Editor‘s Ripple Contents Page Well, I wish I could start this as many of the contributors have, by saying it seems like yesterday I did the last one! As I have problems remembering what I did this morning (I‘d score badly on a dementia test!), the last issue of the Reach seems to have come out decades 2. Editor‘s Ripple ...... Charlotte Davies ago! Things we like to do always pop round quickly and this is probably half the reason it seems too long ago! For all the difficulties 3. Verbiage from the Vice ...... Penny Davies the Reach presents me with, I do enjoy editing it. I know that some of you enjoy reading it, so it seems to me a win win situation! Who‘s Who 2005 ...... Unfortunately it seems, not so many people enjoy writing the articles! Thank you very much to everyone who has written an article 4. Social Report ...... Karen Bodman - you‘ve given great pleasure to many! 5. The Grivsend Bison ...... Martin Jacob Due to thinning out Reaches and cut-backs, discussion has taken place about the number of issues we should produce a year. It has 6. Development Update ...... Steve Davies been decided to reduce the number of issues from three, to two a year. Whilst this upsets me greatly, the rationale is flawless. There 9. Mooring Post ...... Eddie Weston are very few who can complain about this move, as very few provide me with the articles. If I get a regular influx of articles, we‘ll have to 10. Membership News ...... Jane Fletcher re-negotiate. Please keep your articles coming. Even things that may seem 11. Instructor Insurance ...... RYA mundane to you, are often very interesting to members who can‘t visit the sailing club often. The new deadlines are included in this 13. Mud, glorious mud? ...... John Skellorn issue - articles can be sent to me by most methods (please someone try a carrier pigeon)- and please note my new mobile number for 14. Corder Litten ...... Pam Boddy texted snippets (07987 1992946). 16. Thames and ...... Dave Rouse Have a happy year sailing and writing! Charlotte Davies 19. RYA Small Craft First Aid ...... James Newell Reach Editor 20. The GSC Library ...... The Librarian RYA SE Region will soon have a new web site aimed specifically at boating in the South-East. The first blooms of spring should appear soon on 21. The River‘s Tale ...... Rudyard Kipling www.ryase.org.uk - it will include forums for clubs, an event calendar for open and regional events, and photos of them. If you have suggestions for 23. Dinghy Park Puzzle ...... Chris Hague-Smith content, mail [email protected]. RYA Dinghy level 1&2 course material is now available in braille and on audio 24. Global Warming ...... The Debunker tape. Gravesham Council‘s toilet attendants have made a real splash by scooping 25. Sailing Terms explained ...... James Davies two awards at the Loo of the Year ceremony!

**1** **2** Verbiage from the Vice Social Report There may be someone out there who doesn‘t know who I am. I am Dear All, a woman of few words and shy disposition who finds herself in the Where does all the time go?! I‘m sure I‘ve just finished writing the role of Vice Commodore with responsibility for Works, and this is the last one! first of perhaps many little commentaries I shall be writing for the Once again we had a very enjoyable Christmas dinner. I think that Reach. this is one of my favourite events. Thanks to all the committee for We find ourselves in difficult and frustrating times. Developers and their help - we are almost getting it off to a fine art! I bet you didn‘t council are not the most desirable of ”bed fellows‘ in any know that your Christmas Turkey was spirited to the club having circumstances, but mix this with a large expanse of mud and the been cooked across the A2 œ thank you Brenda! and also your pigs usual politics, and you know you won‘t be going anywhere very fast. in blankets œ thank you Pat! Next year we should be able to do it all As my brother has often said to me:- ”if you can‘t get into it; get on site when we have the new cooker. out of it. Or, if you can‘t get out of it; get into it‘. I fear the ”it‘ There was a happy gathering over the New Year at the club which I we can‘t get out of is more accurately the water we can‘t get into, missed as I spent it with my twenty-somethings and the neighbours. and possibly won‘t get anywhere near until early Summer. I figured that at their age this might not happen too often so I should Maybe now is the ideal opportunity to give a few hours to helping out take advantage of it! (The kids not the neighbours!) at one of the club‘s working weekends. I can guarantee good company, good food, and maybe even an experienced ear who just The New Year has got off to a good start with a talk entitled the happens to know how to sort out that problem with the antifouling Mirrors from Oz. Pete and Co repeated their wonderful Burns night or that bit of electrics that just won‘t work. So why not come along supper, which raised a considerable amount for the club. We have and join us. Details and dates can be found on the website, club just had our successful annual quiz night again which is also a fund notice board or just talk to one of the committee members. We‘d raising event. I must remember to read the papers the week love to see you. beforehand next year and also to brush up on my sweets so as I can And me. . . well, I‘ll be the one quietly in the background; recognise them in the egg box before I eat them! (Any excuse!) screwdriver in one hand, teapot in the other. [Beware- next year‘s egg box round may be cheese! - Ed.] Penny Davies I know it is a disappointment that lift out is going to be later this W ho‘s W ho 2005 year so we are going to extend the talks and social events through Commodore: Peter Fletcher to June. The talks, we hope, will be on the theme of Tales along the Vice Commodore (works): Penny Davies River Bank œ those places you sail past and wonder what they really Rear Commodore (house): Ken Munro do. Rear Commodore (corporate image): Emma Foreman If you would like to organise a social event yourself or have an idea Social: Karen Bodman please do not hesitate to contact me, or any social committee Sailing Sec: Dave Thompson member. Mooring Masters: Brian Pietrzyba and Trevor Simmonds Treasurer: Jo Munro We are now in a new club year and we have some changes to the Secretary: Kath Lilley social committee. I would like to say a BIG thank you to Penny who Training: John Williams now has other responsibilities in her role as Vice Commodore but has Building and Development: Roy Turner offered to help out at events and also to Julie who has a busy year Bar: Roy Boughton ahead studying and is also stepping down from the committee. Thank Gen Com Members: Leon Ferguson, Dave Rouse, Geoff Honey you both very much for you help. (Julie, I may still be calling on you for a loaf of tuna sandwiches!)

**3** **4** I would like to welcome Val Green, Pat Robb and Debbie Parker to Development Update the social committee this year. The more observant of you will have noticed that there was no development update in the last Reach, and this was an accurate Forthcoming events: - reflection of events - basically nothing had happened which couldn‘t Saturday 9th April Singalong with the musicals (and be covered by a few lines in the accompanying newsletter. anything else you want to singalong to) Saturday 23rd April to be arranged However a lot has happened in the last four months, and continues Saturday 7th May Sail-past Cream Tea from 4pm to happen. I will try and give the background here, and for the very Saturday 28th May Barbecue latest refer to the newsletter, which goes to press a week or two after the Reach. Please check the notice board and web site for further events or The lead developer, Countryside Properties, has woken up after a few contact a social committee member. low profile months (at least as far as the basin was concerned). They have been the target of a management buyout bid, which finally Look forward to seeing you all at the club succeeded about a month ago. So Countryside is to become a private Best Wishes company - generally held to be a —good thing“. It means they can Karen Bodman, Sociable Secretary time the work on projects to suit themselves, rather than to achieve steadily rising profits to keep the shareholders happy. How much this The Grivesend Bison protracted bid process has diverted Countryside‘s management from Core blimey mate the projects on hand we shall probably never know, but I‘m sure it a pig‘s jead on a plite? didn‘t help. Don‘t yer know that the head The development now rejoices in the name of —The Embankment“, on the red and has its own web site (www.theembankment.gb.uk). Within this, castle aint dead Countryside have an interest in the former Magnox Building, Alpha meat on a plite Plant and Alcan sites (which are surrounded by their hoardings). but a memento They have sold on their interest in the old power station site to to princess po- Bellway Homes. cahonatas who On to the basin, that mud-hole dear to so many of our hearts. Many cime from a plice of you will recollect that the planning conditions include an obligation where they don‘t eat pig‘s on for Countryside to do certain work on the basin prior to selling any a plite, but bison! flats. Hence our early lift-out, so that the work could be done over So that‘s what it is. the winter. The Magnox building was to be refurbished in parallel But John S was heard to note with these works, so that they could start selling flats on 1st April that the bison was the plice 2005. where he kept his bote. Martin Jacob Well as you know, it didn‘t happen that way. Somewhere close to start date, it was discovered that the Council had to give Countryside Last year, the number of people who drowned in their bath was significantly a licence before the work could start. The paperwork was put in the higher than those from boats. hands of the lawyers - and it took an interminable time to sort out, by which time the original site for dumping the mud was no longer available. An alternative had to be found, which necessitated road

**5** **6** transport, which necessitated changes to the licence, and revised this date will be achieved or bettered. We will be having regular permissions from the Environment Agency, and a road closure meetings with Countryside and the contractors, so should be aware order... of how the work is progressing. The Club held an open meeting for boatowners (and others) to In parallel with the dredging, the gates are being repaired. We discuss the basin issues, and John Coates (Technical Director, are told that the steelwork of the gates is in good condition, but the Countryside Special Projects) came along to give an update and timber less so. The developers hope to just replace all the timber answer questions (Gravesham Council were also invited). Some of (rather than patching), so that it lasts. However the right sort of this article duplicates what was said at that meeting (and the AGM timber is quite hard to come by, so there is potential for delay there. the previous week) for the benefit of those who could not attend. Also some work will be done on the brickwork of the lock barrel. The Once John Coates had left the discussion carried on; in particular basic intention for this winter is to try and make the basin more considering the possibilities of somehow lifting in those boats that watertight, to minimise the amount of mud which comes in. The wished it. Quite apart from the practical difficulties and uncertainties remaining repairs to the walls will be done over another winter of arranging the lift, and then raising masts, the only option was to (probably 2005-6). This should be able to fit in with normal lift-out put boats onto the river moorings - with nowhere to go in the event times, and it may even be possible to carry out the work with some of problems. After much soul searching it was put to a vote, and boats in the basin, although the basin will of course have to be dry. members decided to stay put - a decision to be reviewed once we are One advantage of the delay on this part of the work is that able to assess progress (which so far has been much as we were Countryside can do a full survey of the walls this winter, and properly told, snow notwithstanding). quantify the work which is needed - if done this winter the scope of work would have been an unknown quantity, which could have As I write this (14th March) the contractors huts are on site, the lock yielded some surprises (and consequent delays). gates have been removed and taken to Woodbridge, and the dredging machinery is imminent. The contractors are Squibb and Needless to say the removal of mud by road has attracted some Davies - demolition contractors who I‘m told by a number of people mutterings - Gravesendites will have seen several articles in the local have a very good reputation for getting the job done. Certainly they press of recent weeks, mostly being very selective (or just plain handle a wide range of jobs, and have a number of methods for inaccurate) in the facts they mention, and some making suggestions getting the mud out of the basin - approx 17000m3 in all. The actual which are basically impossible to implement. (One even dared to dredging is being subcontracted - coincidentally to a company of refer to us as a —Yacht Club“!) No doubt those who habitually drive which Simon Mowatt used to own part. There are likely to be two down to the Promenade to eat their sandwiches in their car are not main phases to the dredging; first a campaign from the shore, lifting overjoyed, since the road is closed. straight in to lorries. Then the basin will be flooded to allow access The Club has been promised some extra fenced area to make up for to pontoons and barges, and mud from the middle of the basin will the fact that we are unable to use the South Yard - we have opened be brought ashore. All the mud is being taken away by road to discussions on this, which will be progressed once we know how Tilbury. The current plans are based on 5-day working; there is many dinghies are coming down. The aim is to ensure that the agreement for 7-day working, which would at best speed up the dinghy sailing programme can run pretty much as usual. whole contract, and at least give some margin to deal with any problems which might arise. Once dredging is complete the ground Obviously all this work is going to be extremely disruptive; however chains (refurbished) will be re-laid. we can hopefully look forward to a much improved basin. Countryside are responsible for ensuring its proper management for The ”drop dead‘ date for completion of the work is 6th June; the next five years, on terms which should be much the same as everyone is hoping it will be completed sooner, and we will be able Inland Dredging were supposed to observe. And once they‘ve to better judge once mud removal has actually started. At the dredged the basin this winter, that sets the maximum amount of moment Countryside certainly have a high level of confidence that

