The second part of our summer cruising has got underway… After a quiet crossing from Smallgains Creek we had an equally quiet evening in the delightful and historic port of Queenborough, enjoying our supper at the town’s yacht club.
On the hammerhead, going ashore, we were met by Max, one of the harbour trust’s staff, and enjoyed a few minutes conversation – a friendly and helpful chap, as is Phil his compatriot. max knows we always have our dinghy in tow … he was ‘late’ on duty: the harbour had been strangely quiet he told us … out on the trots were a growing collection f visitors, few with dinghies, so a fair bt of trade had built up!
The next day, after a leisurely breakfast we set sail sailing off the buoy for a pleasant passage round the Swale with plans to take the flood up to Faversham’s Iron bridge Boat Yard. Boy it was a grand sail round, with a bare few minutes wait at the bridge … sailing through on a broad reach, wind on our starboard quarter, (engine on tick-over) while another yacht, who failed to acknowledge our presence, steamed past us as if we weren’t there at the moment of entry between the piers – a charming chappy -we later passed him hard aground in the middle passage!
Round the Swale a little before low water…
The mate takes a well earned rest…
The Ship provided supper, at our expense of course!
Sunday dawned grey, but the sun was soon shinning and we set off early to walk round to the moorings at Oare Creek. There we met the owners of Josie, a Finesse 24 we know, enjoying a good chin wag and a cuppa. Leaving, we bumped into another Finesse owner, a F21 this time – with a promise to do a run to Conyer in September…
Next we walked inland for a wander around the Oare Gunpowder works and wildlife park. This was fascinating with a good visitors centre that clearly explained what went on around the site for around 120 years.
On the way back into Faversham we passed by the Purifier Building. This is the old gas works gas cleaning shed…
The Purifier Building.
The Mayhi under restoration by the trust…
The building is now used by the Faversham Creek Trust and upstairs on a new floor built in a boat builder, Alan Thorne, is hard at work he was today too and he let us I for a look around. Two of Alan’s creations were on display; a little pram dinghy, of around 2m; and a split dinghy which nested together, designed by, I believe, Graham Byrnes. looked just the thing for all those yachting folk out there who would love a ‘hard’ dinghy, but do not want to tow…
While there Alan was at work on something I recognised … he was glassing up a dagger board for a Prout Ranger – a pair of which a local Oare owner wanted as light weight alternatives for the standard marine aluminium ones for his craft… proof indeed that a good boat builder can do anything, within reason, if asked…
The little pram dinghy…
The dinghy nest…
The Trust is already at work on an old wooden centre board sloop which is being renovated and rebuilt. The ultimate aim is for the basin beside the Purifier Building, down to the Pent Bridge, to be dredged and bring in traditional vessels. The company on the opposite bank are supporting this plan and are willing to ‘give up’ the waterfront to allow for the trusts activities…
When we leave, it’ll be with our usual sadness: we love visiting this gem of a place…