Ramsgate Repairs & Dodging Dark Tunnels

Ramsgate Repairs, Dodging Dark Tunnels (and Dodgy Pubs?), and a Drone Farewell!

Our grand plans for a day of leisurely Ramsgate sightseeing vanished faster than a free pint at happy hour. The culprit? That pesky pontoon kiss from yesterday. To properly address the minor gel coat casualty on Halcyon Sea’s bow, it turned out our bed once again needed a full-scale deconstruction. Apparently, the boat-repair toolkit resides in the most inconveniently accessible location imaginable – directly beneath our sleeping sanctuary.

However, every cloud has a slightly damp, condensation-related lining! This unexpected boat surgery did provide a prime opportunity to air out the forepeak. Sleeping in such close quarters, especially with the recent chilly weather, has created its own microclimate of condensation. Being gently dripped on by the blind that covers the hatch in the dead of night is not exactly our preferred wake-up call. It's less "gentle rain" and more "mildly irritating boat tears."

By the time Halcyon Sea was back to her (mostly) normal self, with our bed reassembled in a feat of nautical engineering, the clock had ticked past 3 pm. This left a mere hour before our planned tourist destination, the Ramsgate Tunnels, that slammed its subterranean doors at 4 pm. Tracey, truth be told, let out a sigh of relief. Another place shrouded in darkness, potentially filled with mannequins designed to induce heart palpitations, wasn't exactly topping her list of must-see attractions.

Instead, we opted for a less spooky exploration of Ramsgate town with Pepper in tow. Our first discovery was the UK's largest Wetherspoon pub. Now, we're not averse to a good Spoons, but their strict no-dog policy meant we couldn't sample its reported vastness. Judging by the slightly glazed expressions of some patrons exiting, perhaps our canine companion inadvertently saved us from a truly "epic" experience. The town itself was bustling with Saturday energy, and the faint strains of live music drifted from one of the waterfront venues, though its exact location remained a delightful mystery. The usual array of high street shops lined the streets, but as is often the case these days, the crowds were… well, let's just say the tumbleweeds were probably having a day off elsewhere.

Our wanderings led us past a rather intriguing building: The Ramsgate Home for Smack Boys! Established in 1881, this institution provided shelter and support for young apprentices, some as young as ten, who worked on the large sailing fishing boats called "smacks" that fished out of Ramsgate Harbour. Imagine a childhood of physically demanding labour on the often-treacherous seas – injury and even death were grim realities. The home was the vision of Canon Eustace Brenan, the vicar of Christ Church in Ramsgate, who sought to offer both spiritual guidance and practical assistance to these vulnerable "smack boys." Over time, the home's purpose evolved, extending its care to shipwrecked sailors from the Goodwin Sands and later providing refuge for survivors of the First World War – a testament to its enduring spirit of compassion.

After a boat-cooked dinner, we ventured back to the Royal Temple Sailing Club for a quick nightcap. The atmosphere was… intimate. We were the only patrons besides the friendly barman, Bailey. He shared some of the challenges the club faces in attracting new members, particularly the younger generation – a familiar tale for clubs across the land, it seems. We recounted stories from our own club in Fareham, finding solidarity in shared experiences. Mentioning our planned early departure for Chatham, the barman, a surprisingly early riser and drone enthusiast, offered to capture some aerial footage of our exit – a rather novel and much-appreciated farewell!

With a 5:30 am alarm set, driven by the need to make the most of the tide for what promised to be another long day on the water, an early night was definitely in order. We drifted off to sleep, the gentle rolling in the marina against Halcyon Sea rocking us to sleep. We are hopeful that tomorrow's early start will bring smoother sailing (both literally and figuratively!).Read more