**7** **8** mud they can leave in the basin once their five years are up. They Membership News will be putting the management contract out to tender fairly soon, This summer (2004) many new members have joined us. July and GSC will have the opportunity to bid. brought us Colin Moresley, Andrew Winter, Angelo, Mary and Francesca Joseph, John Clarke, Ken Bishop, Douglas Nelson-Salt and In the slightly longer term, there is increasing interest in restoring Roy Anderson. part of the canal route. The Atkins report (commissioned by the TMCA, IWA, GBC, URBAN, SEEDA and SUSTrans) demonstrated some In August we welcomed Graham Clark; Alan Sutherland; Sam Studd; economic benefits to this. It would also help make the basin more Kathyrn, Alex and Lizzie Hallam-Howard and Jane Stevens. The viable - both by providing a water supply and by increasing the stock following months saw our usual slow down in applications, but more of moorings. SEEDA are looking at the area - one possibility is a than welcome are John Wood; Rawson Jones; Tim Shaw; John bridge over the railway at Denton, which would open up the whole Tsangarides; Laura, Helly, Thea, Andrew and Philana Hagley and area. finally but not least Rob McNally. Rob began to think that we didn‘t Steve Davies want his membership as his application form took some time to get to me and then processed. From the club it went to the Gravesham Mooring Post Thames where someone gave it to Peter at the end of the evening!! ”There were no big voyages on the high seas in 2004, but we did hire Surprisingly it made it on to Moonfleet and there it stayed as it was a on the . Yes we do have our own promptly forgotten. Finally it was located and then the processing boat, but transporting a 50ft long item wighing 14tons by road was took weeks due to me taking a holiday. So I thank Rob for his not a financial option. The attraction was of course to experience the persistence over the two months. Falkirk Wheel raising and lowering boats 115ft (35m)- a superb piece It was great to see so many members at the Duck Supper and of engineering, made in England to make way for a new rail link particularly pleasing to see the new members Colin and Ken. As between Glasgow and Edinburgh. We took over a 62ft. Lautrec class usual we all had a terrific evening and I cannot recommend the boat (yes, it had two loos!) on Saturday afternoon, entering the evening enough to all new and old members. It certainly shows the lower caisson of the wheel at 1730hrs. As the boat lift rises, there club at its most social. are wonderful views across the Forth valley towards the Highlands. But, as the Scottish weather was living up to its reputation, we had I know of one resignation and that is Ken Reader who joined in 1959, to wait to see it on our return from Edinburgh, three days later. It a year after the ”Commodore and Jane‘ (apropos the Duck Supper) was worth waiting for! were born. Ken has moved to Poole to be near his family and thanks The canal took us right into the heart of Edinburgh and the Western all members for their help and fellowship. We wish him and his family end, to within 450 yards of Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. The street well. is famous for the Haggis (little pig like creatures) shot on New Year‘s Boat News Day. Hence the Scots HOGmanay for 1st January. Shimmer has been sold to a couple who hope to keep her on the Newtonmere, our narrowboat occupies the mooring place at Harefield Orwell. Rob McNally has brought Quest from Vic Heritage - Vic has which was previously usef by Leda - the boat built and sailed by the bought himself Manatee. Alan Sutherland has a skiff of no name, Roy late Alec Barge (See Volume 2, Issue Eight, Page Four). Thelma, Anderson a motorboat called Chaika, Ken Bishop has a dinghy called Alec‘s partner and friend for 40 years, tells me that Leda was bought KenBoy and I believe he is still looking for small day sailer. I am still by a man who took her up to Faversham and will be sailing her in the waiting for the name of Peter Crossley‘s Corribbee; although he had Estuary and up the East Coast. She added —I think he realised he‘ll a name Sellotaped to the boat for the Gravesham Thames, I‘m not have two ghosts on board“. sure if he is completely happy with the name yet. May I take this opportunity to wish you and everyone fine weather and fair winds in the coming season. Well I am sure there is a load of information that has changed from Eddie Weston

