Thames sailing barges
|
Sculling
for CAMBRIA
Anybody got a barge boat that the Cambria trust can beg, borrow or s......? Tony Ellis, Chairman of Trustees of the Cambria Trust is planning a single-handed scull (traditional barge style, over the stern) of the Thames estuary - between Pin Mill and the Swale to raise both the profile of the CAMBRIA restoration project and to raise funds by seeking sponsors at so much £ a mile. The aim will be to visit as many of the small ports that CAMBRIA (and barges in general) traded to in former days, making a video diary of the trip along the way and drumming up all sorts of events to highlight the aims of the restoration project. Tony has cruised these waters since the late 1950's and in recent years he obtained his RYA Day Skipper Certificate. Obviously, each leg of the trip will be dependent on the prevailing weather conditions. Tony says 'I intend coming back in one piece - the only likely injury I expect to develop is sore palms.' He continued 'The timing of the trip will depend very much on how soon I can get a boat. It may be that I will have to make the trial leg this autumn and complete the balance of the journey in the Spring of 2006 - the 100th anniversary of the launch of CAMBRIA - the last UK registered vessel to trade under sail alone (until 1970)'. So, the event can't start until Tony can find somebody prepared to lend him a suitable barge boat - traditional wooden or grp replica - to carry out the 'epic' journey. Contact: Tony at bargetony@aol.com or mobile: 07981 262 313 |
Pages © David Renouf, email: bargemaster@thamesbarge.org.uk