Radio Caroline

It seems to be anchored. Does that mean they pay no mooring fees? No problem with free parking, just wondered.

"The MV Ross Revenge is now at her new home, moored on the River Blackwater near Bradwell. She laid up at anchor at 02.45 with the tug GPS Avenger alongside. At approx 07.00 she was moved a short distance up river to the moorings. The mooring work is nearing completion (10.25) and the Avenger has now departed, bound for Estonia."

The earlier post from the website via Tillergirl would seem to suggest that a mooring has been laid which implies a degree of permanence and would surely require permission from the authorities (you can't just lay a mooring anymore, you need either a licence from the MMO or permission from the harbour authority within the area of a statutory harbour - I believe the latter to be the case within the Blackwater and Maldon Council is the statutorty authority I think?)
 
Definitely a mooring, we passed just as the tug was dropping it, big square chunk of something with protruding metal bars by the look of it. I regularly used to anchor a 25' dive boat in bad rocky holding areas in Devon with a 56llb weight on 5m of chain with warp. Moral being, one man's mooring is another mans anchor :encouragement:
 
Sorry I strongly disagree, she is part of Britain's fishing heritage, more than any over-restored CK smack yuppies' toy, with a new mast and a new keel like granny's old broom.

I know a few people with CK smacks but I don't know any yuppies (I think they died out in the late 80s). Smacks were originally built cheaply with a known short life expectancy. If none of them had been given new masts & keels then none of them would still exist and our river would be a much less interesting place. Still, I guess we are all entitled to our own misconceptions.
 
From their 'Horizon' magazine:

"Towed by tugs GPS Avenger & supported by The Horton The Ross Revenge sailed down the Thames and back into the North Sea where she broadcast through much of the 1980’s. While waiting on that night’s high tide the Ross Revenge sailed North towards Felixstowe, visiting the old Radio Forts and scene of earlier broadcast locations off Walton on Naze and Clacton. Very nostalgic 50 years on. Overnight the ship was due to find its way on the rising tide up the River Blackwater to a new mooring for the time being. Preservation of this historic radio ship and the search for a permanent home for her continue." My itals.
 
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I went to Bradwell today (not on the water) and was surprised to see the Ross Revenge anchored in the middle of the river. It looked to be half way between Bradwell and the Thirslet buoy. Another thing to miss. I am yet to be convinced that it enhances the scenery....



Here are some pics taken today.

She was showing a square day mark. Anyone colregs officionados who know what a sqaure daymark means, other than 'don't hit me' presumably?

IMG_0722.jpgIMG_0725.jpgIMG_0728.jpg

Gitane
 
Thanks for the colregs info. I learn something everyday.

Thus no anchor ball? Presumeable on a mooring instead of an anchor, unless thay have not only fogotten to take down the towing diamond, but also forgot to put up an anchor
ball.

All very confusing!!

Gitane.
 
I sailed past the Ross Revenge today and took some photos. Definitely seems to be on a mooring so has a sense of permanence! I too have been doing a bit of research and there is certainly some good staff both about Radio Caroline which I remember from the '60's and about this ship that dates back to the Cod War. Who gets the mooring fees?

Morgan
 
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