VIC 56, just outside Chatham Dockyard. Click on the images in this post (and most others!) for much larger photos
The weather forecast predicted strong winds and thunderstorms – so I decided against going sailing. But what to do instead? Julie and I decided to take a river trip down the Medway on the wonderful paddlesteamer Kingswear Castle, starting from Rochester Pier, just by the city’s impressive Norman castle, and these are a selection of photos from the outing.
I hope you’re seated comfortable, for there are lots of shots here – and quite a few questions. If you know the answers, please fill me in using either the Comment button below, or by emailing me at gmatkin@gmail.com.
TID 164, VIC 56, redundant lightships on the Medway
The river had a lot to show us that was intriguing, to say the least. What’s the story, we wondered, behind this neat little schooner? Or the pretty and comfortable-looking motorsailer?
There was this beautiful old cutter – is she a conversion? And this pretty little clinker built pocket cruiser. And what about this elegant cruiser apparently on the brink of going somewhere?
Two photos of the same old-fashioned yacht, and a smack yacht moored near Upnor Castle
This old fashioned chine-hulled dayboat, very like one I’ve seen many times moored at Queenborough – I wonder whether they were made by a local builder? I’m sure generations of visitors have been intrigued by this sinking building in the grounds of Chatham Dockyard
Old smacks stand ready for a race; Harvest Queen looks like a converted wooden motor fishing vessel
There was this pocket cruiser – I haven’t figured out to which design she was built, but will be looking her up – and this smart Dutch tjalk, and the small Thames barge Whippet
Hope of Porthleven, and cormorants guarding their buoys
Steam tug John H Amos – I gather there’s hope she will be restored; a mystery yacht I’d like to know more about; one of the forts known as Palmerston’s follies
A Squib returns from Sunday racing; a motor fishing vessel that looks a lot like Jay Cresswell’s model of a ring-netter
Another very well looked-after MFV conversion, Thames barge Edith May is also looking great following her restoration
The Medway’s Cold War-era Russian sub, however, is very down-at-heel
You can’t moor here; and here’s why
Finally, what’s this craft? I’ve never heard of the Bella-something of Dover, and the Internet seems to be unaware of her also. What is her future to be, I wonder?
The Medway Pilots webpage has a useful history of the River Medway.