SB Edith May

The results for the Colne Match, and therefore the entire Championship are now up on the Sailing Barge Association website at http://www.sailingbargeassociation.co.uk/championship2012.html

Masts; Picture by Matt Care (July 2011)

I am warned by Ed Gransden that these may yet be ‘provisional’ and that some ducking and diving may occur to change things (so, nervous times for Ed and Edith May who are provisionally the winners!) but as they stand the Championship was won by Edith May with 34 points, closely followed by Lady of the Lea (33) and Edme (31) with Repertor 4th (30), Marjorie 5th (26) and (Tadaaaaa!) Cambria coming in a creditable 6th with 17 points, first of the “Didn’t enter many races” group. The big scores above us were gained by barges who scored in 5, 6 or 7 races. We and those below us scored in only 5 or fewer. Cambria’s races went as follows; 3rd on the Medway (6 points), 2nd= on the Thames with Edith May and Edme, all on 6 points and finally equal (points scoring) winners on the Colne with Edith May and Edme, all with 5 points. As I said, these may be provisional and I have also not yet seen any kind of full report on what made up our 5 points. I will let you know when I have more information. Thank you to David Renouf for this link.

That well known ‘social networking site’, Facebook has become a rather lively, entertaining place in which to pick up the latest info on Cambria’s where-abouts and the comings and goings of plenty of other barges, including Edith May, Kitty, Thalatta, Xylonite and many more. If you don’t “do” Facebook, merely because you have heard bad things about it or you are nervous of it, then I’d urge you to go dip a toe in the water. You don’t have to open the flood gates to all sorts of idiocy, you can pick and choose who you would like to hear from and what you’d like to hear. Just join groups like “Sailing Barge Cambria” (or others) and all you’ll get is the “feed” from sources you like and respect.

Tricolour Leeboards; Image by Dave Brooks; painting by Richard Tichener and the Sea Change Sailing Trust

Lately, ‘we’ have been at Pin Mill where Skipper Richard Tichener has had the barge up on the blocks so that he could get the trainees hoe-ing barnacles off the bottom and lower sides, and painting. Roving reporter Dave Brooks took the opportunity to nip to Pin Mill and got these superb and unusual views of Cambria. Says Dave, ” The locals didn’t recognise her with the black leeboards so when in Pin Mill do as Bob Roberts would have done and paint them”. Tim Kent of SB Xylonite catches us up with the latest “youth-speak”, telling us that his 12 year old son says she looks “sick” but that this is a good thing, the latest modern version of “wicked”. Shipwright Ryan Dale chips in that it looked better last year with black leeboards on which was written “RYAN” in good gloopy brown Faversham Creek mud. (Nice one Ryan! Wonder how that got there!)

There are also some nice pictures posted of Cambria moored by (and then seen through the windows of) the Butt and Oyster pub in Pin Mill.

Tag: SB Edith May

Provisionally 6th

Tri-Colour Leeboards