MTB102, Summer 2004 and D DAY 60. A Trip in the Life Of 102.
Nick Hall/MTB 102 Trust
Our first stop was at HMS Belfast to be part of her D Day 60 week. To gain full benefit of the tides we sailed down the river Yare and passed through the bridges at Gt. Yarmouth on the Spring Bank Holiday Saturday afternoon. As this was at low water we had the following tide all the way to the Thames. We crossed the Thames and went into the Medway and Swale where we hung on the side of a barge at about 2200 and waited for the flood tide to take us up the Thames. Up early the following morning we caught the tide to arrive at HMS Belfast at high water on the Sunday.
102 on the Thames always causes a stir and we are grateful for the tolerance shown to her by the many trip boats and work boats when we are in what we think of as confined waters. The pontoon on the side of Belfast needed setting up for us, but once sorted with our spare fenders, it made quite a good berth.
Through the D Day week the BBC had several programmes on various aspects of the invasion and on the Tuesday we were tasked with positioning 102 between Belfast and the quay side with Hazel Irvine on board to do a live link for the programme about Belfast's role on D Day. This entailed some very close work and as it was low water we had to keep a close eye on the depth sounder to make sure we kept our nice new props safe. All went well and the BBC crew was very pleased with the result.
Our next event was in Portsmouth on the 5th June and as we had to be there for a briefing on the afternoon of the 4th June we made a very early start down the Thames on the Thursday morning and had the pleasure of a glorious sunrise over the river on our way. Again we ran into the Medway and Swale to get some rest and wait for the right tide for the trip to Dover.
At 1300 we slipped and headed out into the Thames Estuary and by 1600 we were off North Foreland. We were enjoying a good trip and made good time to arrive at Dover Marina by 1800. It is always good to be in Dover as the Marina staff treat us well and the facilities are excellent. Friday morning and not quite such an early start, 0430! It's a long slog from Dover to Portsmouth and with a briefing deadline to meet, there were times when we were a bit anxious but with our usual planning we arrived at Gun Wharf with half an hour to spare.
So sixty years on MTB102 was at Gun Wharf where she had been a small part of the invasion force and on 3rd June 1944 had taken Churchill and Eisenhower around the fleet assembled for the invasion.
This time her job was of a more peaceful nature. The Trust had been asked by Portsmouth Council to allow MTB102 to escort the commemorative crossing fleet out of Portsmouth Harbour. This was the reason for attending the briefing by the Deputy Queen's Harbour Master and was the reason for our punctuality. Others didn't manage it. The briefing was held on board the HDML 1387 Medusa and with a little bit of adjustment we were all happy with the plans.
On Saturday morning 5th June 2004, exactly sixty years on, the fleet sailed and MTB102, along with Medusa and several other historic vessels, including the steam tug Challenge, newly restored by the Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust, followed RFA Wave Knight out of Portsmouth Harbour. The eyes of the World were on us and we were also carrying Phil Wilcox, assistant editor of the Navy News, to report the event.
Next day being Sunday, we had a lie in and were up and away at 0600 outbound for Ramsgate. The weather had been excellent for us on all legs of this trip and our luck was still holding good. We made a very pleasant uneventful passage to Ramsgate and were alongside by 1700.
Ramsgate is a delightful, attractive harbour, but the marina is not as accommodating as Dover, although the facilities are again excellent. No allowance is made for the history of a very gallant vessel and MTB102 gets treated just like all the modern boats. But the chip shop at the harbour gate is good. Monday morning and we were away again at 0600 bound for Gt. Yarmouth. The weather was still very good and at 1400 we ran into the Yare and through the bridges at 1430. The Bridge crews here are always helpful and it feels good to be back on our own waters.
This trip had been the longest we have undertaken in one go and we managed without refuelling, which is a feat in itself with our special engines and is achieved by using the tide and gentle use of the throttles. Ten days away and all the sea time was under near perfect conditions. Very unusual.