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.

April, 2016 - ON OUR WAY - BRIGHTLNGSEA, UK

We finally get cruising,  first stop Brightlingsea, a small resort town in the Thames Estuary. 

Mid April, mid morning temp below 10 C, humidity 99%, pressure dropping, rain predicted. 

The public dock.  Boats moor on docks in the river and dingy to town.

These tiny seaside shelters, no services, day use only, sell for $20,000 Cdn.

On the visitors dock.

By the dawn's early light:

Moorings that dry out are common.

Unsettling neighbour.