ARDWINA of London.

Official no. 129016. 66 tons.
Built of wood at Ipswich in 1909 by Orvis & Fuller, the last sailing barge to be launched new at Ipswich for owners E.J. & W. Goldsmith. Bros.
Ardwina has been taking part in the races since 1982 in the staysail class.

BETULA

Small ships registration SSR87565
Built ofsteel in 1924 by Gideon, Groningen, Holland as a motor/sailer. In 1997, her hull was shortened and altered with new decks, hatches and cabin top at Werkandam Holland. She now has lenghth 23.6m and breadth 5.4m and has been rigged as a staysail barge. Owned by Eddie Smith she is under sail and seen in some of the barge matches.

DECIMA of London

Offical No. 110055, 67 tons
Built of steel in 1899 by Fays at Southampton for E.J & W. Goldsmith. Motor barge conversion in 1951. Subsequently re-rigged and used as a charter barge from Faversham in 1980/90's by D. Wildish. Laid up at Faversham in 1995 for restoration by Jeremy Taunton, she has more recently been purchased by Tm Goldsack who has worked hard to restore her to sailing condition. She sails in the staysail class and has grey rails.

LADY DAPHNE of Rochester.

Official No. 127276 85 tons, built of wood at Rochester in 1923 by Short Bros. for R & W Paul and used in the Channel coastal trade. Wrecked off the Scilly Isles in 1927 with the loss of her master, but was repaired and refitted. Auxillary engine installed in 1948, gear removed 1958 and used as a motor barge by her owners R & W Paul Ltd.
Sold in 1973 to Taylor Woodrow Ltd. and rerigged 1974 at Maldon.
Currently owned by Elisabeth and Michael Mainelli and chartered through Nymph Ltd, based at St. Katharine's Dock, London.
She sails in the staysail class, and is identified by the Z-Yen logo in her topsail.

LADY OF THE LEA of Dover

Built of wood at Rotherhithe in 1931 by Hyam & Oliver for the War Department for Carriage of explosives from Waltham Abbey.
The last sailing barge built she followed plans of canal barges of a century ago.
72' long by 13' wide and was originally tiller steered and stumpy rigged.
Sold to W. Aslett 1946.
Owned by B.Pain as private yacht barge, "Rochester Tutors" logo in topsail.
Based Standard Quay, Faversham.

MARJORIE of Ipswich.

Official No. 113753 56 tons, built of wood at Ipswich in 1902 by Orvis for R & W Paul Ltd, carrying cargo from the east coast ports to London. She ceased her working career 1960 and has undergone extensive renovation. Now owned by Simon Devonshire and based at Hoo, Kent she has recently been fitted with a bowsprit and sails in the bowsprit class.

PHOENICIAN of London.

Official No. 146700. 81 tons, built of wood at Sittingbourne 1922 by Wills & Packham.
Owners include E.A. Horlock and R. Sully. Alf Horlock, her first owner, was one of the most famous sailing barge skippers, and he had much success with the barge in races in the 1930’s.
Converted to motor barge in 1949 she traded until 1973 when she was sold out of trade to Albert Groom for chartering & community purposes based at Ipswich.
Moved to West India Docks and then to Pin Mill, and was finally restored at Maldon, Essex by David Patient. Now Based St. Katharine Docks, London

Note the characteristic white hull with contrasting black rudder and leeboards.

Chartered by Topsail Charters

THISTLE of London.

Official No. 105727. 82 Reg. tons, built of steel at Port Glasgow in 1895 by William Hamilton and Sons. Thistle is the only surviving sailing barge to have been built in Scotland. Eighty-six feet long and twenty feet wide, she could carry a cargo approaching 200 tons. Without an engine through two world wars she traded all round the coast of the United Kingdom, carrying general cargo to and from the then Great Port of London. An engine was installed in 1946 and some years later she was de-rigged and turned into a pure motor barge, until she was sold out of trade in 1972. The next 15 years she spent as a house barge on the River Medway and in Battersea.
In 1987 her most recent refit was begun at Greenwich. Her first charter was in the summer of 1988. Thistle may race in the bowsprit class, or alternatively she may carry up to 50 passengers and follow the race, to give good viewing and photographic opportunities. She can be identified by her wheel house, grey rails and name in large letters.

WILL of London

Official No. 148677, 150 tons

Built of steel in 1925 by Fellowes at Great Yarmouth, for Everards, originally named Will Evererd. She was one of four built between 1925 and 1926 named after partners in the family firm. They cost around £500 each to build, with dimensions 97.6 x 23.1 x 9.6 feet.
The Will Everard traded by sail alone until 1950, when she had an engine fitted. From 1932 until just after the engine was fitted, her master was Capt. Jim Uglow MBE - the only barge captain known to receive this decoration for gallantry, devotion to duty and service on the barge during the war. The barge was eventually sold out of trade in 1966 on condition the name was changed, and so she became the Will. Since this photograph was taken she has been fitted with a mizzen mast and bowsprit, and the hull colour has probably changed.

WYVENHOE of London

Small ships registration SSR87565
built ofsteel in 1898 by Forrest & Sons at Wivenhoe for Augustus George Hughes of Providence Wharf, East Greenwich. Had various owners including Hughes, Tilbury Contracting and Dredging Company, and London and Rochester Barge Company, skippered by Frederick Smy of Ipswich.
Converted to a motor barge in 1823. Re-built by Pollock's of Faversham 1948. Restored to full sailing barge in 1983, the last one to be re-rigged from out-of-trade. Since 1984 has been a regular competitor in the East Coast Match Races with many class wins to her credit.

Often uses a white black and oracge staysail.

Company yacht barge owned by Charisma Consultants and trading as Tradsail out of London and Maldon – see www.wyvenhoe.co.uk

XYLONITE of Harwich.

Official No. 145408. 68 tons built of steel at Mistley in 1926 by F.W. Horlock to be named BX.
Latterly owned by Greenhithe Lighterage she was rerigged as a charter barge and based at The Prospect of Whitby public house, Wapping.
Sold to Cirdan Trust 1985 for sail training out of Maldon with charters of children. Recently sold to private owners and undergoing some restoration work 2009.
She sails in the bowsprit class and can be identified by the Suffolk Life name and Avocet logo in the topsail. She has a grey hull.