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Hoo Marina has been
taken over by Residential Marine Ltd
and is now called Port Werburgh
There is a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with few rules
and good security. The Marina is situated on the northern side of the Medway Estuary
and is within easy sailing distance of the Thames estuary and the North Sea -
with the coastal ports of mainland Europe just a few hours away. Hoo also benefits
from excellent road access, including from the M25, the A2/M2 and the M20 (see
map)
A family atmosphere has long been
the hallmark of the Marina and has been a major contributing factor to its popularity.
The River
Medway
For centuries this was "The
Navy's" river. The large bases at Chatham and Sheerness are history
now, but the dockyard buildings and the even older forts at Folly Point
and Darnett Ness can still be seen.
For the yachtsman, the Medway
offers excellent sailing in the lower reaches where, on the southern side, there
are quiet anchorages in settings that can have changed little since the Romans
established their potteries in the area. During the Napoleonic and Revolutionary
wars, the river was used to moor the prison hulks. The curious can still find
relics from both these periods - even though they were separated by over 1000
years.
The river is navigable by quite
large vessels for some 13 miles from its mouth at Sheerness to Rochester
where the headroom under the bridge is 9.1 metres (40 feet) at LWS, with
3ft. depth of water.
The tide flows for a further
12 miles to Allington Lock, one mile above the low arched bridge at Aylsford.
Headroom is 9ft 6” at HWS. Then, for a further 17 miles, the river
winds through the pleasant country to Maidstone and Tonbridge - with eleven
locks on the way. Craft drawing 2m can reach Maidstone while those drawing
1.2m can reach Tonbridge. Maximum length is 18m and beam 4.5m.
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