**9** **10** last year so as usual if the book is wrong and you haven‘t contacted under the policy and for dinghy sailing generally, it has invited me please let me know the changes to names, boats, addresses, the tenders from underwriters for providing instructor insurance cover, dreaded mobile number and land lines. [Although it‘s too late for this and is meeting with the brokers on 14 December to select the best year, please let Jane know before you forget- Ed.] tender. Obviously the hope is that given the claims record this process will result in reduced premiums next year, but there can be Jane Fletcher no guarantee of this, given the insurance market generally. But at Membership Secretary the least it will ensure that the premiums offered are the most competitive available in the market. Instructor Insurance At the RYA SE region AGM someone asked why there had been such In the longer term, it is possible that a better deal might be available a steep increase in the cost of instructor insurance, from£15 to over by the RYA setting up a mutual company to provide the insurance. £30. This would entail policy holders paying their premiums into a fund held by the company, which would be used to meet any claims and The question was raised again at the Weald Area meeting pointing the costs of administration. Given the claims history, this is in out that a number of instructors were so concerned that they were principle an attractive option, but would mean the RYA moving into minded not to renew not only their insurance but their RYA a new field and would take time to set up. membership as well. Since then I have been pursuing the matter with Hamble and here are the results. James Stevens also spoke There is a linked problem with insurance cover for teaching centres, about the issue at the dinghy principals‘ conference on 21 November, with figures for up to £10,000 a year being required for centre and I hope there will be something in the forthcoming instructor insurance. This has not yet directly affected centres that are covered newsletter [I don‘t remember there being anything, but perhaps as part of a club insurance policy, but there is a risk that it could someone can correct me- Ed.]. knock on to the costs of club policies in the future. This year the current underwriters of the instructor insurance policy All instructors using the insurance should have received a letter in required a substantial increase in premiums. Originally they wanted advance notifying them of the increase; if paying by direct debit, it to charge around £70-80. This reflected their concerns about the cost should have come with the direct debit notification before renewal. of possible personal injury claims against instructors; both about the However there have been problems with the instructor computer greater likelihood of claims, whether successful or not, as a result of database, and the letter has not gone out to everyone. I for one did an increasingly litigious culture in society made possible by lawyers not receive it and I know from speaking to others that I am not the bringing cases on a no win no fee basis; and the increase in costs of only one [see Charlotte or Steve Davies if you‘d like a copy of this such claims as a result of the no win no fee system. The RYA pointed letter]. out that there had been no claims under the insurance since it was Edmund Whelan set up; that in sailing generally, claims of personal injury actually RYA Legal Manager fell; and most of the few claims there were were for under £10,000. As a result the RYA managed to negotiate the figure down to just Princess Pocahontas (c. 1595 - 1617) is an American Indian princess, over £30. This was the best that could be done in the short term; the daughter of Powhatan. Said to have saved the life of John Smith, English alternative would have been to cease the insurance altogether, settler, from execution by her tribe. Married another settler, James Rolfe, leaving instructors operating outside the umbrella of centre cover who brought her to England. Died aboard ship anchored off in without cover. 1617. Buried in St Georges churchyard, Gravesend. The RYA therefore decided that it had to take more fundamental steps to ensure that the rates for instructor insurance were the best available. On the basis of the information available on claims history

**11** **12** Mud, glorious mud? At the cruiser owners meeting in the Club on 12th February, the Corder Litten representative from Countryside said that the dredging would be 1912-2004 carried out by putting plant down into the Basin. The mud would then It is with sadness that I write this about my father who died in be drained of as much water as possible, and taken away to Essex in October this year (2004) aged 92, after a short illness. He had tanked vehicles, and dumped in a toxic waste site. retired to Devon, but had spent many happy years sailing from In order to keep the Basin as ”dry‘ as possible, the flood gate will Gravesend Sailing Club as an active dinghy then cruiser sailor. remain closed. This will also enable the contractors to repair the Corder began sailing on the shortly after he met and present lock gate. married Nora. For several years he enjoyed sharing an old lifeboat Originally the only lock gate in use was the outer one, which was that mainly sailed backwards! John Skellorn had a lot to do with destroyed by a bomb in 1940. I recently found a note about this in my introducing Corder to sailing and as he recalled at the funeral, Corder father-in-law‘s logbook, for his boat Marjorie. She was laid up in the tended to do things his way!! When the family began to grow up he Basin, while he was away in the Navy. He wrote: built a Heron dinghy that he used to teach his children, Pam, Chris and Don, to sail. This soon became too small for his growing family —September 1st 1940 - During an air raid, a bomb was dropped about so he built two canoes, a Solo dinghy and a Mirror. The problem was 11am, which landed close to the gate of the . It was a how to transport his fleet! The old Lanchester supported the dinghy delayed action bomb, and it exploded at about 5pm, blowing out the of the moment whilst the caravan that had a lifting roof, supported lock gate, and throwing stones and debris high into the air. A piece of the canoes! Quite a sight when the fleet set off on holiday. One stone weighing about 30lbs crashed through the cabin roof of passer-by was heard to comment —That ain‘t no caravan it ain‘t got Marjorie, wrecking the port side of the cabin and smashing all the roof any windows.“ Corder then became a —racing“ man and bought a beams except one. Fortunately, the port bunk took the blow, and no Wineglass dinghy and a Dormobile caravan. This proved to be an serious damage was done to the hull. excellent move as the children were going their own ways and he It was low water at the time, but the Basin was full, so that all the and Nora spent many happy hours sailing and racing around the water rushed out of the Basin. The yacht moorings were broken, and country. the yachts piled up, causing damage, including the counter stern of Nora provided the cups of hot beverage for cold sailors after the Marjorie. racing from her mobile kitchen. Corder eventually became National A piece of coping stone about 3' x 3ft x 1'6" was lifted on to the champion when the championships were held on the Thames at Clubhouse roof, but did not come all the way through. Other damage Gravesend. His next challenge was to complete a Snapdragon 26. He was done to the side of the Clubhouse. The dinghies in the yard nearly bought the hull and top moulded together and set to work fitting it all escaped damage.“ out. Hours were spent lovingly tailoring the internal fittings. Muflier The basin remained without gates until after the war, when it was was launched at Gravesend on Sunday 28th August 1968. Here found to be easier to put new gates in the inner position. When the began the next chapter! new flood prevention gates were built, they were sited more or less Exploring the lower reaches of the Thames, the East Coast and where the old ”outer‘ gates had been. Holland under sail. On the maiden voyage up the East Coast whilst When the flood gate is shut, access to the Clubhouse will have to be sailing up the notorious Maplin Sands he rescued a sinking Dragon via the Promenade gate, or the sliding flood gate to the road. The very dinghy and was rewarded with a large bottle of whisky (Corder was fit and agile can still use the bridge gate and climb up and over the big T-total all his life but he accepted the gift as it was meant). In 1973 flood gate, at their own risk of course. John Skellorn Corder took early retirement from the paper mill where he had worked since leaving school and settled on a new home in Winkleigh, P.S. What are the odds on finding a second UXB in the basin mud? Devon. On 20th June 1973 with a crew from Gravesend S.C. he set off for the River Exe. The journey was uneventful and they arrived

