Medway newbie

[Austerby]

I'm thinking of moving my boat to the Medway for a month or two over the rest of the summer. I'll probably just stick it in one of the marinas.

I've sailed a bit there but don't know it very well. I'm more familiar with the Essex coastal waters so will be sticking within the Medway/Swale waters for the summer.

What are the top tips for either day sails from Chatham or Gillingham or weekend overnights somewhere - my boat can take the ground so drying out temporarily isn't a problem.

I have Stangate and Sharfleet Creeks on the list, along with Halstow, a trip along the Swale for an overnight at Harty Ferry and probably a round Sheppey trip at some point.

Are there any particular things to know about tidal streams etc too?

Many thanks.

 

[jerrytug]

I'm thinking of moving my boat to the Medway for a month or two over the rest of the summer. I'll probably just stick it in one of the marinas.

I've sailed a bit there but don't know it very well. I'm more familiar with the Essex coastal waters so will be sticking within the Medway/Swale waters for the summer.

What are the top tips for either day sails from Chatham or Gillingham or weekend overnights somewhere - my boat can take the ground so drying out temporarily isn't a problem.

I have Stangate and Sharfleet Creeks on the list, along with Halstow, a trip along the Swale for an overnight at Harty Ferry and probably a round Sheppey trip at some point.

Are there any particular things to know about tidal streams etc too?

Many thanks.

You can leave the Medway on the ebb, go and have a look at the impressive old WW2 anti aircraft forts, then return on the flood.
Absolutely do not omit a tour of Chatham historic docks.

The Swale is fun, and if you can take the ground, dry out in one of the little disused barge docks for the night, to get the authentic experience. A quick phone call to Medway VTS to make sure Kingsferry Bridge is working ensures peace of mind ( the button-pusher decreed he could not open it for me one time, I wasn't commercial traffic) and apparently it is harder for him to push his button on a hot day, ***t.

Queenborough is a funny little town, under new management! on Saturdays the museum is open with an exhibition of the Swale jam packed with military vessels in the war, etc. Sadly they demolished the castle soon before the Dutch invaded. Now has secure all-tide access.

Gillingham is the cheapest marina I believe, mud berths available, about 1-2 hrs either side of hw though max, (Im there now)

Sheerness has a little museum in the old sailors's town Bluetown, google it for details.

Sheerness is a bustling town and great if you are a connoisseur of chavtastic tramp stamps like me.

Just a few suggestions out of many possibles, cheers Jerry

edit,granny/eggs maybe, but the direction of buoyage changes halfway along the Swale!

 

[Cantata]

Welcome to our interesting Kentish cruising ground!
You'd probably find a copy of 'ECP' useful...

 

[pioneer]

Faversham Creek is good, plenty of good pubs selling Shepherd Neame. Oare Creek also worth a visit as is Conyer Creek - there're all off the Swale. all are "interesting" navigation, but if I can do it anyone can. Faversham also good for Tesco to get supplies, other places are more challenging. Good luck and enjoy. BTW you'll take the ground in all of these places.

 

[Marmalade]

Stangate is a favourite overnighter - Sharfleet brings a sense of real satisfaction as you have to plot a way in through a meandering channel with little depth - but it's then a quiet and less populated anchorage. Problem with the Medway is that you sail for 2 hrs out of it - and you're still / then in a river!

 

[Gitane]

Gillingham is a good marina with a decent marina bar and a tesco round the corner. However, couldn't find a pub in the area when I went there last summer.

Chatham now has a pub just outside,shopping mall with a DIY store, a co-op and good facilities.

Agree about Chatham museum, definitely worth seeing, especially the roperee.

Titans

Gotland

 

[xyachtdave]

Gravesend is worth a visit, the friendly yacht club should be able to sort you a mooring, I believe they keep a designated visitors buoy or 2 free. The towns waterfront is surprisingly well done.

If really want to stay local and the weather is light try Sheerness beach (golden sand and ice creams/chips).

Benfleet Yacht Club would love to see you visit, from what I've seen of the visitors to MYC a nice bunch of people. I've not been brave enough to try that yet.

Not a lot to choose between the marinas other than the lock at Chatham is bigger, has better depth access and floating pontoons so is easier to use.

If you wanted a mooring MYC have some spare fore and aft and think I am right in saying that temporary membership is available.

 

[Malish]

Gillingham is a good marina with a decent marina bar and a tesco round the corner. However, couldn't find a pub in the area when I went there last summer.

Out of the marina, turn left, across the round about, stick with the dual carrigeway but cross the road to stay on a footpath. 5 mins max gets you to the Ship, which is ok. Walk past the side of The Ship away from the dual carrigeway then turn right along the first residential street. It does not look a promising pub location but at the end is The Barge - a little gem

 

[Cantata]

That's interesting - thanks for that, I've never got further than the Ship - we'll try the Barge next time.

