Tag: Lady of the Lea

The Cambria Cup

May 4, 2014 / / 0 Comments

The Cambria Cup

There is a nice piece from Dave Brooks in the Facebook feed today along with some lovely pictures of the Cambria Cup (pictured, reflecting Cambria’s deck). Dave says…

“The Cambria Cup was first won by Sailing Barge Cambria in the 16th June 1928 Medway Barge Sailing Match Coasting Class, when A.B.Finch skippered the barge to first place ahead of Alf Everard 2nd, Remercie 3rd and John Bayly.
On the 26th May 2012 Cambria re-won the cup in the Coasting Class, when Cambria Skipper Ian Ruffles brought her home ahead of Lady of the Lea and Phoenician in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medway Match.
Ian and Cambria retained the cup the following year, 18th May 2013 beating Lady of the Lea, Ardwina and Orinoco.
On the 7th June 2014 Cambria will again try to retain the cup in the Coasting Class why not come along and watch.”

So there’s a date for your diaries!

2 Nice Videos

December 21, 2012 /

Mark Boyle Sign-writing from Feb 2011, Picture by Matt Care

Just a quick couple of bits of video which might be of interest to you. First an 8 minute sequence which includes an interview with Catherine De Bont in which she describes early life growing up among boats and learning barging skills, plus lots of lovely footage from the decks of Cambria as she sails under the Dartford Bridge and up through Tower Bridge. In the latter, Richard Tichener suffers “boom droop”, Stretch races about all over the gaff and the Pihamas manage to look very cold huddled by the wheelhouse.

It’s Facebook URL is below, and I cannot find a normal ‘You-tube style one, so you may have to be on FB to be able to get at it. It was posted to FB by Simon North – Thank You Simon.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151144609602032&set=p.10151144609602032&type=2&theater

Also on Facebook there’s a nice intro to the new Video for sale through the Edith May website, covering the Medway Match. It’s on

http://youtu.be/s-4iQoAVSfM

That one has a few quick interviews to start including a classic bit of strategy from Tim Goldsack “We’ll use the same tactic we always use which is to get in front and stay there!” I can see how that would work, Tim! It then has some glorious footage of barges speeding about in a stiff breeze – Edith May herself, of course, but also Decima, Repertor, Lady of the Lea and more. Both worth a look.

My picture today is some of that lovely sign-writing by our friend Mark (Nozz) Boyle.

Southend Match

August 28, 2012 /

Niagara wins her Class in the 2012 Southend Match, photo by Dave Brooks.

Tonight’s post is a report by Dave Brooks on the Southend Match. He writes, “I think it is safe to say that I won’t be breaking any barge naming records with the Southend Match report. Sadly due to the weather leading up to the day of the match barges expected to be present were unable to attend. We arrived in Southend at 8.30 and there were no barges at all. However the Kent based barges Niagara, Marjorie, Edith May and Lady of the Lea were soon to be spotted coming out of the Medway to save the day. Originally it was thought that all the barges would start in the same class. However, the barge championship is a serious matter and Marjorie and Lady of the Lea opted to race in in classes of one. After a hard fought match both barges prevailed and won their classes. Niagara and Edith May fought in a head to head for the stays’l class, and for a while it was an interesting race. Niagara started well but Edith May overhauled her and it stayed that way until the half way point. Niagara made the best of the tides to win her second successive Class Win since rejoining the fleet. Marjorie was first to the outer mark and first barge home. Lady of the Lea sailed well and wasn’t too far off the pace at the end. Edith May was first barge over the start line and won the seamanship prize. The lack of barges was dissapointing but none the less the sailing was impressive and Niagara treated the spectators with a close in sail by to remember, possibly one of the crew needed to get ashore quickly. Next year is the 50th Southend Match. Let’s hope we see a good attendance, and perhaps even get our girl along for the ride”.

Well said, Dave!