Kent

The adventures and confessions of a delivery skipper by David Sharp

We are very grateful to CA Kent member David Sharp for stepping in at the last moment to give our final talk of this winter season. We have booked Dick Holness to give us an update on the East Coast Pilot in October when the next edition of his book will have been published.

David's talk will be about the highs and lows of a delivery skipper together with the stories of some extraordinary boats, crews and owners.

The story of how this race was re-created for the modern era on its fiftieth anniversary, the struggles, the highs and lows, and above all the bravery of the skippers, who shared the dream of recreating Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s historic achievement of being the first man to sail around the world alone, non stop.

And how Sir Robin himself helped to make it happen.

Barry Pickthall the Golden Globe Race Ambassador, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and CA Kent member Tim Bishop at the awards ceremony at Les Sables d'Lonne in 2023

The Marina Manager Chris Windsor will give us an overview of the new outer marina which opened to sailors in April 2023. He will gives us the background to the development and update us about the re-opening of the Wellington Dock which is scheduled for 2024.  Jim Pascall from the VTS team will inform us about the call up procedures for entering and leaving the port.

Thursday 11th January 2024 at 20:00

Venue The Dog and Bear Hotel Lenham ME17 2PG

Claire will talk about the origins of marine mammals and some of their characteristics and habits, both  near our shores and further afield. This informative presentation will discuss the interaction between Orca and sailing vessels, the threats that marine mammals face, what we can do to help and how to report our sightings.

Thursday 14th December 2023 at 20:00

Venue The Dog and Bear Hotel Lenham ME17 2PG

CA member Roger's story starts from Barry in South Wales, around Lands Ends, to Ribadesella in northern Spain, for a CA meeting. They were behind schedule, in a 29’ bilge-keeled yacht and needed to cross Biscay.

Roger visited both large and small harbours along the scenic north coast of Spain, but sailing back home posed a problem which we will find out about in the talk.

Thursday 9th November 2023 at 20:00

Venue The Dog and Bear Hotel Lenham ME17 2PG

Challenge is the last surviving example of a Thames Steam Tug and is now berthed on the Medway. She was built in 1931 at Aberdeen and has a fascinating history, being one of the Dunkirk Little Ships and is best known for having towed the Maunsell Forts into the Thames Estuary during WWII. In 1971 she was laid up in Gravesend and after a period of restoration and various ownerships she spent twenty years in Southampton before her current owners moved her to the Medway in 2022.

We have arranged a visit to the Royal Engineers Museum Gillingham on Thursday 7 September. This is Kent’s largest military museum and one of the most important military collections in the UK. The museum has developed over two hundred years and was established at its present site in Brompton Barracks in 1912.

As the final Master of the QE2, Ian will tell the story of this the last British built Trans-Atlantic liner, a true ocean greyhound, a ship loved by her crew and cherished by her passengers. 

Venue: The Dog and Bear Hotel Lenham ME17 2PG. A charge of £3.00 per person is payable on booking.

Date: Thursday 9 March 2023

Time: 19.45

Attendees wishing to eat at the hotel beforehand are requested to reserve a table in advance, please call directly on 01622 858219 and say that you are attending the Cruising Association meeting.

A must for all sailors. Experienced yachtswoman, sailmaker and CA member Cindy will guide us through sail care and valeting and emergency get you home repairs.

Venue: The Dog and Bear Hotel Lenham ME17 2PG. A charge of £3.00 per person is payable on booking.

Date: Thursday 9 February 2023

Time; 20:00

Attendees wishing to eat at the hotel beforehand are requested to reserve a table in advance, please call directly on 01622 858219 and state that you are attending the Cruising Association meeting.

This event is open to non-members.

Roger owns a Westerly Fulmar "Concerto" which was the Westerly Owners Association boat at the Southampton Boat Show in 2021. Roger will talk about preparing for the Boat Show and some of the things that go on behind the scenes.

Venue: The Dog and Bear Hotel Lenham ME17 2PG. A charge of £3.00 per person is payable on booking.

Date: Thursday 12 January 2023

Time: 20:00

Attendees wishing to eat at the hotel beforehand are requested to reserve a table in advance, please call directly on 01622 858219.

This event is open to non-members.