Whitstable Yacht Club's Round Forts
Race 2007
Page 1 of 3
Issue: 1 Updated: 19 December 2007
With the prospect of a weekend of good weather in what's been a diabolical summer
We grabbed the chance to go out to the Fort to conduct some preventative maintenance, by chance Saturday 15th September was the day of Whitstable Yacht Club's 12th Round Forts Race
An idea from Club Member Nick Dewhirst originated in 1995 we presented at the first race which has now become an annual event
Over 40 Catamarans took part with legs of between 7 to 13 km from the yacht club & back. The first open sea leg was to the Red Sand Forts, the Kentish Flats Windfarm, & coastal legs to Herne Bay, the Isle-of-Sheppey & up into the Swale Estuary
Faced with a flat calm & light winds the start was delayed until North North East winds reached 8 mph
06.23: BST on Saturday 15th September 2007 with "Sheppey II" at the All Tide Landing Queenborough, Isle-of-Sheppey
"Sheppey II" is a Harbour Master Launch & the Water Taxi used by visiting yachtsmen moored on mid-channel buoys
" Meeching" & "Nore Commodore" of the Murray Tug Fleet
My late father was skipper of Meeching at Newhaven for many years, I'm producing a 'life history' of the tug for the Newhaven Museum. Would it be possible to have a hi-res copy of this photo that I could put into the book, please? Thanks - Andy Gilbert
Photograph supplied with agreed copyright & credits - ED
The Saint David alongside the redundant coaster "Torch"
Medway VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) building centre formally Medway Radio at Garrison Point Sheerness
Grain Tower & Grain Hard Buoy opposite Garrison Point Fort at the mouth of the River Medway
07.50: Bow of "X-Pilot" with Red Sands Fort & Windfarm
10.58: Bofors Tower from Roof of Red Sands Southern Gun Tower 1 at low tide
Gun Tower 1 looking down onto landing stage & legs from lower balcony
Spare 3.7" Gun Barrel cradles, you can just make out the other part in background, close-up detail below
3.7" RSJ Gun Barrel cradle extruded by the Shelton England Foundary, the wooden shaped cut-out has fallen away
Each Fort had four 3.7" Guns & each individual tower held up to 2 spares
The R.E.M.E (Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers) would check the barrel rifling & replace as required
12.42: The Racing Yachts approach out of Whitstable
12.43: F20 No 1055 first to the Fort by a healthy margin, but results are based on set off & handicaps
Nick Elmore with Crew Kyle Stoneham from Thorpe Bay came in 6th in his 5 Formula 20 in 4 hours .02' 12"
12.47: GBR 413
Simon Northrop with crew Jeremy Carter from Minnis Bay came in 12th in his 19 Tornado in 4 hours 3' 57"
12.48: The main body of yachts not far behind
12.50: GBR 016
James Power with crew Gillian Power of the RYA came in 1st in his 9 Formula 18 in 4 hours 4' 30"