The Kentish Sail Association’s Swale Match 2013 – part 2
Category: Sailing cruisers
Sailing yachts used for cruising, or as cruiser-racers.
2013 Fowey Classics – 30th July to 2nd August
 
Fowey Classics is a rally of vintage and modern classic sailing boats ranging typically from 12 feet to 12 tons (or more) representing a diverse range of designers stretching back to 1886.
It takes place the beautiful and historic port of Fowey (50°21´N, 4°38´W) on the south coast of Cornwall between Plymouth and Falmouth.
Anything up to a 100 boats attend from as far afield as America but largely consisting of visitors from along the south coast and the Brittany coast.
The organisers say the event is a particularly friendly annual gathering. It takes place following Plymouth Classics, with many of the participants sailing down the coast from that event to begin Fowey Classics on the the Tuesday morning (30th July this year) and continuing until the Friday (2nd August this year).
The parade of sail on the Thursday lunchtime is said to be a magnificent sight, and this year a cruise liner Silver Cloud will be moored in the lower harbour on the Friday and Gypsy Moth IV is attending and will open for all to see or sail in.
Other events include various parties, barbecues, a race or two, a cruise in company and talks about Gypsy Moth IV and the local Troy keelboat class – the last one is to be given by Intheboatshed.net regular Marcus Lewis.
If you’d like to see the event or take part, more information can be found at the www.foweyclassics.com or telephone Mike Sutherland on 01726833843.
For more intheboatshed.net posts mentioning Fowey, click here.
Sailing round the Isle of Sheppey, 21st June 2013
A day trip through the Swale, around the Isle of Sheppey, past the SS Montgomery, out to the Red Sands Fort, across to the wind farm and back into the sheltered part of the Swale for an evening meal makes a great interest-packed trip, if the weather’s right. And so that’s route I took with my friend Martin on Friday for his first trip on our little plastic Hunter.
It turned out to be a great choice, and there were some great sites along the way, even if the conditions were not what you’d call ideal for photography. As we sailed, we encountered the square rigged ship Tenacious, saw the sailing barge Mirosa beating up the Swale, passed a favourite local classic yacht at Queenborough, took a peek at the wind farm’s noisy towers, and came across a cutter playing in the breeze. It all added up to another great day in what must be counted a superb area for sailing small boats…
In fact we were wonderfully lucky – just after we passed through Kings Ferry lifting bridge, it malfunctioned and prevented many local racers from reaching the Medway, where there was supposed to be a big race. And the weather forced them to cancel their races today and yesterday. Sailing can be such a frustrating business…
On the photos… I was singing to the seals, so that may explain why two of them were looking at me so intently. Singing to seals may seem strange to you, but it’s just the way some of us roll round here. I still don’t know what the cutter was, but I’m even more intrigued by the impressive Rosa – a boat that looks to me to be rigged like a big-sea smack – but is she large enough to have been built for that duty? I’d love to know – please email me at gmatkin@gmail.com if you know the answers!
In the Thames Estuary 21 June 2013 Tenacious 1
