Robin's Bloggin's

For me, the opportunity to sail on a Thames Barge was a dream come true.  To sail in an east coast barge match was wonderful, but to be able to do this with some of my closest  and oldest friends, and fellow Leigh Creek Guzzlers was just perfect. We sailed on the SB Centaur, which was launched in 1895 - a very fine old lady, owned and operated by the Thames Sailing Barge Trust out of Maldon, Essex. We met on Thursday evening.  After loading our kit onboard and being allocated our bunks, we had a fine meal ashore in the Queen's Head, followed by a few beers onboard. Some of the crew mustered at 04:00 on Friday morning to slip and leave the river on the tide.  Personally, I was one of the slackers who only emerged on deck once it was light, the sails were hoisted and there was a brew on the go!  We had a wonderful day sailing out of the river Blackwater, up the east coast past Mersea Island to Clacton.  The wind was a very pleasant Force 3 to 4.  We were...