Recent content by Debennut

I keep my boat in Shotley now, having spent 10 years in Dover. I downsized, to a boat not suited to to the Dover conditions. I am still an RCPYC member and had an excellent lunch ( my friend had a full roast) there, two weeks ago, It is such a lovely club, no pretensions, definitely worth...

I used to own a Seadog ketch called "Dogboat" (the first owner, was the skipper of an mtb during the war, they were nicknamed dogboats). Halfway across the Dover Strait just before entering the SW lane, visibility dropped, (before AIS). I called Dover GC to get a view of traffic. "Dover Coast...

I really hope he makes a speedy recovery. A true gentleman, I owe him big time. About 20 years ago, I took my dinghy alongside Brio, to pay for my overnight mooring. Whilst alongside, I managed to turn the dinghy over and found myself, underneath the upturned dinghy, being swept down by the ebb...

Whatever do you mean?

I kept a boat for many years in Woodbridge, Tide Mill, driving up from South of the Thames. Yes, it is worth the journey from East Sussex, to the Suffolk rivers and always has been, for a cheaper and more pleasant experience, than the South Coast. I am now in Shotley, In my view, a by far...

Cy Blackwell, P&Q Sailing. I passed my coastal skipper with him and bought Dogboat when he retired

My Seadog ketch was "Dogboat", named by the first owner who was the skipper of an MTB, which were nicknamed Dogboats. Sailing back across the Dover Strait I called Dover Coastguard for routine traffic. He came back "yacht Dogpoo" Who would call a boat Dogpoo? I stayed calm and corrected...

A friend who keeps his boat in Chatham tells me the Marina is now measuring boats to include anchors overhanging the stem and dinghies attached vertically to the transom. Also, staff have been seen using a plum line fore and aft to get an accurate measurement of boats whilst ashore. Is this...

Any North Easterly F3, or above, is pretty unpleasant across Dovercourt Bay towards the Pye End. Particularly on the ebb. It would depend on what boat. There is not much width in the channel to tack. If it was me, I would stay in the backwaters, no question. I would rather be in here ...

Shotley currently have an offer £17 a meter haul out and scrub. You can inspect your prop have the scrub and be back afloat in 45 minutes. Andy and the team are very obliging. Otherwise in front of the Bristol Arms, there has been a boat there for several weeks now. You can have a pint whilst...

I was told to enter the Ispwich lock on green. Tied up; then a very pleasant, apologetic, lady came on to the balcony and asked me to turn round and exit. So I did and then waited for the green light again. She did explain that she thought opening the down stream gates on free flow, would...

Spent a wonderful night in May, on a mooring at Ramsholt, having been launched that day from lay up. We had no dinghy so couldn't go to the pub. Sadly the idyllic evening was spoilt by two PWCs running up and down the moorings several times having come from the Ferry direction. Disappointing...

Does anyone remember a harbourmaster John Hickman? We were cadets together in a cargo ship in the early 60's. I think his older brother was third mate. The next I saw of him was when he popped his head over my gunnel asking for harbour dues. I believe his brother was killed at sea, maybe in...

Planning to be in Shotley for the season. What is the extent of the building works? Are they in the marina itself and are the likley to impact on our enjoyment of the marina?

I might be cynical, but was it easier and less time consuming for Trinity House to reposition the buoyage in the existing channel rather than survey and buoy a new and maybe more sustainable channel to the east? Which would have meant, possibly, moving the haven buoy.