Tag: Southend Match

Sea Change’s Last 2013 Cambria Outing

September 3, 2013 / / 0 Comments

Cambria under Full Sail in the 2013 Southend Match, picture taken from, we think, Pudge

We were passed this superb picture of Cambria going like a train with all sails beautifully set by Richard, Hilary, Stretch and the Sea Change Crew. The picture is taken from, we believe, SB Pudge and comes from the Thames Sailing Barge Trust. Hilary tells us that they had a bit of fun but didn’t do so well this time. Posting on the 27th, she said, “Currently anchored at West Mersea. Had a blast at the Southend match and a very creditable 3rd place in the bowsprit class as no other coasting barges present. Underway yesterday at 5pm tacking all the way to the Spitway and anchored in the fog here at 2 am! 3 handed was fun apart from winding up 2 shackles of chain against the wind and tide! Up to Maldon today possibly a visit to the Queens Head our HQ this evening!”

All good things must come to an end, and Sea Change are now on their final 2013 charter on Cambria, though they stress that Sea Change carries on on the SB Reminder all through September and October and into early November. Hilary again. “Last Cambria trip of the year for Sea Change. Maldon to St Kats. A fair wind away from the quay so no towing charges today! beautiful sunshine, I feel a BBQ coming on and maybe a bit of swimming?”

Thank you so much to the Sea Change team for looking after and using our old girl. We are proud to be part of your good works. It is brilliant that this vessel is used to do so much good. I thank Hilary too for all the Cambria Watch write-ups.

Dave Brooks reminds us all that, “The Cambria Trust are excited to announce that Cambria will be attending the Classic Boat Festival at St Katharine’s Dock London. She will be open to the public and trust members will be on hand to guide and answer your questions. Dates 7th to the 15th Sept.”

The early part of that includes me, your blogger, so that this may be the final post from me till I get back to Ireland. Maybe I will see you on board?

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!

Two Ladies

August 27, 2012 / / 0 Comments

Lady of the Lea and Lady of Avenal at Southend Pier during the Southend Match. Picture by Dave Brooks.

Roving reporter, Dave Brooks posted this nice picture of two ladies against Southend Pier saying “Two fine Ladies. Lady of the Lea passing Lady of Avenal moored on Southend Pier during the barge match yesterday.” Meanwhile, “Cambria Watch” is rather banjaxed by computer problems at present and Hilary H reports that, “we are experiencing computer problems at the moment hence lack of posts! Lovely 12 hour sail from Pin Mill to Gillingham yesterday with some exciting close tacking with the local yacht race at the end. Anchored here today to visit Chatham Dockyard. Not sure where we are going tomorrow. We can’t upload photos at the moment but we have some good ones”. We’ll look forward to those when you get sorted. Happy Dock-yard-ing, Happy sailing!