Events – Page 14 – intheboatshed.net

Faversham Nautical Festival

It’s almost time for Faversham’s big nautical weekend once again! I’ll be there with my camera and from time to time will be wandering around the Front Brents singing and playing… and then on the Saturday night there will be a jolly public sea song sing and tunes session at the excellent Phoenix in Abbey Street. (Outside if fine, indoors if wet, naturally… )

I’ve been asked also to point out that the wonderful mediaeval TS Hasard building will be home to an art exhibition featuring students at a local school, and the town’s art society and camera club. See the poster below! (PS – If you want to know what Boatcamp is, see this earlier post.)

Blue Mermaid at Maldon Hythe Quay 6th-8th July

Blue Mermaid, said to be the first Thames Sailing Barge built for trade since 1930, has arrived at Maldon and will be at Maldon Hythe Quay for viewing on the 6th-8th July.

The 87ft steel barge, which will be based in Essex, was commissioned by a local charity, the Sea-Change Sailing Trust and will be used for their work with young people as well as carrying cargo. The charity works with disabled and disadvantaged young people as well as those challenged by traditional educational settings, experiencing social exclusion or at risk of offending.

The barge was built at the boatyard of C Toms and Son in Cornwall, and will now be fitted out and rigged by TS Rigging of Maldon.

Blue Mermaid is a replica of a barge of the same name, which was sunk by a mine during World War ll with the loss of her crew. As a traditional Thames sailing barge, she will not have an engine and will be able to transport the equivalent of up to six articulated lorry loads in a low carbon environment.

Sea-Change Sailing Trust’s Chair of Trustees, Hilary Halajko said the that bringing the barge to Maldon marked a landmark in the charity’s ambition to get a new sailing barge into operation. Having raised £450,000, it now has to raise £150,000, but it is hoped that Blue Mermaid will enter service during 2017.

Aboard Cambria for the Medway barge match

Read about Cambria here, and about the Medway Barge Match here. Our new friend photographer Rob Powell was on board and I guess he may put some of his shots on his weblog, On the Thames.

Spot the Lady of the Lea stuck on an island. I hope she and her folks are all right…

PS – While we were racing, East Coast ditch crawling maven Nick Ardley was attending the launch of a new steel built Thames sailing barge, the Blue Dolphin. They do say with her smooth bottom, she’ll be quick and could be an interesting contender in barge racing in future years… See Nick’s weblog piece here.

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