Ships, boats & hovercraft

To the eye of a land-lubber this looks like a well designed marina, with attractive vistas, especially when compared with Brighton's marina, that has had to be bolted onto an almost straight sea front.

One from the archives - that I hadn't realized that I had overlooked.

A history of this paddle-steamer, launched in 1933, and its current condition may be found at www.paddlesteamers.info/Turbine%20Steamers/QueenMary.htm

Last heard of on a pontoon purchased by The Medway Maritime Trust, with restoration beginning, although this seems likely to be only to preserve it as a static exhibit. The condition was such that a complicated lift with a huge floating crane was needed. The most up-to-date account of the history and current situation I have found is at www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=14802.0 Scroll down to the bottom if you want the most recent news. This shot was taken from the PS Kingswear Castle on a cruise down the Medway.

As a man standing waiting to cross the river said, "Why would they name a ship after a land-locked English county?"

One complication of photographing at a modern quayside is the presence of security and safety fencing. I am always interested to see 'foreign' trawlers. Padstow is the furthest west I think I have noted, but we have had boats from Peterhead and Dumfries. The last must be the furthest from its home port, as Dumfries is on the west coast of Scotland.

Again I don't have a date for this shot. I think that the Ton class minesweepers were all gone by 1993, so this predates that. It is a scan from a 35mm print. There is a separate album in this folder for Sailing and other water sports

There is another view of this former Customs Cutter taken when it was further down this creek. Some work seems to have been done on the superstructure.Some of the rust has had a coat of red oxide and the red hoist is a new addition since then. www.ipernity.com/doc/364457/25823969

Another view of what I think is the Werra. She was at anchor for at least a couple of days.