Kent Section: What happens when the iron topsail blows out by Tim Bishop

CA member Tim Bishop will recount his experience when he found himself in the Netherlands with a damaged engine. When that auxiliary engine dies far from home on a club rally, and the best and most costly efforts by a local Volvo Penta dealer in Vlissengen produces small improvement: You and the crew dearly want to get home to people we all know and trust. Forget the rally through the Dutch canals without an engine. We call those we know that are a lot more skilled in the dark art of repairing elderly diesel engines. And so the fun begins across some of the busiest shipping lanes, and most dense wind farms, anywhere. Wind dies away, strong tides, big ships, and calling the lifeboat is for losers. But calling HM Coastguard is definitely required. Thursday 8th October 2026 at 20:00 Venue The Dog and Bear Hotel Lenham ME17 2PG Entry fee £3.00 pp prebooked. For full details of this event, follow the direct link HERE to the relevant page on the CA website.