**13** **14** after a stop at Yarmouth I.O.W. on 22nd June to tie up on a buoy at The History of the Thames and Medway Canal Starcross. They became members of Starcross cruising and fishing Originally proposed and abandoned in 1778 during the Napoleonic club, and enjoyed years of sailing and fishing, west to the Helford wars, work on a canal between Gravesend and the Medway towns River and south to the Channel islands. Nora, Corder and their little was not started until 1799. Ralph Dodd, an enthusiastic engineer, Sheltie dog —Suki“ were often seen sailing in and out of the River proposed that a canal 48ft wide and 7ft deep should be built claiming Exe, anchored off Dawlish Warren where smells of their fishing that this would considerably reduce the 47 mile round trip, making triumphs and boat baked bread would waft across the anchorage! great savings on costs and hold ups due to poor weather in the Thames Estuary. It was estimated that ”over 62,000 tons of goods Soon grandchildren enjoyed the call of sailing with Nan and would be carried every year and, together with basins at either end, Granddad. Corder was only too willing to share his vast knowledge the canal would cost approximately £24,500. Construction would and experience with anyone who had time to stop and chat!! His son take no more than 2 years. The strategic use of the canal could not Don lived in Exeter and then Newton Abbott and was able to be a be over emphasised as safe passage of troops and military crew and to enjoy fishing. He held the record for the weightiest bass equipment could be assured between the dockyards of Woolwich and at one time! Dad never ceased to talk about his adventures in the Chatham.‘ The 8 mile canal was to join the Medway in Limehouse West Country. He loved the thrill and challenge of sailing often sailing Reach, opposite Rochester, with a branch to Chatham Reach. up to his mooring against the strong ebbing tide despite the fact that he had a good engine. There was something satisfying about picking By the time the proposal had reached parliament in 1800 the route the buoy up under sail and not all of us have that skill or patience. had been modified calling for a cutting 80ft deep and 5,000yds long. His log books note the large amounts of mackerel, pollack, and some This meant the removal of over 500,000 cubic yards of soil. The cost unidentified species! Notes of shark and dolphins seen as they sailed had increased to £37,800 with a proviso that this may increase if the down the coast. There is even a receipt for 80p for a night in Fowey angle of the cutting had to be widened. harbour, whilst the Dart cost 84p!! Muflier is now based up the East By the end of 1801 four miles of the canal had been cut between coast being sailed by his son Chris. Gravesend and Higham, including the basin at Gravesend. By this Chris Boddy and Pam sail from Poole in Pielago and Don from a time however, investigation had shown that 2,000yds of the original Spanish port in his own boat. Corder passed on his love of sailing and proposed cutting should be replaced by a tunnel. The cost was now will be sadly missed by those who knew and loved him. up to £57,000. It is of interest to note that the Higham of the time was not the Lower Higham that we know today; it was in fact, ² If any G.S.C. members fancy a weekend in Poole harbour or are mile due north at what now is known as Church Street, where ponds sailing in a Dayboat Open and need accommodation please do still can be found; all that is left of the fledgling canal. contact Chris and Pam Boddy who have retired to Wareham and keep Pielago moored in the River Frome. A second engineer, Ralph Walker, was now called in by ”the Company and Proprietors of the Thames and Medway Canal‘. Walker reported Pam Boddy that a great deal more money would be needed and he suggested a deviation that would shorten the canal by miles but would require a PLA Byelaws have say the following about disorderly behaviour: 56. No person shall in or beside the Thames or while using the Thames or its longer cutting up to 100ft deep involving the removal of 1,400,000 banks or towpaths or the Richmond works - cubic yards of soil, but no tunnel. (a) be intoxicated; The construction came to a halt until 1808 when Walker was again (b) behave in a riotous or disorderly manner; approached. His next recommendation was to realign the canal yet (c) cause any unreasonable noise. again and this time the line was to be the shortest between two points. This reduced the length of the canal by a further 1³ miles. Part of the existing canal was re-cut to Higham Street, today‘s Lower

**15** **16** Higham, and the tunnel a firm proposal. but in 1846 the sum spent on the canal and tunnels was given as £285,439. What that is in today‘s terms is beyond calculation. During Despite this, it was not until April 1819 that work on the seven feet the recent works by the railway company a few interested people square header tunnel was started. This was completed by November were allowed to visit the tunnel and it was interesting to see the pick 1820 and by May 1824 the largest canal tunnel to be built was marks made by the navvies nearly 200 years ago. It was sobering to opened. It was 3,931 yards long, 26 feet wide and 35 feet high remember that all the work was done by hand and all spoil was including water 8 feet deep. There was also a towpath 5 feet wide. removed by wheelbarrow. There was only manpower, no power tools The canal was capable of taking 60 ton barges 94 feet long, 20 feet available. wide with a draft of up to 6 feet. It was initially intended to fill the The canal continued in use between Gravesend and Higham until the canal during spring tides but unfortunately there was greater loss of 1920‘s, carrying a variety of goods including hops, lime and water than expected œ up to 4 feet between tides and this caused vegetables out, and manure, from the stables of London, in. So much some barges to ground and block the canal. To overcome this manure that the wharf at Higham became known as Dung Wharf. problem a steam pump was installed at Gravesend to maintain the level. In 1934 the Southern Railway Act authorised the abandonment of the canal and in 1937 parts of the canal at Higham were filled-in with Due to the extreme tides at the basins it was only possible to enter asbestos waste from the adjacent asbestos factory. Gravesend the system a few hours either side of high water, as club members Borough Council purchased the Gravesend basin in 1970 and the first are only too well aware. It was therefore felt by the barge owners ² mile of the canal towards Higham was filled in to create an that they would rather have their crews sailing around the Isle of industrial estate in 1975. Despite this, efforts have been made to Grain than to pay tolls and have them waiting in the basins for the restore the canal to a useful leisure waterway. The Thames and next tide. Yet another problem was that once vessels entered the Medway Canal Association was formed in 1976 for this purpose and tunnel there was a long wait for any vessel attempting to travel in has worked continually to promote the canal as a multi functional the opposite direction. This last problem was reduced in 1830 when amenity. the tunnel was closed so that a passing place could be constructed, cutting down into the tunnel from the lowest part of the valley As many readers will know the recent proposals to redevelop the above. Fortunately, this proved to be very close to the middle of the North Western area of Gravesend has given much hope to those who tunnel. The tunnel is now known as Higham tunnel and have worked for so long. It is possible that in the not too far distant tunnel. future pleasure boats of many kinds will be able to navigate from the Gravesend Basin to Higham. An excellent safe area for learning boat Despite many efforts, the canal trade, agricultural products, hops, handling, and for viewing the wide variety of local wildlife, right on beer, cement and groceries was not sufficient to provide a profit. The our doorstep. basins, especially Gravesend, had a much better commercial life than the canal itself. In 1842 there was a proposal to convert to a railway, David Rouse this was rejected. Again in 1844 there was a proposal to convert and after much discussion a single track line was laid from Gravesend to As I read through the issues of the Reach, numerous mistakes always leap Rochester passing through the tunnels on a track half on the tow off the page at me. Unfortunately, this is always after the Reach has been path and half supported by staging in the canal itself. This obviously printed. If you would like to join my team of proofreaders, please let me limited the width of barge that could pass through the tunnel. Trains know- I'd be exceptionally glad to hear from you. and barges shared the tunnels for eighteen months until in December It‘s a year of half-centuries - starting with Gill Smith, closely followed by 1845 when South Eastern Railways bought the Gravesend and Penny Davies. Steve will reluctantly follow shortly, with Chris Steer tagging Rochester Canal and Railway Company for £310,00 and the tunnels along in September. (Isn‘t a piece of furniture more than 50 years old classed ceased to carry water borne traffic. This may seem a large amount as an antique?)

