Tag: sailing barge

Barge for sale: sailing barge Ena is on eBay

Sailing barge Ena for sale on eBay

Spritsail sailing barge Ena is up for auction via eBay at a starting price of £85,000 – to learn more and place your bid, click here. My thanks to John Lockwood for pointing this out.

I don’t know whether this is the first time we’ve had this kind of sailing barge for sale by this route, but I’m sure we all hope she finds a good home. If you’re interested, you’ve got about eight days – I must say it would be interesting to watch the usual race at the end of the bidding.

Ena’s described as having full rigging and good sails and a good Gardner engine – however the aftmost section needs some work to make her seaworthy.

As well as being an interesting sailing barge – she was originally a small boomie before being converted to a sprittie – and she’s also a registered Dunkirk little ship. She’s currently moored in Kent.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/120718243693

Barge skipper Derek ‘Spearo’ Ling talks about his life on the water

Derek 'Spearo' Ling barge skipper

 

 

Derek ‘Spearo’ Ling has a fund of great stories from a life that has included working as mate and skipper on board sailing barges, and which has seen him progress from schoolboy to Freeman of the City of London and Freeman of the Waterways. He was born in 1927, and seems to have known some real characters.

This series of three YouTube clips were filmed by his son in law, Chris Rudland, who has made a beautiful job of both filming and editing three hours worth of material over different sessions.

Chris says: ‘Spearo describes the life, love, loss, experience and many humorous stories. He describes the war years, cargos, gifts and much more… I have so often listened to his stories over the years but thought now is the time to catch them on tape for prosperity so I had a go, knowing Spearo wouldn’t disappoint me.’

Spearo certainly doesn’t disappoint! See video 1, video 2 and video 3.

An interview with Bob Roberts’ Cambria mate Phil Latham

Phil Latham on sailing the Cambria from Richard Fleury on Vimeo.

Richard is the chap who runs the The Quay website, which campaigns for the maritime future of Faversham Creek.

On the day of the Cambria’s relaunch earlier this week he was lucky enough to be able to meet Phil Latham, who was Bob’s mate aboard the sailing barge from 1964-68, and and to film an interview. I think it’s of great interest to anyone fascinated by sailing barges and Bob Roberts,  but also to sailors who know or plan to visit the East Coast.