From a shared passion for the river in 1968 to one of the oldest and friendliest clubs on the Medway — the story of HYCC.
The Beginning
Founded in 1968 by Jim Breaden, with the support of his friend Peter Larkin, HYCC was created to bring together people with a shared passion for boating and the River Medway.
Today, the club continues to promote a friendly, courteous and respectful approach to all river users, and is proud to be known as one of the oldest — and friendliest — clubs on the Medway. This reputation is upheld by its members and supported by a proactive committee.
The club is very much family-oriented, with members enjoying access to club land downstream of Bow Bridge Marina. Regular work parties help maintain the site for everyone to enjoy throughout the year.
The home of HYCC is now Hampstead Marina, although the club warmly welcomes members from all marinas and moorings along the River Medway. Interest in the club remains strong, with a waiting list often in place for new members.
On & Off the Water
HYCC organises a wide range of events throughout the year. Some have become cherished traditions, connecting members to the river's long history.
Organised by the club since 1981, this historic cruise conveys the Mayor of Maidstone and guests to the Hawkwood Stone and back to Wateringbury, in pursuance of the Charter of Queen Elizabeth I dated 1559 — which granted the borough jurisdiction over the Medway between East Farleigh and Hawkwood, and ownership of the swans on its waters.
Held in memory of Roger of Bow Bridge Marina, boats take part in a sail past before members and guests gather on club land for a celebration of the river and its community.
The club works closely with the Medway River Users Association, supporting efforts to protect, maintain and promote the river for all who use and enjoy it.
Key Milestones
Jim Breaden and Peter Larkin found the Hampstead & Yalding Cruising Club
HYCC begins organising the Mayor of Maidstone's Court of Survey Cruise
Members gain access to club land downstream of Bow Bridge Marina
Based at Hampstead Marina, welcoming members from all Medway moorings
The River
One of the South East's most important and historic waterways, stretching approximately 113 kilometres from the High Weald in Sussex to the Thames Estuary at Sheerness.
The calmer, more controlled upper stretch passes through Tonbridge, Yalding and Maidstone via a series of locks and sluices. This stretch has long supported local industry — mills, forges and paper production once powered by its flow — and today is widely used for leisure boating, angling and wildlife enjoyment, with much of it set within areas of natural beauty.
Below Allington Lock, the river becomes tidal, influenced by the rise and fall of the North Sea. It flows past Maidstone through Aylesford, Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham before opening into the Thames Estuary. Broader and more dynamic, with mudflats, saltmarsh and deep-water channels, it requires greater awareness of tides and conditions — but offers rewarding cruising with access to a wide network of waterways.
The Medway has been central to life in Kent for thousands of years. Archaeological finds along its banks date back to the Stone Age, and it has been the site of significant historical events, including the Roman-era Battle of the Medway and the 1667 Raid on the Medway. From powering over 200 mills to supporting trade and innovation — including early pipeline experiments during the Second World War — the river has continually evolved while remaining at the heart of the communities it serves. Today, the River Medway continues to bring people together, just as it did when HYCC was first formed, offering a unique mix of heritage, recreation and natural beauty.