CRUISER NEWS & RACING NOTICES

Thursday, July 24, 2008 7:09 AM
Subject: Milton Creek Public Inquiry

Info on recent Public Inquiry that the MYA fought.
Please feel free to circulate this if you wish to use it to inform your members.

The public Inquiry into the proposed low level bridge over Milton Creek ended last Friday.
It had lasted 7 days which was almost 3 times as long as expected.
The objectors were Wil Pretty, MYA Vice Chairman,
Sittingbourne Yacht Club,
The Sailing Barge Museum based on the Creek,
The Sea Cadet Corps based on the Creek.
2 local companies with Creek frontage.

Our case was that the new crossing should be a lifting bridge as it is a fundamentally sound creek and was likely to be of most interest to East Coast Cruising Yachtsmen and Sailing Barges wishing to visit the Museum or the town.

I took the Inspector up to the top of the creek in my boat one evening so he could see it from the water.
Facts that we demonstrated during the Inquiry were.
Milton Creek is the largest of the Swale Creeks.
The entrance does not dry.
Half way up (Where KCC propose to put the bridge, just before the pontoons)
it dries to 1.7M (Neaps are 4.7 and Springs 5.9)- this is 0.6 M more than at the buoyed entrance to Conyer Creek.
At the top it dries to 3 M. (All depths in the gutway)

Arguments put against this were:-
It is little used - which is true, mainly because there are no public quays and it is not possible to get to the town from the top as it is all private property (It is about to be redeveloped.)
The birds have got used to it being quiet and would be disturbed if it was used more.
It is polluted, not so much that it needs to be removed, but just enough so that it would be a hazard if it were to be disturbed. (The pollution was from Paper, cement and brick industries, and Iron from barge building).
It would cost more.
It would cause delays to traffic.

Anyone who is able to navigate any of the other Swale Creeks will be able to navigate Milton Creek (4 Km long)Entrance between Grovehurst Jetty and Elmley Ferry, on the Swale.
If you enter 2 1/2 hrs before High tide you can see it all on a rising tide.
Main channel at the entrance is on the port hand side next to 'the Lillies'.
There are no public quays so there is nowhere to stay.
The gutway runs true as far as the Barge museum(Down the middle and tend towards to the outside edge at bends)After that there are a few witheys to help. Deep water is on the port hand side of the derelict quay at the very top.
If you are passing, go and have a look this summer, if KCC have their way,
it may soon not be possible to do so.

Wil Pretty
Medway Yachting Association Vice Chairman
For further info see
www.sittingbourneyachtclub.org.uk

15/5/08
CALAIS HARBOUR YACHT MARINA
Information and photographs taken by Rob Scriven of Benfleet Y C
Of the new marina sill

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING NEW TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME OFF HARWICH

Admiralty Leisure will be shortly issuing New Edition Leisure Chart Folios for the Thames Estuary area. The two folios include:
SC5606 Ramsgate to Tower Bridge
SC5607 Essex and Suffolk Coast.

These New Editions include details of the modified and extended existing Sunk Precautionary Area and the establishment of three Traffic Separation Schemes in the Northern Approaches to the Thames Estuary. This is a significant change for all navigating in the Harwich and the approaches to the Thames Estuary’s area and therefore navigators are strongly encouraged to ensure they have the New Edition charts on board.

Details of change:
ENGLAND — Thames Estuary — Sunk — Precautionary areas. Traffic separation schemes. Recommended route. Two-way route. Area to be avoided. Buoyage. Radio reporting points. Vessel traffic service. Automatic Identification System. Light-vessel.
Source: International Maritime Organization
1. To improve the safety of navigation in the Northern Approaches to the Thames Estuary, the International Maritime Organization have approved the modification and extension of the existing Sunk Precautionary Area and the establishment of three TSSs, a two-way traffic route at Long Sand Head, an area to be avoided and a recommended route at the Galloper. These changes will be implemented at 0000 UTC 1 July 2007.
2. The existing Sunk Precautionary Area will be extended to form two parts; the Sunk Inner Precautionary Area and the Sunk Outer Precautionary Area. Three TSSs will lead traffic into and out of the Outer Area. Traffic within the Outer Area will flow in a counter-clockwise direction around an area to be avoided, one nautical mile in diameter, centred on a light-vessel in position 51° 50' .10N. , 1° 46' .02E. The light-vessel will be fitted with an Automatic Identification System.
3. A two-way route is to be created from Kentish Knock Buoy (51° 38' .09N. , 1° 40' .43E. ) to Long Sand Head Buoy (51° 47' .91N. , 1° 39' .43E. ). This route can be used by vessels entering or leaving Medway/ Thames ports which meet certain pilotage requirements. It can also be used by any vessel of less than 20 metres in length, any sailing vessel or any vessel engaged in fishing irrespective of their port of origin/ destination. A recommended route is also to be created in the Galloper area to take regular ferry traffic into or out of the Sunk Outer Precautionary Area.
4. These changes are shown on the accompanying diagram.
5. In addition, the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) rules for the area are to be revised and extended and buoyage is to be amended and repositioned.

In addition, the new folios will also include the incorporation of a further 28 pages of Notices to Mariners helping to improve the safety and convenience of navigation in the area. These New Edition folios enable everyone sailing in and around the Thames Estuary to be confident that they have the very latest charting information available.

Each Admiralty Leisure Chart Folio is available in one convenient pack offering incredible value, excellent area coverage and being A2, they are the perfect size for the chart table.

ENDS
For further information contact:
Emma Busby
Public Relations Executive, Admiralty Leisure
United Kingdom Hydrographic Office
01823 337900 ext 4852
emma.busby@ukho.gov.uk
www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk

New CCS trophy awarding structure
3 or less finishers in a class 1st prize only.
4 finishers in a class 1st & 2nd prize.
6 or more finishers in a class 1st, 2nd & 3rd prizes