12 of 2024 - Upcoming Navigation Events

20th July 2024
The Mayor of Maidstone Court of Survey, 465th Anniversary 

It is the privilege of the Hampstead and Yalding Cruising Club to convey the Mayor of Maidstone and other dignitaries on a cruise to the Hawkwood Stone and back to Wateringbury in pursuance of the Charter of Queen Elizabeth 1st dated 1559. The cruise is to inspect the condition of the river and to mark the swans as laid down in the Charter of King James 1st dated 1619. 

The Convoy will leave Lock Meadow Wharf and proceed to Allington Lock, then proceed down river to the Hawkwood Stone. The convoy will turn around and make its way back to Allington Lock, locking through and stopping in Maidstone for a short break.  

Then continuing upriver to pass through East Farleigh Lock and Teston Lock and then onto Wateringbury. Please navigate with caution.  
For full details and timings please contact the Hampstead and Yalding Cruising Club. 

 
27th July 2024  
Maidstone River Festival, Maidstone Town Centre 

Mooring  

Free mooring is available in the Town Centre. Please "raft out" to make as much room as possible for other mariners. Areas have been marked out for safety boats (near Archbishop's Palace and under the bridge), please keep this access clear.  

Raft Race at 2.30pm  

There will be a raft race running between 2:30pm and 3:30pm from the High-Level Railway Bridge and Maidstone Bridge (by Thai Orchid). For safety reasons, we ask that boats remain on their moorings. Please do not try to navigate through the raft race! There will be a safety boat and stewards at the front and rear of the race, but it is very likely that participants will be in the water at some point during the race!  

Paddleboard and Watersport activities  

There will be a number of water sports taking place throughout the day. In the evening (around 9pm) there will be an illuminated parade of paddleboards, canoes and kayaks launching from Lockmeadow and travelling downstream to Fremlin Walk for the fireworks.  

 

Please ensure all vessels (powered and unpowered) are registered for use on the navigation. The river will be busy, please respect the 5-knot speed limit. 

The event is being run by the Maidstone River Festival committee, full details and the schedule of the day are available on their website Home | Maidstone River Festival      

28th July 2024   
Tonbridge Canoe Club - Medway Marathon  

Starting 10.30am at Allington Lock from the Malta Inn side and paddling upstream to finish at Tonbridge Canoe Club. Approximately 25 boats will be participating. Please navigate with caution.  

18th August 2024   
Tonbridge Canoe Club - Tonbridge Marathon  

There will be two groups of races. The first starting from Tonbridge Town Bridge at 10.30am, racing upstream to Leigh Barrier footbridge and around the sportsground, all finishing by 11.30am.   

At 12.30pm the faster classes will be starting from Cannon Bridge downstream of Town Lock, proceeding to East and Sluice Weir locks, and then back around the sportsground at Tonbridge to finish, clearing the water by 2.30pm. Approximately 120 boats in total will be participating. Please navigate with caution.