Sailing Barge Greta
Part 2
In this copy free feature we continue our sail off the North Kent coast on S.B. Greta
Skipper owner Steve Norris with Sav'
Wind in the sails a steady 3 knots under the keel before the breeze dropped right away
What a helmsman useless it had to happen
Only consolation is that my grandparents built & sailed barges from Conyer
The new sight on the North Kent Seascape from 2003
The weather test rig for the Windfarm on the Kentish Flats 5 miles off the Whitstable Herne Bay Coast
Some 30 wind generators are planned, power will come ashore at Hampton Pier
Constant clean of the bird droppings from the solar panels was overcome
By fitting an effigy of a long eared owl to deter seagulls from landing - it works
Information retrieved is sent to the development office at Whitstable Harbour
Above the Windfarm at Hoyle Wales opened in 2003 courtesy of National Windpower & the New Scientist December 2003
The 30 turbine Windfarm produces 2MW from each turbine (Mega Watts) & is fed into the National Grid
This is the same number & size of turbines planned for the site licensed for development on the Kentish Flats but output will be 3MW ie 90MW
Opposition to Windfarms comes from fishermen who are concerned that their trawls will be hindered
Residents who say their views are spoilt
But mostly the MoD & the Civil Air Traffic Control (ATC) who have scuppered 48 offshore & 34 land Wind Farms
The "ping" generated by ATC returns a Radar Cross Section (RCS) in effect a turbine can look like a 747 Jumbo Jet & stationary objects like large buildings can be filtered out
This is unique to the UK as by contrast Danish ATC have not lodged one single objection to their Windfarms
Recreational & commercial concerns during construction should be directed to Morton Milthers (WVC) Whitstable harbour, CT5 1AB call 0773 987 8460 or email morton@milthers.dk
Picture courtesy of the Whitstable Times Thursday 22nd January 2004 of a drilling rig on its way to Holland stopped to make some test bores 2004 to ensure that pylon platform legs won't sink into the mud
The Excel 2 pictred on 28/10/04 in Whitstable Harbour owner skipper Les Bates was under contract to the Windfarm Project
Long time family friend Barge Builder & Author Don Satin with Doreen at the wheel
The books written by Don Satin was published by Meresborough Book Rainham
Container ship heading East
Steve lifting the starboard Lee board
On the approach to Shivering Sands
Pilot launch making its way West back to the Medway
The six remaining Towers on Shivering Sands
Once home to Radio Sutch & City from 1964 - 1967
GI Southern Gun & Control Towers with Essex coastline behind
Remains of the Detroit Generator just visible inside
All that remains of the Jungle Walk between Gun 1 & the Control Towers
See Fort Fax for the history of the Thames Estuary Forts
Shivering Sands South Cardinal Buoy with the Isle-of-Sheppey in the background
Bofors, Gun 1, & Control Towers
Only 6 of the original 7 Towers remain on Shivering Sands the remnants of Gun Tower 4 were dragged away in 1966
The leg remains of Gun Tower 2, the Steel House was broken up & went for scrap the Oxford Picture Frame Base is at Cliffe
Gun 4 & Searchlight Towers
Gun 1, 4, Control & Bofors Towers with Red Sands Forts in the distance
Gun 1, 4, Bofors & Control Towers
Gun Towers 3 & 4
Searchlight Tower used until 1992 used by the Port of London Authority
Looking South West
The Searchlight Tower looking West up the Swale
North Cardinal Buoy through to South Cardinal
Kent coastline in background
South Cardinal Buoy left North right
Car container ship heading to Queenborough
Shivering sands South Cardinal Buoy