Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 2688

  Ed Connell, Dover

Messina Strait departing at noon.


Thursday, 31 December 2015 - 12:14

 

Post 2687

  Howard McSweeney, Dover

Those blokes deserve danger money going through that procedure in such awful weather conditions.

Thursday, 31 December 2015 - 08:10

 

Post 2686

  Sea News, Dover

Testing the procedure with one of the lifeboats on the Spirit of France. The pictures tell the story here but suffice to say that yours truly spotted the small boat in some high speed action and wondered what was happening... then I noticed it going right in underneath as it were the Spirit of France so grabbed the camera...and there we are.
Pictures from the day before yesterday when there was some sunlight. You wont need me to tell how awful yesterday was weatherwise with Frank.
PB.

Thursday, 31 December 2015 - 07:56

 

Post 2685

  Sea News, Dover

Rough oul day...

Interesting post Vic. Bet it was fascinating to see all that in the old days. As you say...would never get the ships into Wellington Dock nowadays.
I see another cargo ship is in today. This time the Messina Strait...sister ship to the Magellan Strait, which we had here last week or so. Came in during darkness and will now probably leave when its dark too so as for pictures....well ..not looking promising. That's a hardy guy out for a determined stroll in the pic above...repelling everything mother nature can throw at him.

Wednesday, 30 December 2015 - 15:16

 

Post 2684

  Vic Matcham, Dover

Looking at the size of the ferrys of today about 30.000tons takes me back to the late 1940s 1950s when they were only about 5000 tons and the refits and repairs were all done in the wellington docks as a lad I would go down there see the work being done on them and the moving in and out of the dock of the ships there was a big workforce at that time working on the ships. And you would get two or even 3 ships in there at one time and there was also two dry ones were repairs were done to the tugs they would pull them out of the water .But with the size ships we have today you could not even get one in there.

Wednesday, 30 December 2015 - 07:39

 

Post 2683

  Sea News, Dover

Gadzook!! Western Heights is ablaze.. thought yours truly at first glance. It was quite surprising to see so much smoke emanating from the grassy slopes above Dover...but then .. the wind direction changed and the penny dropped. It was or appears to be the famed volunteers, see pic below, clearing the debris and scrub, presumably once again under the guise and direction of Paul Sampson and the WCCP. Well done those guys! It made for some interesting pictures.

Below we have a picture of the DFDS ferry Malo Seaways which has been 'laid up' at Cruise Terminal 2 for a couple of days. Obviously some problem caused the lay over but it has now moved away from the cruise terminal and is now back in spirited action. We have some pictures of the lifeboat from the Spirit of France doing some testing yesterday...will get those sorted. They are still in camera but hopefully will be good to go. Watch for those ..coming soon.


It looks like we are in for a rough old day. The timbers here are a-creakin' and a-shiverin' ...
Hope your frozen extremities recovered in the fullness of time Barry. PB.

Wednesday, 30 December 2015 - 07:06

 

Post 2682

  Barry W-S, Dover

Wow! I remember that photo being taken just before the dip, I was freezing my extremities off five minutes later, the smile changed to a look of shock lol!

Tuesday, 29 December 2015 - 13:25

 

Post 2681

  See News, Dover

Yes lots going in nowadays Vic and lots more watching. Every parking space taken.
No that's not me in the picture below Vic.. its Barry W-S...

I'm the guy behind the camera. Ah - we posted at the same time. PB.

Tuesday, 29 December 2015 - 09:06

 

Post 2680

  vic matcham, Dover

Sorry got the wrong name there it was Barry with them ,again it is the age thing

Tuesday, 29 December 2015 - 09:04

 

Post 2679

  vic matcham, Dover

Some say I am a wet, any way good photo of yourself and the girls ,not so many was going in then, and glad to see that it is a major event of the year now with 100s going in.

Tuesday, 29 December 2015 - 08:58

 

Post 2678

  Sea News, Dover

As promised here we are with a picture of Vic emerging from the Boxing Day waters a few years back and looking terrifically elegant even though soaking wet through and through. He made quite a splash that year ! He is also on trend with a similar stylish outfit to the chap carrying the girl out of the water in the main Boxing Day pix down page (Post 2220).

