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The date of the next match and the results afterwards can be found here. Start times on the day can be obtained from the Hon. Secretary - see below. |
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You can take a trip on the river with
Capt. John Potter in the Gravesend based MV Princess
Pocahontas for the next event. Souvenir Programmes which
explain the event will be available at West Street Pier and on board. Cash
refreshments and food will be available on the vessel. Passengers embark at the West
Street Pier, Gravesend, and also Tilbury
Ferry Pier on
the morning of the
Match. It is a full day trip providing excellent photo opportunities, with the Princess Pocahontas usually following the leading barge back to Gravesend to provide a close up of it crossing the finish line. After disembarking, the nearby Three Daws riverside Inn, where the prize-giving occurs later in the evening, is a very good location to watch the other barges finish 1600-1700ish, depending on the wind. Arrange your trip early – it is a very popular event on the lower River Thames. Booking is via: 01732 353448 and the website is here. Free car parking - at Tilbury Landing Stage [Essex side of the river], otherwise there is a Pay & Display car park immediately opposite the entrance to West Street Pier. |
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SB
Lady Daphne (1923) can
offer you an alternative barging experience, if you'd like to taste the
action first hand on the day. She is owned by a member of the Thames
Match Committee and regularly races in the event. If you can get a group
of 10 friends together you can look forward to being in the thick of the
action. Booking is via Nymph Ltd. on 0207 562 7656 or emainelli@lady-daphne.co.uk/ The website is here. |
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 MV X-Pilot (1967), the
Medway based former pilot vessel converted for chartering is available
to take a group booking of 12 passengers, and usually follows the event. Embarkation
is at Gravesend. Because
of her relatively small size she is very maneuverable and is therefore
ideal for photography. Booking is via Alan Littlewort at X-Pilot
Enterprises on 07952 784311 or 01634 304308. The website is here. |
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 ST
Portwey (1927) the
UK's last twin screw coal burning classic steam tug followed the event
for the first time in 2009 and is expected to be available again in
2010. She can carry 12 passengers. The Steam Tug Portwey Trust
can also make her available for charter
at other times of the year. Booking is via Lee Spooner, Events
Co-ordinator on 01268
571734 or 07957
325876. The Trust's website is
here. |
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 PS Kingswear Castle
(1924),
Capt. John Megoran, runs a Saturday "Southend on Sea Cruise"
schedule during the summer months, one of which usually coincides with
the day of the Thames Match. Part of the match may therefore be seen if timing is
appropriate, although this cannot be guaranteed. This historic coal fired paddle steamer is based at Thunderbolt
Pier, Chatham Historic Dockyard on the River Medway, Kent. Check the website
here to see
if the dates coincide. If so bookings
can be made on the site or 01634 827648.
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WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR NAME IN PRINT - FAME AT LAST - THRO' SUPPORTING THIS EVENT? Each year this maritime heritage event on the lower River Thames has to find the financial support to enable it to take place. The forthcoming match will be no exception. Funding is achieved through the MATCH PATRON scheme. A minimum donation of £30 [60p. per week averaged over the year] secures your opportunity for fame at last! Or you could make a donation on behalf of someone else - and so create an unusual present for them! Why not have a look here? |
Update No. 62 - May 24th. 2010 VACANCY: After a 7 year stint the webmaster is standing down and no further updates will be made to the site which has been reduced to a minimalist care & maintenance state. For an idea [minus graphics] of its various incarnations go to the WayBack Machine. If you have an interest in traditional sail and fancy the idea of taking over and applying your creativity to the site on an unpaid voluntary basis, please contact the Hon. Secretary. See below. |
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THE FOUNDER'S MOTIVES FOR THE MATCH Henry Dodd saw the racing event he established on London River as a means to achieve three objectives: 1. to raise the status of the sailing bargemen 2. to encourage improvements to barge design 3. to create a volunteer pool of experienced mariners available to man Royal Navy warships in times of conflict and in this respect Dodd viewed the matches each year as "The True School Of The Navy" during his time |
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SCENES FROM GRAVESEND - BEFORE & AFTER THE EVENT |
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Looking down the River Thames. The picture right, is an evening view from the Three Daws riverside inn, a Grade II Listed Building next to the Town Pier at Gravesend. The majority of the competing barges berth on PLA Lighter No. 3 on the Friday evening before the match. Tilbury Power Station, with its two conspicuous chimneys is in the background. |
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| The view from Anchor Cove looking across to Tilbury Power Station. SB Decima [left] is about to cross the finish line and is being closely followed by the Princess Pocahontas, with spectators on board. SB Thistle [right] is not far behind. The Cove, just off Royal Pier Road between Mission House and the riverside garden of the former Royal Clarendon Hotel [now being re-developed into riverside apartments] is a good place to watch the barges cross the finish line. |  |
| A
supper for the barge crews and following vessels takes place in the
evening, followed by the presentation of prizes in the Three Daws. Afterwards
the
masters of each competing barge muster outside with their prizes [back
row]. The prize presenter and the Match Committee [front
row] also make up the group and they all have their photo taken.
Henry Dodd looks over them approvingly, as his legacy, which he began in
1863, endures for yet another year.
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| A
professional photographer usually follows the match in MV X-Pilot each
year and images of the event can be obtained from Jack Picknell
Photography.
Tel. 01634 841690 or 07504 043046 E-mail: enquiries@jackpicknell.co.uk Website: www.jackpicknell.co.uk |
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| MISSION STATEMENT OF THE MATCH COMMITTEE - the event is organised so as to provide the opportunity for the surviving barges to showcase themselves to the public, as a reminder that they are available for charter, through which the majority now rely for the funding needed for their upkeep, and thus continuing survival. |
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MATCH COMMITTEE CONTACT |
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Hon. Secretary: Mark Boyle E-mail: mark "at" celnos.plus.com [replace the "at" with an "@"] Postal address: Thames Sailing Barge Match Committee, 7 Albert St., WHITSTABLE, Kent, CT5 1HP |
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PHOTO CREDITS: Generally - M. Wignall & A. Wignall © 2004-2009; Lady Daphne image - © 2008 M. Mainelli [with permission].
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COPYRIGHT: The design & layout of pages in this website is © M. B. Wignall on behalf
of the Thames Sailing Barge Match Committee,
various years 2003 through
2010. © Copyright of images within each page are as credited.
Page last edited: June 10, 2010 M. W. 2003-10 |
Site visits since: May 25 2010: