Our weekend away

[Murv]

Slight change from our usual pace of life at 17 knots, we spent the weekend on the SB Cambria, one of only a few Thames barges to never have been fitted with an engine.
Skippered by an old school friend of mine whom I hadn't seen for the best part of 30 years, it was a fantastic weekend.
Very hard work, I'm absolutely shattered! But, it was an incredible experience that I can highly recommend to anybody.
We departed Queenborough on Saturday morning, tacked to Whitstable before dropping the hook for the night, then back to Queenborough via the Redsand towers Sunday afternoon.
We were offered the opportunity to stay on afterwards for the run to Gillingham where she's being kept at the moment, an opportunity which we jumped at!
It really was quite something to see how a 90 something foot barge weighing 109 tons with no engine was berthed alongside Gillingham pier.

 

[xyachtdave]

That looks like a really good weekend!

I've looked around the Cambria on an open day but not sailed on her or any barge, I've often thought of arranging a day or weekend on one for MYC members. I understand 12 is the maximum passengers due to coding etc which is a nice number of people on a 90ft boat.

Must get this booked in for 2019.

 

[Tam Lin]

I spent a few days on a barge back in the sixties when I was at a formative age, your photos reminded me of that trip and made me very jealous!

 

[ex-Gladys]

Did a trip last year on SB Victor from Ipswich, only down the Orwell in light airs to Levington and back, but brilliant. Acted as first lookout, when the skipper "missed" one of the SHB's approaching the bridge, and it only tonked the dinghy. Spent a while on the helm, including wearing ship at Levington. Very worthwhile, particularly the conversations with Wes, and his (young) mate...

 

[Cantata]

Nice pics, thanks for those.

 

[Medway Mudlark]

Passed you just off 'Folly' going into Gillingham on Sunday afternoon. We just decided to' exercise the engine' on a downriver 'jolly'. Sometimes it's just nice to have the silence and 'drift' along, taking in the scenery, you see the river in a different perspective. Cracking pics!

 

[RobBradley]

Wow Murv, so lucky, and the pics look amazing.

Watched her come past ours on the Thames on the way down, was great to see. So jealous! Not that I would have a scooby what to do on board, but hey, would be a hell of an experience.

 

[Nauti Fox]

Lovely Murv, great experience.

 

[Murv]

Thanks all, I can thoroughly recommend the experience

Not that I would have a scooby what to do on board, but hey, would be a hell of an experience.

We didn't have the faintest idea either, believe me! The regular cries of "brail the mainsal" and "grab the clewlins" etc were met with blank stares and a request for English as to exactly which piece of string/winch thing needed twiddling or pulling and for how long!

 

[Nauti Fox]

 

[xyachtdave]

We didn't have the faintest idea either, believe me! The regular cries of "brail the mainsal" and "grab the clewlins" etc.....

'Brail the main' and 'grab the clewlins'??......Don't feel bad, I've no idea what that means either and I'm rather into sailing!

 

[RobBradley]

We didn't have the faintest idea either, believe me! The regular cries of "brail the mainsal" and "grab the clewlins" etc were met with blank stares and a request for English as to exactly which piece of string/winch thing needed twiddling or pulling and for how long!

Completely me, would have to be "YOU - GRAB THAT and PULL.... DUCK..... " ... tried sailing once, was a disaster, but found peace in the beer cooler.... everyone agreed I should look after it for the rest of the journey...