52nd Swale Race

Yesterday we took part in the Swale Match, I think the only race where the Thames Barges, smacks and gaffers race together. We - and everyone else- had almost perfect conditions, mostly NW force 4. We had a very capable crew of D, Allan John and Martha.

For Martha (aged 6) this was her first sail on Bonita. 

The picture below, taken by Mary Gibbs from the smack ADC shows Bonita about to start the race.

Sadly Bonita didnt win any of the prestigious prizes, but we had a fine sail, and I was intetested to see a couple of barges that I dont remember seeing before in the Swale.

Will ( originally Will Everard) was one of the largest barges ever built- in steel-  and after a long career carrying cargoes now earns her living in corporate hospitality.

Seagull II is one of the smallest barges ever built, a half size barge built to carry explosives for the Admiralty at a time when the early internal combustion engines were thought to pose an unacceptable fire risk. She was rebuilt a few years ago and looks lovely, although the scaled down barges were never very fast.