leisure and heritage.

Whitstable Oyster Festival runs from 19th - 27th July
Thousands of people flocked down to the harbour to see the activities at Whitstable Harbour day at the start of Whistable Oyster festival 2008. A great time was had by all with a carnival atmosphere with live music, street entertainers and lots of stalls. Moored up at the quayside was the tugboat M.T. Kent from the South Eastern Tug Society. Families could go on board for a tour of the tug and its engine room.
Find out more - visit www.mtkent.org.uk

SWALE SAILING COMMUNITY NEED OUR SUPPORT.
Water front vista at risk. Sittingbourne Yacht Club fights Kent County Council at the forthcoming Public Inquiry on Tuesday 8th July. The Council say that the bypass is needed urgently. KCC has been unable to start building the road due to opposition to the idea of a fixed link bridge over Milton Creek. See www.sittingbourneyachtclub.org.uk

Members of The Dolphin Barge Museum say if we are going to end up with a fixed bridge it must be 6.8 metres so that the sailing barges can get into the dolphin creek. KCC want 4.6 metres. The Barges are part of the heritage of Swale and must be preserved for future generations.

AfloatTV producer and news editor Ken Rowles is supporting the need for 6.8 metres.
Let us know what you think e-mail kenrowles@yahoo.co.uk

Kent News Desk