Tag: flagship

National Historic Ships UK flagship of the year competition opens for 2015

National Historic Ships UK is once again calling for entries for its annual ‘Flagship of the Year’ competition for an award, and the job of representing NHSUK for the year.

Last year’s winner was the Humber keel Daybreak, pictured above, as are her owners and the broad pennant.

Entry is open to vessels on the National Register of Historic Ships that are in operational condition, and which raise their profile by attending public events and festivals. The successful applicant will be given a broad pennant to fly, marking their flagship status and the year of the award.

The vessel will also receive a grant of up to £1,000 to assist with the costs of running the vessel and appearing at major national or international events.

Owners should apply via the NHSUK website, outlining their planned cruising programme for the season, including:

  • key places to be visited
  • details of events or festivals to be attended
  • significance of the vessel and any links to cruising destinations
  • public benefit from vessel attendance at any events
  • ways in which the vessel would support National Historic Ships UK during the year

Applications should also state how the grant would be used, and are encouraged to include photographs to demonstrate the aesthetic or promotional impact the vessel will make.

The competition closing date is the 31st March 2015.

Sailing barge Edith May wins National Historic Ships national flagship title for 2012

Thames sailing barge Edith May has been named National Historic Ships national flagship for 2012.

In the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant, it seems particularly appropriate that the winner for 2012 is a vessel specifically designed to trade on the Thames.

Edith May is an 86ft barge built by J&H Cann of Harwich in 1906 for the coastal trade carrying wheat and grain products.

She also had a successful racing career before falling into sad disrepair in the 1990s before being purchased and then restored by her current owners.

The flagship of the year title is awarded to the owners of the vessel with the most impressive seasonal programme of public events in the forthcoming year, and is designed to promote engagement and appreciation of historic vessels in the UK’s heritage.

Each year’s flagship vessel receives a traditional swallow-tailed broad pennant to fly from the masthead wherever she goes to mark her flagship status, and a grant of £1000 towards the cost of keeping her in operational condition and opening for public viewing.

The judges decided that the submission from the Edith May was outstanding. Her extensive public programme over the coming season includes festivals, barge matches, public cruises and taking part in the Queen’s pageant.

Edith May is registered on the National Register of Historic Vessels held by National Historic Ships. She can be seen at her berth in Lower Halstow in Kent during the winter, and is also available for sailing charter trips on the Medway and as a static venue for events.

PS – on the subject of the National Historic Ships, there’s still lots of time to enter the annual photographic competition. Details are here and here.