The Dutch are coming...Again !

[oldgit]

Medway Council arranged the first meeting of all interested parties to discuss the Medway in Flames "Celebrations" to be held during June 2016,it will also incompass the Dickens festival .Although the major logistics planning has been going on for some time,suggestions from river users and those connected with the river was invited as to what we wanted from the event.
The Dutch seem to have already got their act into gear with lists already compiled of boats wishing to take part in the event,due to demand this has required the dutch "invasion fleet" to be split into two flottilas of around 100 boats each.Providing berths has been a headache involving all the local yacht clubs,marinas and Queenborough Harbour.
Providing other accomodation for campers and motorhomes has also been taken into account.
No doubt there will be those just turning up on spec.
Ships from both Dutch and RN (must have one somewhere) will be there along with historic vessels from the area,being a military town both the Marines and army are taking part.
Both static shoreside and mobile water side events will be underway from Thursday 15th to end in a rather spectacular event opposite the Historic Dockyard and MDL Chatham on Saturday 17th June.
The Rijksmuseum has loaned several pieces connected with the Dutch invasion which will be on display in the Dockyard and Upnor Castle.

If not doing much on the dull boring old Thames in June and want to live a little ...start making plans. .......and find out what lies beyond Teddington lock gate.
More details to follow.

 

[rosssavage]

Was it good?

 

[oldgit]

Was it good?

Was not around for original event in 1667,but the meeting was OK ?

The Dutch invasion was the last of the three calamities to hit the English during the mid 1600s , the other two being the Plague and the Great Fire.
Being a bit short of cash the Crown decided to save a few bob by laying up most of the the fleet at "impregnable" Chatham.
We were at the time actually at war with the Netherlands.
We reviewed our options and hastily made peace shortly afterwards.

 

[apollo]

Was not around for original event in 1667,)

..but we know a man who was....

 

[Ramage]

..but we know a man who was....

 

[oldgit]

Perhaps we will be graced with a visit ,heaven knows he has enough electrical power on board to do the entire trip with an electric motor and he know the way
Somebody has gone to trouble of tracking down a living descendant of Admiral Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter.
Local schookids will be involved with making up a paper chain which will be ceremonially cut to start the chain of events.

More information.

http://www.enjoymedway.org/sites/default/files/river-guide.pdf


Hmm link bit slow.

 

[Billy Blue]

Since you are actively plugging this around, perhaps an edit to put the correct year would be appropriate��

 

[DavidofMersea]

Since you are actively plugging this around, perhaps an edit to put the correct year would be appropriate��

A date, (other than just June) would also be useful, then we can put it in our diary

 

[oldgit]

Since you are actively plugging this around, perhaps an edit to put the correct year would be appropriate��

H,mm always thought was 1667,,,,,aha see what you mean June 2017.

 

[FulmarJeddo]

A date, (other than just June) would also be useful, then we can put it in our diary

8th-17th June, but with all the Dutch visitors expected, finding a spare mooring not already allocated could be a little difficult. The estimate I heard was around 350 visiting Dutch boats split in two groups, one at the beginning of the week and the other, the second part of the week.

 

[Daydream believer]

Ramsgate is going to be full in June then. Will be full of Dutch making a few extra days holiday out of the trip.
I often stop there on the way south early June. May have to jump that & go to Dover .

 

[oldgit]

BE there or Be Square !

The organisers have prebooked 40 moorings in Queenborough although other Swale Marinas may be involved ?
Around 80 berths arranged at MYC and both Gillingham Marina and MDL Chatham have set aside another 40 or so.
There are of of course other moorings actually on the river but no details as yet.
Hopefully RCC will be providing a berth or two for anyone able to get under the bridge or clubs coming downriver from above the lock. ?
Plans are underway to try and arrange water transport from the outlying moorings to get visitors into the main event area by water .There will be various water buses/ ribs/trot boats moving around the central river area possibly from Rochester Castle Pier in the West and Gillingham Marina in the East. Nothing finalised as yet. As events will be taking place over several kilometres of river front ,trying to ensure land based traffic can be kept to minimum.
Several large video screens are being arranged round the site and some sort of teccy app is being mooted so you can watch the entire caboodle on thy Ipad, wotever the hell that is
Wlll also give land based visitors the chance to view the river from a boat.