Set a course for Maritime Festival

Attractions will include live music supplied by 1066 and additional local bands. The Creole Jazz band will also be playing as well as the Sea Shanty singers from Hastings.

There will be historical divers and a host of other features. All of this plus a beer tent, BBQ and locally caught fish, both hot and cold, for you to enjoy, as well as many other delicacies and other local produce.

There will also be stands from the RNLI, Maritime and Coast Guard Agency, and many other attractions.

Also on the Strand we have an ex-naval mine-layer of World War 2 vintage, ML526. Launched on the Hamble in August 1942 this B class Fairmile B lies at Rye under restoration and this year will celebrate her 70th Anniversary.

ML 526 is believed to be one of only a handful of the original 650 plus of these craft which were built in yards all over the world.

She has a double diagonal mahogany hull & plywood frames. These vessels were built by a revolutionary ‘flat pack’ system designed by Noel Macklin for the Royal Navy. ML 526 served as a rescue motor launch and a medical box was situated mid deck where casualties were lifted by stretcher from the sea.

ML 526 has had an interesting history. In 1946 she was sold into private ownership and renamed Ambrigo.

She was employed on smuggling runs in the Gibraltar Straits until caught two years later and arrested by the Admiralty Marshall.

She was returned to Falmouth where she was converted for tourist ferrying work and ran out of Brixham as Western Lady IV.

The event is organised by the Rye Harbour Boat Owners Association, The Rye Harbour Sailing Club and is supported by Rother District Council. Rye Town Council, Rastrum Ltd, Atlas Business Park and other local businesses.