**17** **18** RYA Small Craft First Aid The GSC Library As a student, early mornings aren‘t 2nd nature, but at 8.30am my It's quite possible that some members don't know that we have a mobile phone gave a very prompt wake-up call. Twenty minutes library at the Club, so here's a quick set of directions: later, still trying to shake off the events that occurred the previous 1. Go up the external staircase at the front of the clubhouse. night, I managed to present myself in a more organised manner. 2. Open the door on your left at the top, using your GSC key, and After having breakfast and a quick shower in time for the 9.30am enter the imposing room revealed. It's usually nice and warm up start...yes, 9.30am, which is very hard to achieve for a 19yr old, I here as the heating plant is below; why do you think I took on this was anxious to see what our newly acquainted teacher, Miss Davies, job? had in store for us. With a cup of tea, which seems to be the 3. Don't be afraid, it's not private -- it is there for your use. tradition within the Davies household, and staring at a body bag with 4. Make use of the impressive library facilities, or the superb the description ”Little Annie‘ I couldn‘t help but think this was going lifejacket loan centre; and marvel at the huge purple drysuit to be a long day. However, Charlotte aka ”Miss Davies‘ gave a very available for use by those with a physique resembling that of Dave enthusiastic presentation when introducing the outlines of the Prowse (Darth Vader), though unfortunately with size 6 feet. A course. minimum height of 6' 8" is required. Myself and 2 others were given the task of writing down our own 5. On the way out, please don't follow the example of the expectations of the course and what we wanted to learn. Well, with multitudinous pillocks who leave the doorlock latched open... 3 teenagers looking mind struck, I think overall we coped quite well. Amongst hypothermia and blood loss injuries we had a very Alternatively, ask for directions to the West Wing. Named thus, of imaginative list. course, because it is on the east side of the club; or perhaps because The second part of the morning was learning about different aspects the Commodore at the time it was built was Alan West, whom we of first aid covering a range of illnesses from head injuries to angina. should perhaps now disown as he has taken to canal boating, an After gradually awakening with the rising sunlight and the endless activity pursued in box-like vessels with no keel or mast. supply of tea, we worked through the long criteria with an annoying In truth the library isn't huge; but it is showing encouraging signs of creature, which I believe is known as a ”Harriet‘. Word of advice, if expansion. Why not donate a book or two -- you know you need the anyone is seriously hurt and is in need of being put in the recovery space. And could we please have something published within the last position, then the afternoon‘s events would cause much worry. fifty years, as historical works are quite well represented already. After a very fulfilling lunch in a generous hour given by our course Here is a 'scale of desirability' for the type of books we would leader we proceeded to learn about resuscitation and recovery appreciate, 1 being the most desirable, and 5 the least: position. The resuscitation was, I think, the most eventful, especially when watching a particular person ”trying‘ to perform CPR. This was 1: Current RYA navigation course books. followed by learning the recovery position, which was fairly straight 2: Boat maintenance. forward, but for some it proved a challenge. 3. Pilots, guides, and area descriptions. ..cough...Harriet...cough. However, I survived the day, surprisingly, 4: History of the Thames Sailing Gribble Boats etc. and I must say it was very well organised and thought out by Miss 5: Coffee-table large-format arty books, heavy on very big pretty Davies. photos, with a content value of inverse proportion to the size and Many Thanks, James Newell weight of the book, by ex-prime ministers and rock stars -- i.e. precisely the sort of book you were hoping to ditch at a Congratulations to Pat Heselden and Roger Wright who have recently suitably-respectable time period after receiving it with over-acted announced their engagement. The wedding will be in April. gratitude from Aunt Maud last Christmas.

A GSC member is sure that Brian MacKenley ("Big Mac") & Mark Boddy did Although you might not have expected it to be so, it is in fact a some Reach editing. They were missed off my list- does anyone have dates?

