Kent

Dick Holness will update us, in his own inimitable style, on Imray’s East Coast Pilot which is put together by himself and Garth Cooper. Sadly, Colin Jarman who was the original inspiration behind the book died in 2017. The East Coast Pilot carries on, and has become the most popular pilot book for the creeks, harbours and rivers between Great Yarmouth and Ramsgate - Dick will talk about his further adventures in keeping it and its supporting web site up to date.

Chris Jeckells, MD of Jeckells the Sailmakers and 7th generation of the sailmaking family will be visiting to tell us more about the history of Jeckells, a company that has been going since 1832, and the modern methods of sail making, including different types of cloth, panel configuration, etc.

Roy Brooks is a Director of Scotline Ltd - Scotline Terminals and Intrada Ships Management are located on the Medway City Estate. Scotline owns 8 vessels ranging between 3,300 – 4,500 Tons DWAT with 2 New vessels of 4,750 tons DWAT ordered from the Bedewes Shipyard, Holland and owners of 2 Terminals at Rochester covering 28 acres.

Roy will give a brief outline of Scotline Company history from humble beginning to the present day.

Date: 14^th February 2019

Des Crampton took the Ramsgate-based Cantilena of London on a 4,500mile round trip to the Svalbard archipelago in the summer of 2014.

RATS, the CA's Regulations and Technical Services Group, work on behalf of members to advise and campaign on subjects affecting cruising. Their research and knowledge of technical and regulatory subjects is unique in the world of boating and they will liaise with both local and national government on behalf of members. Regulations and 'red tape' varies between countries and is constantly changing. RATS keeps our members up to date with the latest changes in legislation on issues such as red diesel, taxes and visas.

"Wood is the most beautiful, strong and flexible material for yacht construction and it is at the heart of everything we do at Spirit" - Spirit Yachts CEO and head designer Sean McMillan

Spirit Yachts is globally recognised for its modern classic yacht design and has built a reputation for timeless style complemented by quality and performance. The ingenuity of a Spirit is the combination of old and new; classic design.

Peter will provide an overview of what’s happening to UK boat sales and listings over the last 12 months and to provide an insight to what is envisaged might happen when the UK leaves the EU in 2019. Peter will also try and dispel the myth that the life of a yacht broker is a glamorous and easy life.

Peter will give an insight into some of the issues a yacht broker faces when listing a boat for sale, what owners can do to make the listing of their yacht and thus sale easier. Peter will include some examples what can and does go wrong during a pre-purchase survey and sea trial

The Medway Queen was launched in 1924 and entered service on Thames estuary routes in May of that year. She was used as a minesweeper in WWII. Few ships associated with Dunkirk have fought so hard and escaped destruction so tenaciously and for so long as the Medway Queen. After the war she returned to her old route until 1963. From 1966 until 1974 she was a nightclub in the Isle of Wight. The hull rebuild was undertaken in Bristol with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the European Regional Development Fund and completed in late 2013.

The Tower Bridge and Trinity House day proved very popular, so a repeat event is now planned.  THIS IS NOW FULLY BOOKED.

This involves a tour of Tower Bridge and its workings with our own guide. Travelling the walkways with the new glass floor and the Edwardian Engine Room. This will be followed by a pub lunch in the Minories.

"There is nothing... absolutely nothing, half-so-much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." Appropriately, those words were first published in 1908, the year that the Cruising Association was founded.