April, 2016 - CHATHAM, UK - POST 1

After a good sail we arrive at Queenbourgh and take up a mooring in the river for the night.  Next day we sailed up the River Medway to Gilligham Marina, about 1 mile downriver from Chatham.

Loads of "fun" in the lock and trying to tie up to our dock, due to cross wind and VERY tight conditions in the marina.  Not recommended for anyone with a full keel and/or a heart condition.  Finally a local took pity on us an assisted us.  Would not come here again in similar conditions.  After the wind settled down, we manually turned the boat 180 degrees to face out, to help us get out when we leave.

The Historic Dockyard at Chatham is a smaller version of the museums at Portsmouth.  The Lifeboat collection and Ropery are unique and worth the visit alone.  The workshops and Warships are all high quality exhibits. 

The last Warship built here was the submarine "Okanagan" for the Canadian Navy in the mid-1960s.

After 400 years the yard was closed and 80 acres of the over 560 acres now is preserved as a Historic Dockyard.

The first area visited traced the history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

First they rowed.

Next they sailed.

Finally power boats.

RIBs added to assist with the increasing inshore work assisting recreational boaters.