**19** **20** lending library; you can take the books out. We would like to see He trapped my beavers at Westminster. them back again, since we are attached to them. He netted my salmon, he hunted my deer, He killed my heron off Lambeth Pier. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure whether the huge old volumes of He fought his neighbour with axes and swords, Lloyd's Register of Yachts, Steamships, and Retired Admirals 1898 Flint or bronze, at my upper fords, etc. are part of the loan collection or purely for in-house reference; While down at Greenwich, for slaves and tin, but if you are physically capable of actually lifting one up and The tall Phoenician ships stole in, removing it down the staircase, there's probably no-one around who And North Sea war-boats, Painted and gay, could stop you, anyway (except the original owner of the Dave Flashed like dragon-flies, Erith way; Prowse drysuit). And Norseman and Negro and Gaul and Greek So there you have it. Use it or lose it. Drank with the Britons in Barking Creek. The Librarian And life was gay, and the world was new, And I was a mile across at Kew! The River's Tale But the Roman came with a heavy hand, TWENTY bridges from Tower to Kew -- And bridged and roaded and ruled the land, (Twenty bridges or twenty-two) -- And the Roman left and the Danes blew in-- Wanted to know what the River knew, And that's where your history-books begin!" For they were young and the Thames was old. Rudyard Kipling And this is the tale that the River told: --

"I walk my beat before London Town, Consultation is starting on implementation of the EC Water Framework Five hours up and seven down. Directive - written by freshwater scientists from the EC, it considers that Up I go till I end my run anything in suspension is a pollutant! If anyone is interested in representing At Tide-end-Town, which is Teddington. RYA SE Region in matters concerning this consultation, please contact Steve Down I come with the mud in my hands Davies. And plaster it over the Maplin Sands. If you have any problem with unmarked fishing gear in the estuary, please But I'd have you know that these waters of mine file a report with the RYA. Were once a branch of the River Rhine, There are proposals for a massive wind farm, the London Array, off the When hundreds of miles to the East I went Maplin Sands. Many objections have been lodged. And England was joined to the Continent. Within wind farms the turbines are usually about 500m apart, so no great navigational problem for small craft. However the wind shadow can extend "I remember the bat-winged lizard-birds, for up to 500m downwind. The Age of Ice and the mammoth herds, In tests wind turbines had negligible adverse effect on VHF, AIS, GPS and And the giant tigers that stalked them down mobile phones. However they produced very substantial radar echoes and Through Regent's Park into Camden Town. side lobes, which could completely mask quite large vessels. And I remember like yesterday The RYA and BMF have produced an environmental code of practice for The earliest Cockney who came my way, yachtsmen - it is practically based and realistic, and will help to demonstrate When he pushed through the forest that lined the Strand that we are able to regulate ourselves. With paint on his face and a club in his hand. He was death to feather and fin and fur.

**21** **22** Dinghy Park Puzzle Global W arming You think that GSC is short of space? Little Mudsea Dinghy Sailing Club Everyone seems to be arguing vehemently about how much global is VERY small - its dinghy park has spaces for only nine boats, and warming (of human origin) is raising the temperatures in our strangely enough, every single member owns a different class of dinghy! atmosphere. Actually this is completely irrelevant. From the clues given below, can you fill in the class of dinghy, and the On a geological timescale, the various rises and falls in the earth's name of its owner for each of the numbered spaces on the plan? atmospheric temperature can be seen clearly. These changes are (”Row‘ means one of the lines of three spaces running W-E). obviously unrelated to any human use of fossil fuels or anything BOATS: Albacore, GP14, Javelin, Merlin-Rocket, Osprey, Redwing, Solo, else. At present, we are emerging from a mini ice age, and the Tasar, Tideway. temperature is guaranteed to climb for the next few thousand years OWNERS:Fenella Allen, Les Evans, Des Ford, George Gamble, or so. There is absolutely nothing anyone, or indeed the entire Freda Musgrave, Jo Perry, Chris Rattigan, Vernon Tasker, Jane Winston. population of the planet acting in concert, could do to stop that CLUES: happening. Therefore, the sea level will rise, due to the polar icecaps A.Les Evans‘ space is at the westernmost end of one row; immediately melting; islands will be inundated; and we will have palm trees east is the Tideway‘s parking space. growing widespread throughout Britain: that much is inevitable. B.Vernon Tasker‘s Merlin-Rocket is south of Jo Perry‘s and east of the The mean sea level rise per century in Britain is at present a quarter GP14. of a metre, and the south-east of the country is also sinking at the C.Space number 5 is occupied by the Javelin, while Jane Winston‘s same rate, so that before long (in geological terms) our local dinghy is in space number 4. coastline will look quite different (as of course it did in Roman times, D.The two classes which begin with a T lie in different rows; one two thousand years ago, when the sea level was fifteen feet lower). occupies an odd-numbered space in the northernmost row. It would be quite reasonable to expect severe flood problems here E.The Redwing stands north of Chris Rattigan‘s boat and west of George in a couple of hundred years. We should worry, though: some Gamble‘s, which is in a different row to the Solo. countries, especially those consisting of low-lying islands, will cease F.The Albacore is parked south of Freda Musgrave‘s dinghy. to exist. G.The Osprey is in the space exactly north-east of Des Ford‘s. This gradual rise in temperature should be obvious if you simply look N at local conditions. It is not so long ago that winter fairs were held on the Thames, when the river froze several feet thick each winter, 1 2 3 from bank to bank, and for months on end. Massive bonfires were built on the ice, and a herd of elephants might have traversed the W E 4 5 6 river without harm. But when did you last see the Thames freeze 7 8 9 over for the winter from shore to shore at Blackfriars? In terms of this rate of temperature rise, a rise of a fraction of a S degree per century or whatever, caused by human interference, is Written solutions (marked —Dinghy Park Competition“) c/o Gravesend almost invisible. The British climate will inevitably approach that of Sailing Club, enclosing Name & Address + 50p entry fee per attempt. the Mediterranean. By then, of course, countries around the Med will Proceeds to the club development fund. There will be a small prize for resemble the Sahara. And there's absolutely nothing anyone can do the first correct valid entry drawn after the closing date of (30th April about it; certainly not by restricting fossil fuel emissions or anything 2005). Entry IS NOT restricted to club members œ in fact you are else of that kind. encouraged to copy & pass on this page to family, friends, neighbours Of course, there might be other solutions, such as moving the & workmates! Solution & winner in the next issue of ”Reach‘. Earth's orbit further out from the Sun. This seems, however, a little Hint: First, work out the Tideway‘s parking space!) radical just to prevent the British climate improving. All Chris Hague-Smith right-thinking Englishmen will hope for a rapid return to the local

