The Admirals cruise 2016

[Murv]

Few snaps from yesterday.
The Admirals cruise is a historic ceremony of the beating of the bounds by the admiral of the River Medway as well as an event to commemorative lives lost at sea.
The cruise is a two day ceremony. Shamefully, we didn't take part in Saturday's trip upriver to the hawkwood stone as we were finishing the service on the engines and didn't want to have to bow out in the event of something leaking or issues following the service.
Also, I must admit, I didn't fancy trying to get in or out of our berth in that "fresh" wind!
So we were very fortunate in being invited aboard a friends boat.

The dignitaries being piped aboard the official Admirals barge

Some Rochester Oyster Floating Fishery boats

And the convoy

The commodore of RCC hands out pennants to participants of the cruise from the high speed police rib. No small task in that wind! (must have been F5-6?)

Wreck of the Montgomery where a service was held

A wonderful day in good company and lovely to see so many boats out on the river, especially in such ropy weather!

 

[Flynnbarr]

Good pics as usual Murv,thanks for putting them up.:encouragement:
Really like Pic4 with the dark menacing sky in the background,and yes it was a tad breezy out!

 

[Murv]

Thank you
Luckily we largely avoided the rain and stayed dry...except for salt spray, anyway!

 

[oldgit]

A rather exhausting couple of days especially the Sunday,there was some debate about going out to the Montgomery,due to the wind.In the end it was left up to skippers to decide and most went out and hove to long enough for the ceremony to take place.
The wind did freshen further on the way back in and with F 8 -9 forecast,no attempt was made to moor on the concrete lighter.
Although lighter pre booked by us,several other boats had sort shelter in Queenborough and as we would have no end of trouble getting along side we left them undisturbed.
So it was back to club moorings for sunset ceremony and refreshments.

For those of you aware of the circumstances or who knew my brother we left a wreath in the usual spot.

Psst its ....Rochester not Royal.
http://www.rochesteroysterfishery.org/history/

 

[mrming]

We were racing in the Medway keelboat regatta and saw you all coming out along with MT Kent. A truly spectacular sight. One of our marks was on the other side of the convoy - it was very breezy & we were on the plane with an asymmetric kite up, but managed to thread our way through a gap okay. Wish we could get that many sailing boats out in one day. Fair play to you all.

 

[oldgit]

...always nice to see the river so busy and a little invigorating breeze made the day interesting.
Nice to hear MYC firing off your cannon in reply to our volley,the only other club bothering to respond was Medway Ski Club up at Cuxton, a resounding silence came from every other club/boatyard/marina on the river.
Historically RCC used to get many boats from other sailing and boat clubs actually coming on the cruise .
It has been suggested that the decline in attendance is due to the average speed of the cruise going up over the years.
In olden days the average motorboat would have been hard pushed to exceed a cruise of 5-6 knots,something a yacht could easily keep up with.
However as average motorboat size and engine power grew,the speed of the cruise increased and the yachts got left miles behind.
Shame really.

The Admirals Court in session.Held in Rochester Guildhall.
Court has been held for 500 years.

 

[Newbroom]

Yes used to come down regularly with the BMYC ( British Motor Yacht Club) for the Admirals Cruise back in the 80s and 90s. Always good hospitality at RCC during the weekend.
Dave

 

[oldgit]

Always good hospitality at RCC during the weekend.
Dave

That has not changed.

The portraits in the court room are those of the great and good including
a certain Sir Cloudesley Shovell who has a certain notoriety in the marine world.
The gentlemen (and lady) at far left in court are from Southwark,the adjacent fishery,they bring cordial greetings from the Mayor of the City of London in the form of an illuminated scroll.

Court Report.

The ban on the taking of eels was upheld and of Dover Sole started.
The area of the Bass prohibition was extended.
It was noted the increase in lobster and Skate catches.
A report of octopus was mentioned.
Local newspapers commented on a Bonito Tuna being caught.
The fishing of Oysters has now been allowed on application for a licence.

Thats all folks. OG.

 

[mrming]

It has been suggested that the decline in attendance is due to the average speed of the cruise going up over the years.
In olden days the average motorboat would have been hard pushed to exceed a cruise of 5-6 knots,something a yacht could easily keep up with.
However as average motorboat size and engine power grew,the speed of the cruise increased and the yachts got left miles behind.

We might have a had a chance of actually keeping up this weekend as it was so breezy.

Never knew about the court - fascinating stuff - the courtroom looks very grand indeed.

 

[xyachtdave]

That's really interesting background on the Admirals cruise, thanks OP and Oldgit.

We spotted the wreath and assumed (wrongly) it was something to do with the Bulwark wreck.

Fairplay to the mobo skippers for doing their best to stay out of the way of MYC fleet, I too was on a planning hull sports boat (I might even have been with MrMing...is that you Kevin!?) and I can imagine not much fun trying to second guess a few dozen sail boats next move in a bit of breeze. Your efforts appreciated!

The only hassle we had all weekend was a yacht under power with his mainsail up on port tack trying to ram us near Blackstakes.

 

[oldgit]

can imagine not much fun trying to second guess a few dozen sail boats next move in a bit of breeze. Your efforts appreciated

Always impressive to watch you lot in stiff breeze and probably actually easier to take account of your heading and stay out of your way.