MVS provides Safety Boat cover at Isle of Sheppey Around Island Race

This month saw the 60th running of the annual Sheppey Round the Island Race organised by the Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club where MVS Medway and MVS Putney crewed MVS Londinium 1 as safety cover for this clockwise race.

Weather conditions were perfect on the start line in the Thames estuary, just offshore of Sheerness, and Londinium 1 was tasked with following the slowest boats in the first of 3 waves set off at 30 minute intervals, and also to host one of the event photographers onboard.

In due course, Londinium 1 reached the pre-arranged point at which she could hand over safety boat responsibilities and arranged to hand the photographer back to one of the safety boat RIBs at Queenborough Harbour.

On her return journey back to her moorings upriver on the Medway, the crew took the opportunity to practise anchoring in Stangate Creek.

Photo: James Bell