**23** **24** climatic conditions of the Cretaceous period, when the area was a is just unacceptable. steamy tropical swamp. Not only would it be, at last, a decent If you think that there is a lot of fuss being made about ”global temperature in January; but also with a bit of dredging, boating warming‘ and what to do about it, consider what will happen when lakes could be created by the hundred; and hunters might benefit the next ice age comes. Every idiot with a column inch or a from the possible re-appearance of some very large beasts of five-minute slot to fill in the media will be screaming for more frightening demeanour. emissions, more pollution, more traffic, more coal fires, more On a more mundane level, if one did by some chance wish to reduce everything, and maybe even more nuclear-powered mega-pollution; the amount of emissions and pollution contributing to the tiny rise since, obviously, human activity and lack of sufficient emissions in temperatures per century attributable to human sources, then one must be causing the earth to freeze. The buzzword at this time will would logically start with the single largest source of of course be 'global freezing' and how the human race must have presently-unregulated emissions: airline travel. Stopping it caused it... completely would be a good idea, since it releases billions of tons of Please don‘t consider this a joke œ it will most certainly happen. contaminants into the atmosphere every year. Forget about human influence œ you are giving yourself far too much However, I have never heard of this mentioned in the media or by importance. Oh, and you should also bear in mind that we are due a politician on a single occasion*; hardly surprising when it would be for the next large planetary impact by a meteor of substantial size. the biggest political hot potato and vote-loser in existence. The In previous occurrences, this has always resulted in the extinction political party that advocated any controls would cease to exist. of the dominant species, due to the subsequent severe climate Therefore, one can safely assume that absolutely nothing of any disturbance for many thousands of years. It is, after all, the only consequence will be done to alleviate a problem that is, in any case, reason that we are here at all œ without the last meteor impact the only marginal when considering the big picture. lifeforms now extant would be very different indeed… The Debunker And do please note that the rise and fall of global temperatures is cyclical; Ice Ages come and go, and we most certainly haven‘t seen *I wrote this a year ago, and at that time this was true. The subject the last one. After a period of relatively high temperatures in has just been gently broached in the press. northern Europe, the temperature will start to fall and we will return to another ice age. No-one knows when this process will end œ if in fact it ever will. The last ice age was only ten thousand years ago The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has launched the Thames Marine Mammal Sightings Survey and is appealing for people fortunate enough to (merely a second ago in the history of the planet, which is about spot dolphins, porpoises and seals in the Thames to participate in the 4,500 million years old. The human race appeared just one and survey. Marine mammals are known to visit the Thames estuary but, until three-quarter hours ago, if the life of the planet so far is represented now, sightings have not been formally recorded. This survey is ongoing and by a year. What we do or don‘t do has very little effect on something will address this information gap. Data collected will help to develop of that scale). patterns and trends in species distribution, behaviour and habitat use. When the next ice age comes, if the polar ice cap extends southward Findings will also be fed into national databases. Our survey is operating in as far as it did in all the previous instances, the glaciers will the tidal Thames area, between Teddington upriver to Shoeburyness and terminate at a point between Oxford and the Thames. Conveniently, Sheerness in the outer estuary. If you would like to help, check out www.zsl.org for more information, or this should allow the survival of GSC, though boats may have to be contact Sophie Oliver at [email protected] for posters and slightly modified to cope with icebergs and below-zero temperatures. survey forms. The main problem however will be that the entire population of the rest of the country will be displaced, and require housing in Kent and the other counties on the south coast. I am all for immigration where sustainable, especially where this involves people from the south œ but the idea of being inundated by millions of northerners

**25** **26** Sailing Terms Explained Bunk - A small uncomfortable area for wet sailors to attempt sleep Leech - A crew member that never seems to have a penny Bunk - Action performed by some skippers in wind speeds when its time to pay for drinks or meals. greater than 25kts. (see also Run) Luff - The Front part of a sail that everyone but the helmsman Inside Overlap - The part of a race that resembles a political seems to pay attention to (see also Telltales) debate Luff œ Gruff version of laugh. Round Up - Easiest way to get the oncoming watch on deck Luff up - Something racers do to each other to catch the back Round Down - A bad, bad thing for a bowman out on the of the fleet spinnaker pole Head - (See Stern Pulpit) Gybe Set - A great way to end up on Port Tack right in front Halyard - Something that only breaks or jams when you're of the whole fleet that's approaching the mark on Starboard winning Pop the Chute - The sound a Poly Chute makes just as it Sheet - A line made to rip gloves or hands apart. Has ability blows apart (see America One) to tangle on anything. Cunningham - A Sly Pig or a complicated term for a downhaul Bow - The part of the boat that no one should have to work Tactician - A kind term for a Smart Ass or Arrogant SOB. on. Temporary section of an offshore Catamaran. Helmsman - The nut attached to the rudder through a Backstay - The last thing to grab as you‘re falling overboard steering mechanism Stem Fitting - The hole made in a competitors boat when your helmsman misjudges a Port/Starboard crossing Submitted by James Davies, sources various. Hatch - A hole to fall into Companionway - Another name for a hole to fall into Heave to œ An inevitable part of the initiation games for new members of racing teams. Anchor - The thing rotting in the bilge of every racing yacht (unseen) Sewerman - A sailor that has a fetish for wet soggy nylon Telltales œ Junior crew members that inform wives how much sailing was done in the bar. Foreguy - First guy to the bar Afterguy - Last guy out of the bar Lazy Guy - Most Yacht Racers when they're not Racing W inch - A thing you grind till it squeals W ench - A thing you grind till it squeals/Cook. Keel - A very heavy depth sounder only used on Unamarans (monohulls) Interior - A term not used in conjunction with racing yachts Comfort - Another term not used in conjunction with racing yachts

**27** **28**