Photograph: aerial view of Kingsferry lifting bridge (crossing the River Swale onto the Isle of Sheppey) with the new  bridge when under construction (now completed)
CRUISING NEWS
& INFORMATION
NAVIGATIONAL AND TIDAL INFORMATION
CRUISING GUIDES AND NEWS
Tide Times
Full tide tables for the year
covering the River Thames,
provided by the PLA.
(Acrobat Reader required)
PLA Notices to Mariners
Covering the River and Tidal Thames areas.
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Proceed to Dinghy Page
Proceed to Nore Race Page
Harwich Haven Authority
Containing navigational information for the ports of Harwich and Felixstow and the River's Stour and Orwell plus surrounding area's.
Cruising to Belgium or Holland?
Then you will be required to submit "Schengen" registration forms on arrival in each country.
(required in triplicate for each, so print three copies)
The files below are as provided by the RYA: unfortunately not very good copies.
Most harbour offices will "fax" these forms to the relevent authorities. 
Schengen Form Belgium
Schengen Form Belgium
Schengen Form Holland
Schengen Form Holland
Click on the logo above. Contains lots of information on our favorite cruising grounds, right down to the pubs. Includes places that most of us have not visited before.
RYA Eastern Region Newsletters
Proceed to Cruiser Racing Page
Selden Mast Rigging Guide
A good comprehensive guide containing details on how to rig, tune and care for a mast. Warning: big file 2.5mb.
RIGGING GUIDE
A detailed history of the River Medway, including Queenborough & the sinking of the SS Richard Montgomery
Click here (courtessy of Medway Pilots)
Queenborough  Yacht Club 
Trotboat service operating times for 2006 sailing season

Saturdays only 16:00 - 23:00
 
Call 'QYC - Trot Boat' on Channel 08

£1.50 per person per trip, under 14's free
 
Full details of the 2006 roster and mobile phone contact numbers click here (link to QYC website)
Navigation Buttons: 
Navigation Buttons: 
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Proceed to Nore Race Page
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MAINTENANCE GUIDES ETC.
ENGINE MANUALS
Click here to view a website which contains workshop / maintenance manuals for most makes of marine in-board engines (downloadable .pdf files). The site is in Dutch language, but most of the manuals are in English.
VHF "Port" Radio Channels for the River Thames and Thames Estuary
covering the "Port of London" areas
Effective April 2005, the port working channels are as follows:
VHF Channel 69 - covering the seaward limit (approximately the Margate-Harwich line) to Sea Reach 4 buoy.
VHF Channel 68 - Sea Reach 4 buoy to Crayfordness.
VHF Channel 14 - upstream of Crayfordness and including the Thames Barrier Zone.
The Callsign for all Vessel Traffic Services centres is "London VTS". 
above detail taken from Spring RYA Magazine
Sailing Weather Information
Links to weather sites and weather related information are now shown on a separate page
click here to view
WEATHER INFORMATION
"East Coast Pilot - Lowestoft to Ramsgate"
A new publication by Imray
 Click here to view regular updates to this pilot book
BYC "CRUISING" PROGRAMME 2008
February
 
 
March
April
May
 
 
 
 
June
 
 
 
July
 
 
August
September
 
October
click here to download a printable version of the full BYC Sailing Programme (Excel file)
Link to "eastcoastrivers.com" website where chartlet's and navigational information for the entrances to both of the above rivers can be downloaded and printed.
JANUARY 2006
This site is now back in action. Look for the English language icon.
2006 RYA Flood Defence Report
FEBRUARY 2006
Visit Conyer Cruising Club where visiting yachtsmen are welcome. Their website contains navigational details & aerial photographs showing the intricate creeks leading to Conyer.
MARCH 2006
2007 entrance details
now available

CURRENT LOCAL CRUISING NEWS
2007 entrance details now available

CHANGES TO SHIPS RADIO LICENSING (VHF RADIO LICENCES)
 
Ofcom has announced that the following changes will come into force on October 1st 2006:
  • Licence's will be issued for the life of the vessel, removing the requirement for radio users to purchase a license each year.
  • Licenses will be issued and valid as long as the license details remain correct or until the license is revoked by Ofcom.
  • Licenses shall not be transferable upon the sale of the radio equipment.
  • A web-based licensing service will be provided as an alternative to the postal service.
  • Electronic licence's will be issued online, free of charge. The licensee will then print a hard copy of the license.
  • Licensees will be required to confirm their licence details at least every ten years.
  • A copy of the license must be kept on board the vessel, but the license disc need no longer be displayed.
 
Ofcom will continue to make paper licenses available for applicants who do not have access to, or prefer not to use, the Internet but an administrative fee may be charged for this service.
For further details, visit the Ofcom website http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/maritime/
 
Above text was copied from RYA "Wavelength" magazine in Spring 2006.
Roach Sailing Association contains details and photographs of the Havengore Route
SEPTEMBER 2006
European Health Insurance Certificate (EHIC)
The European Health Insurance Certificate replaces the E111 form, for either necessary free or reduced cost medical treatment abroad. Carrying the EHIC means you may benefit if you are visiting other EU states, EEA countries or Switzerland. Full details of what is available and where, is detailed in the leaflet "Health Advice for Travellers, which can be downloaded, along with an application form from: www.ehic.org.uk
Sailing Prizegiving Supper details
CCCS Dinner & Prizegiving at EssexYC
Benfleet YC "At Home" evening
Work Party (am)
Shakedown Cruise to Queenborough
Cruise to Chatham Marina
(BBQ in Chatham Sunday midday)
Calais Rally briefing
Calais Rally (Bank Holiday Weekend)
Cruise to Stangate Creek
Cruise to Harty Ferry
BarBQ / Buffet at Queenborough
Ray Day and Lunchtime Bar BQ
Nore Race
Nore Race Prizegiving
Wine and Cheese in Stangate
"Blackwater" Cruise
Bank Holiday Cruise to St Katherines Dock
Cruise to Upnor
Commodores Tea Day
Work Party (am)
Sat 2
Sat 16
Fri 22
Sat 29 & Sun 30
Sat 19
Sat 3
 
Fri 16
Sat 24
Sat 31
Sat 14
Sat 21
Sat 28
Sat 29
Fri 4
Sat 19
Sat 26
Sat 23
Sat 13
Sun 14
Sat 18 & Sun 19
QUEENBOROUGH -- The Queenborough 'all-tide landing' pontoon is now back in action. Trot Boat service should re-commence soon  (posted 06/08/2007)
 
St Katherines Yacht Haven -- now back in full operation after installation of new lock gates (posted 06/08/2007)
JUNE 2007