At a bend in the river, a knot of tugs and a small coaster, lie just beyond the reach of the slick shore side ooze, which stretches out toward them, as the tide ebbs. Above them, tall banks clamber skyward, to meet a duck egg blue sky, lit by a low autumn sun. The shelter is complete. No breeze stirs.
The Command House looks on regally, through the unblinking eyes of its tall, white painted, sash windows. Home to the Deputy Armament Supply Officer, when it was built, in the seventeen hundreds. Now the only surviving part of the Chatham Ordnance Yard.
It was set outside the gated walls, of the main Chatham Naval Dockyard, in case of fire or explosion.
From around the next meander, the spire of Rochester Cathedral peers over a forest of scaffolding and part raised brickwork . As waterfront apartments rise on the site of former dockyard wharves.
Across the green, the ornate Victorian clock tower of the former Town Hall, now the Brook Theatre, marks time. Chatham has become well practiced in the art of re-purposing its historic buildings.
Beside the grand stone facade, nature demonstrates her own way of telling time. Announcing the turn of the season with a cascade of green, gold and russet leaves.
Down river, Thunderbolt Pier is thronged, with boats home from their summer adventures.
Stargazer lies in the former naval dry dock . Secure behind its lock gates. Her boom is removed, the mast ready to be craned out, for replacement of all standing and running rigging. A new mainsail and improved mainsheet system are on order.
As soon as the crane can be repaired (it has a faulty circuit board), Stargazer will be lifted ashore. Then work can begin to scrape her hull back to bare glassfibre, epoxy coat and fair it. Before winter weather sets in, we hope! Whilst the mast is down and the hull is ashore, there are upgrades to make on the wind and depth sensors. It will be a busy autumn and winter. Making Stargazer ready, to take full advantage, of whatever opportunities the new season brings.