 

[Capt Popeye]

If in the Medway towns, suggest you visit the Rochester Museum, walking distance of Rochester Pier (if available to use these days) the museum has lots of information on local history, especially Boat and Ship building history. Tales and models to demonstrate the Dutch invasion at Upnor and Chatham. Upnor Castle is a long (but possible and worth the walk /effort) walk from Medway Yacht Club moorings, never used visitor moorings there but sure to have them and they operate a motor launch in the area.
Lots to see and do in the Medway Towns historical wise.
If visiting the Historic Dockyard exhibitions, see if you detect the mistake in the voice recordings used, thems used West Country dialects but the Chatham Dockers came down river from London's East End, so they had London accents, oh well, the exhibition is good.
Gillingham Marina is a good friendly place, family run, which just might be unusual these days, they do have mud berths as well as the inside the marina ones available, most times.
Just enjoy your time there.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Oh forgot to mention, a visit to Fort Amhurst, in Chatham, is well worth while, explains a lot about local history, and the sights of the 'dug outs' quite amazing.
Above Rochester Bridge on the port side is the remains of the Short Brothers aircraft factories, now apartments, but in the cliff / hill behind the apartments was the entrance to underground workshops.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Oh a gem place to visit by boat (if she will take the ground easily?) is Colemouth Creek, on the West bank downriver, just before the Docks;
Peace and solitude there a plenty, only possible at highish water though, but the again, that's what makes it a treasure.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Oh forgot to mention, a visit to Fort Amhurst, in Chatham, is well worth while, explains a lot about local history, and the sights of the 'dug outs' quite amazing.
Above Rochester Bridge on the port side is the remains of the Short Brothers aircraft factories, now apartments, but in the cliff / hill behind the apartments was the entrance to underground workshops.

+1 for Fort Amhurst, also the Royal Engineers museum is adjacent

 

[Spuddy]

Like Jerrytug says: the forts on Red Sands and on Shivering Sands worth a look - interesting history both military and post-war.
Up river, to starboard just before Rochester Bridge, is a Russian sub - prob worth a look if you fancy a potter on the flood before going down river.
If doing the Swale there's a buoy just off Milton Creek that often has a couple of seals lounging on it; the male complains about you.
Even more seals basking in the East Swale at LW. And you could try anchoring off Margate Sands and going on using tender. I did it ages ago with the family and we had a swim with the seals there...no bites.
A chum reports oysters down the bottom of....oh no, I'd better not give away local secrets.

 

[Austerby]

Good points, all, but I'm looking for more about what to do on the water rather than in the towns.

I've had a couple of weekends on the Medway recently but haven't done much more than Gillingham to Queenborough, plus a couple of nights in Stangate Creek. At high water I can see lots of space but I'm anxious about being stranded when the tide runs out - what are the good spots to do this in? I have a bilge keeler but don't want to end up in the wrong space - which little creeks are good for crawling up?

 

[Capt Popeye]

Ah there, a copy of East Coast Rivers explains in detail a lot about the Medway creeks.

Well worth getting a copy, anyways makes for good reading when drying out on the mud, see where you went wrong perhaps, and your way out of the creek, instead of up the creek.

The Lower Halstow creeks are good for exploration and the local shop is easy walking distance from the jetty.

 

[Spuddy]

Ah, creeks eh. One way in is downstream from Gillingham, just before the forts go straight on (look for the fairway buoy) rather than following main channel to port. Is it Middle Creek? Lots of opportunity to thread your way through the marshes there; despite the power stations to the north this area is a great wildlife sanctuary....lots of birdlife.
Worth trying to wiggle your way up to Mariners Farm. You'll need a decent chart/plotter and some simple tidal calcs.
East Hoo Creek just by Bee Ness is another good wiggle. Have a look for the old WW1 u boats round there - dinghy is useful.

 

[FulmarJeddo]

Ah there, a copy of East Coast Rivers explains in detail a lot about the Medway creeks.

The Lower Halstow creeks are good for exploration and the local shop is easy walking distance from the jetty.

There's also a good pub that serves good food and drink in Lower Halstow, also an easy walk. Facilities are a bit limited at the club. The jetty is primarily for loading and unloading, but we do occasionally get visitors drying out on the hammer head. It is best to contact the club in advance via the contact details on the website LHYC.org.uk if you intend staying. Be cautious though as we get very little water at the jetty and slip on a neap tide.

Although quite good for going ashore by dinghy, and nearer the village, the barge dock across the creek is not ideal for landing from or mooring a yacht. It is the home of the barge Edith May that comes and goes regularly and possibly soon the restoration site for the Westmoreland.

It is possible to cut across from Halstow creek to half Acre creek, although I have never attempted it with my 1.2m draft. Edith May does it quite regularly. I believe the route is marked with withies.