From yachts to dinghies and canoeing to kayaking – the River Medway will be alive with crafts of all shapes and sizes today.

The Medway River Festival, which this year is promoting marine conservation, will fill Chatham Waterfront with dozens of yachts and vessels as they sail along.

For those wanting to stay dry, there will be a funfair, storytelling area, children’s entertainment, live music and food stalls.

Cllr Howard Doe from Medway Council said: “The festival celebrates Medway’s maritime history and the boating community comes out in full spirit to take part and showcase their yachts and vessels.

"There will be lots going on throughout the day for people of all ages to see and do, from displays along the River Medway to a number of land-based activities.”

At 1.30pm and 3pm there will be displays by the British Hovercraft Company, and the Admiral’s Cruise and the Mayor’s Sail Past will be at 1.45pm. At 3.15pm Medway Towns Rowing Club display followed by a search and rescue river and air display with the RNLI, coastguards and Bristow helicopter at 3.30pm.

And the big finale will be at 5pm with the Svitzer fire tug display featuring the 1948 tugboat, the MT Kent.

Medway Watersports Trust will be offering sailing, canoeing, and powerboating at Sun Pier.
Sessions cost £5 per person and safety equipment will be provided, but participants are asked to bring clothes to paddle or sail in, and be prepared to get wet.

The riverbank will be adorned with decorative fish as part of the festival to celebrate the creation of a marine conservation zone, and you can learn about marine life by meeting some slippery critters in a ‘touch tank’.

The project is being run by the Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority on Cannon Lawn, between Gun Wharf council offices and the river.

The conservation authority has created a no-take zone in the River Medway, prohibiting fishing activity along the northern banks of the estuary. The protected area covers 4.6 square miles of saltmarsh and mudflat environments.

To find out more, visit enjoymedway.org