Edith May Blogs

The Thames Barge Match was started in 1863, by ‘Golden Dustman’ Henry Dodd and is one of the oldest sailing races in the world (second only to the America’s Cup). This year was their 81st match and the Edith May sailed up the London River to take part.

There were 9 other barges entered, in three classes, with the greatest interest generated by the newly relaunched ‘Cambria’. On the way up to Gravesend on Friday, she headed past the ‘Edith May’ in the opposite direction and it was obvious that the shipwrights at Faversham had done a fantastic job, as she seemed to move through the water very easily for such a large barge.

In the Bowsprit Class was Adieu and Marjorie, Coasting Class was Cabby, Cambria, Lady of the Lea and Lady Daphne and in the Staysail Class, Edith May was facing up to the ironpots of Repertor, Decima and Melissa.

The Staysails were second to start and it was a close affair, with the Edith May second over the line. Unfortunately, the barge went the wrong side of the start bouy, incurring a 15minute time penalty. The wind was NW, 3-5 and the Melissa headed the pack downriver on a beam reach, with Repertor 2nd, Edith May 3rd and Decima 4th.

The barges were clearly evenly matched in these conditions, as first the Repertor and Melissa pulled away, before Edith May caught them both back up. Melissa decided she could set a huge downwind sail once off Southend and started pulling out a lead. Repertor tried the same tactic but Edith May had the bit between her teeth and reeled her in.

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There ensued a luffing match between the two barges, with Edith May undercutting beneath the steel barge to move up to 2nd. Unfortunately, both barges lost time in the battle and Melissa extended her lead whilst Decima caught right up on their tails.

At the outer mark (N. Oaze (P)), Cambria was already long gone at the front of the Coasting Class, with Marjorie, leading the Bowsprit Class, arriving at the same time as Edith May, Repertor and Lady of the Lea. As the sheets were hardened in and the barges began heading to the Essex shore, Marjorie tacked in front of the Edith May and so the barge was put about, whilst Repertor stood on.

Unfortunately, this proved to be a bum tack and without the full leeboard down, she sagged toward the Kentish shore, losing about 20 minutes on her rivals which she could not make back up.

Up ahead, the Adieu and Marjorie were having a tremendous fight, with the former winning by just over a minute. Melissa won the Staysail Class comfortably but the attention was all on the Cambria, who convincingly won the Coasting Class in the 4th fastest time of the day. Congratulations to all involved with the project who have worked so hard over the past few years.

The prizegiving was held at the Three Daws pub, with the Edith May’s 3rd hand, Paul Carter, winning the newly instated ‘Achievement of a Young Crewmember Cup’. A much deserved recognition for an up-and-coming bargeman.

The next match will be on August 6th, on the Swale.

Results – Coasting Class: 1st Cambria, 2nd Cabby, 3rd Lady Daphne, 4th Lady of the Lea
Staysail Class: 1st Melissa, 2nd Repertor, 3rd Decima, 4th Edith May
Bowsprit Class: 1st Adieu, 2nd Marjorie

Thanks to John Hargreaves and Denis Johnson for their pictures.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 27th, 2011 at 1:36 pm and is filed under Barge Matches, General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.