On Saturday 3rd of July, I was fortunate enough to take part in the Thames Barge Match aboard the sailing barge Repertor.
Repertor was built in Mistley in 1923 for the company “Horlocks”
The first Thames Barge Match was in 1863. The early Thames sailing barge matches started and finished in Erith – which was at that time a very important town on the Thames.
Anyway here are some pictures of the day.
Sailing Barge Xylonite – My Grandfather sailed on this barge as mate (or second hand) after the second world war. He also worked on the sailing barges Oxygen, Hydrogen and the last barge he worked on was a barge called Lancaster. The Lancaster sank fully loaded in Anchor Bay Erith in around 1954. Grandad and the barge’s skipper got off her ok – but it put him off of working on Thames barges and he never sailed again.
The Sailing Barge Melissa. Overhauling Repertor shortly after the start in the Lower Hope. slipping along in very light airs
Decima and Reminder ghosting along in almost no wind. Decima has her punt slung down in the davits trying to catch a little more air
Repertor at close quarters – rounding the outer mark. At this stage it was neck and neck with all the Staysail class barges reaching the outer mark together
Heading for home now – and beating against the westerley wind back to Gravesend
