Tag: SB Kitty

Griff Presents…..

August 1, 2012 / / 0 Comments

Griff Rhys Jones presents trophies at Thames Match 2012, here to Richard Tichener, Skipper of Cambria; photo by Dave Brooks.

In a nice touch at the Thames Barge Match after-race celebrations, the trophies were presented by Griff Rhys-Jones. This pic is our man Richard Tichener collecting some of Cambria’s and sharing joke with Griff, but I have also seen nice ones of Jeff Gransden (SB Edith May)

A quick reminder of those lectures on board Cambria while she is at Gravesend.

Cambria is currently on Gravesend Pier and will be open to the public.
Also on Wednesday aboard Cambria Richard Hugh Perks is talking at 3.30pm and 7.30pm about the Evolution of the Thames Sailing Barge. price £4.
Thursday same times Tricia Gurnett will be talking about the RNLI. price £2.
Friday there are talks at 11.30 am and 3.20pm on the Thames and Medway Canal. price £2.

AND finally, Annie Meadows from SB Kitty tells me that there is a Maritime Festival on at Ipswich in a couple of weeks, where at you can take a cruise on the Orwell River on board Kitty. “Orwell Cruises”, she says, ” during Festival on board “Kitty” built 1895. sailings are at 1000-1300 and 1400-1700

Adults £20, children £12

Sat Aug 18 & Sun Aug 19 2012 AVAILABLE

Ipswich Maritime Festival

Tri-Colour Leeboards

July 22, 2012 / / 0 Comments

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.

Mighty Oak Brewing

July 11, 2012 / / 0 Comments

Mighty Oak Brewing banner; Picture by Annie Meadows of SB Kitty

Cambria turns dray-man! For a bit of fun, Sea Change Sailing Trust have linked up with Mighty Oak Brewing, the brewers of the “Captain Bob” brand of beer, which we have featured on this blog previously to make some deliveries from Maldon to coastal and waterways pubs. Annie Meadows of SB Kitty fame has managed to capture the spirit of the event in this picture which shows a superb banner created to link the Cambria Trust, Sea Change and Mighty Oak. Excellent banner, guys! In “Cambria Watch” meanwhile, Hilary Halajko is experiencing internet problems (Bob Roberts never complained of that, Hilary!) so is reduced to texting. “Into Maldon with Cambria this evening for victualling and tomorrow for loading ale from Mighty Oak for distribution to some of their coastal outlets over the next week or two. This is part of our first extended YSS voyage on the east coast this summer.
We will also be carrying in depth information courtesy of Drinkaware to ensure a balanced view.” Richard Tichener, I know, keeps a ‘dry’ ship, so don’t go thinking all this beer will be drunk by the crew en route. Dave Brooks adds “Cambria continues her tour of the East Coast with our friends from Sea Change. Hilary reports that loading went well. (Captain Bob Beer from the Mighty Oak Brewery). They are leaving Maldon tomorrow at 7am and are bound for Brightlingsea.”

Fair winds, Cambria!

Annie Meadows

July 6, 2012 / / 1 Comment

Annie Meadows Pin Mill pic

I was asked by a non-bargin’ chum the other day on Facebook what was the difference between a smack and a barge. I had no sooner answered him than this lovely picture hove into view which showed very well to the guy what I had just said. It was taken and posted by one Annie Meadows who turns out to be a Maldon local and associated with the SB Kitty. She was good enough to let me borrow the shot to use here, so thank you for that, Annie. We can presumably all spot Repertor as the closest barge and Dave B was able to identify the others, but not the smack. Unfortunately I have deleted the mail in which Dave did so, so perhaps he’ll come in as a comment and tell me again?