Competitors and visitors: the Swale Match 2015

The day dawned misty and fair, and with light winds that improved a great deal as the morning wore on. In the blazing sunshine it turned out to be a grand race. We went out in our little plastic boat and as I had guests on board and was rather busy, my pal Lyn Winter did me the favour of taking these photos. Thanks Lyn!

PS The wonderful Spitalfields Life website was on board one of the competing barges a couple of years back and produced a very nice post about it the event. My thanks to Julian Mannering of Seaforth Publishing for the tip!

Exciting news – The Swing the Bridge appeal is making good progress

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The Swing the Bridge apeal aims to raise £125,000 by 1st October 2015 with the aim of enabling a new swing bridge to be built to replace the old one, which is on its way out.

The money will be added to the funds that would otherwise the used to build a fixed bridge – but the importance of a new functioning swing bridge is that it will allow the regeneration of the basin at the top of the Creek.

A swing bridge will enable barges, smacks and other vessels to moor and be maintained,in the basin, allow Faversham Creek Trusts workshops and apprentice scheme to connect with the rest of the Creek and the sea, and will mean that once again, the masts of sea-going vessels will be visible from the centre of the town.

It’s an exciting prospect, and with every donation comes a little closer to reality

Donate here or here.

The appeal is promoted by the Faversham Creek Trust, The Faversham Society and the Brents Community Association.

The artwork below neatly summarises the FCT’s long term aim.

 

 

Kentish Sail Association 2015 calendar now on sale

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The Kentish Sail Association’s delicious 2015 calendar featuring  photos of sailing barges and smacks is now on sale from various outlets around Faversham, and from the KSA itself.

The beautiful 2015 calendar is on sale at the Fleur de Lis Centre in Preston Street, at Creek Creative in Abbey Street, The Phoenix Tavern, The Three Mariners, Faversham Chandlery and the Shipwights’ Arms. It’s priced at a very reasonable 10 so brighten up these winter days with a copy.

If you cannot get to Faversham, send a cheque for £12.95 (inc of postage), made out to ‘The Kentish Sail Association’, to Julian Mannering, 13 Abbey Street, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7BE, and he will mail a copy.