While trawling back to find Vic's picture I came across this one from the past too....and I thought why not...
It shows two girls who are still contributing and ace supporters...on the left Jan T ( Jan Tranter ) former Mayor of Dover, and on the right ColetteB ( Colette Boland ) long time management team on Doverforum. In between the lovely ladies is Barry Wadsworth-Smith who also went in that year. Splish! Splash!

The pic below is another one from this year 2015.. hopefully to show the much bigger crowd this year, much larger than in those early days. Getting to the waters edge to take pictures was difficult...but yours truly..intrepid reporter...made it!



Another pic of yesterday mornings extraordinary sky just after dawn...


PaulB.

Tuesday, 29 December 2015 - 07:40

 

Post 2677

  Sea News, Dover

Thanks for that Vic - interesting post. I will get a picture of you doing the Boxing Day Dip up on display tomorrow. You were a great participant. Big crowds doing it now...wasn't always the case. PaulB.

Monday, 28 December 2015 - 17:13

 

Post 2676

  vic matcham, Dover

Weather looking good for going overseas for the new year,good photos of the boxing day dip I had great fun doing that for about 8 years nice to see so many doing it now.I wish all the staff of the Dover forum a happy new year and hope any dreams you may have for it turnout good, we have just one and it is a big one for us in our time of life more about it if it happens.

Monday, 28 December 2015 - 09:32

 

Post 2675

  Sea News, Dover

The early ferries out of Dover this morning...
Nature doing all the work above there... see also todays earlier post below.

Monday, 28 December 2015 - 08:08

 

Post 2674

  Sea News, Dover

The Port here at Dover was closed for one day...Christmas day...the only day it closes all year. Other than that it remains open 24 hours a day 364 days a year and is busy busy. Late on Boxing Day when all the frozen dippers were long gone home, the Swedish Reefer arrived here with us at the cargo terminal. So all the port workers were straight back into hi-octane action unloading the containers through the night. The following day, at midday approx...she left us again heading off to Hamburg in Germany. I caught a couple of quick shots as she left...just seeing her at the last minute. Also in shot is tugboat Dauntless doing the heavy work.

A small picture below of the Hansa Bremen moving off a few days ago...Ed caught a better shot further down the page. See post..2213.


Yes I was right in the thick of the throbbing frenzied action Colette...there was seaweed on me boots so there was ...glad you enjoyed the pictures.
Gosh you were up early with that post!


PB.

Monday, 28 December 2015 - 06:56

 

Post 2673

  ColetteB, Dover

Fabulous up close action shots there MrB

It was great to see so many people taking part this year, the mild weather helps! They all look like they were having great fun, love the one of the guy in his bow tie carrying the girl in her lovely white dress


Monday, 28 December 2015 - 01:21

 

Post 2672

  Sea News, Dover

The Boxing Day Dip - A Frozen Asset Special !
_______________________________________







They're all mad I tell you...mahaaad !!
My boots got wet in the raging surf but that was as close as you wanna get !!
A huge crowd turned out not only to dip but to see. It was probably the biggest crowd ever, all enjoying the mild conditions. Every parking space for miles was taken..cars from beyond the Premier Inn to beyond the Hythe Bay Seafood Restaurant and Watersports Centre. I just made it at the last moment...nudging my way to the waters edge and the camera was on fire from then on. It took over...for yours truly twas all a mad frenzied blur ! That's just a selection of pix above. PaulB.

A big well done to all who took part - many doing it for charitable causes.


Sunday, 27 December 2015 - 07:56

 

Post 2671

  Sarah, Ramsgate

Merry Christmas to all who contribute to & visit Dover Forum

Friday, 25 December 2015 - 12:43

 

Post 2670

  Mike J., Dover

The fleet is home for Christmas.

DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS & DOVER SEAWAYS are over in Dunkerque.

Merry Christmas to all !




Friday, 25 December 2015 - 07:37

 

Post 2669

  Jacqui, Dover

Happy Christmas to PaulB, Collette, Mike, Sarah, and all who make Sea News such a must view site to visit every day. May you all have a lovely Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Also special good wishes to John Mavin for all his lovely photos , have a good one John

Friday, 25 December 2015 - 01:14