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Well, I had a great day...

David Jenkins - 30/5/11 at 05:49 PM

Went on a Thames sailing barge from Tilbury to just short of Tower Bridge, London.

Six-and-a-half hours pootling up and down the Thames, being fed and watered at regular intervals... which was nice!

Barge - Tower Bridge

steve m - 30/5/11 at 06:02 PM

Did you borrow a map?

steve m - 30/5/11 at 06:11 PM

To get to the thames

David Jenkins - 30/5/11 at 06:13 PM

I had to get to Tilbury though... hence my whinge elsewhere!

After that, it was - leave the jetty, go west until you meet Tower Bridge, turn around, go back to jetty!

stevegough - 30/5/11 at 06:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
I had to get to Tilbury though... hence my whinge elsewhere!

After that, it was - leave the jetty, go west until you meet Tower Bridge, turn around, go back to jetty!

Easier when there's only one road....or waterway in this case. BTW, I've had trouble with a Garmin - I gave it away and went back to a map, but I've borrowed a Tom-Tom several times - they are pretty much unbeatable.

jacko - 30/5/11 at 06:51 PM

Nice one.
I have been playing narrow boats all weekend at Crick boat show
Jacko

David Jenkins - 30/5/11 at 07:08 PM

What amazed me was the 'staffing level' - I knew that these boats were run by just 2 people, but it's incredible to watch. The barge's master did the steering most of the time, with one young lad dealing with all the sails. The master only came out when a bit of extra rope hauling was required. Just about everything could be done from the deck level, with either a block-and-tackle set-up or a manual winch. The 'lad' only went up the rope ladder once, to loosen the topsail.

Up a rope ladder!

mangogrooveworkshop - 30/5/11 at 08:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
What amazed me was the 'staffing level' - I knew that these boats were run by just 2 people, but it's incredible to watch. The barge's master did the steering most of the time, with one young lad dealing with all the sails. The master only came out when a bit of extra rope hauling was required. Just about everything could be done from the deck level, with either a block-and-tackle set-up or a manual winch. The 'lad' only went up the rope ladder once, to loosen the topsail.

Up a rope ladder!

We sail with two one on the helm and one deckman ...me the third man is usually making tea at 35 degrees on the way out and in his bunk on the way back sick as a hound

David Jenkins - 30/5/11 at 08:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mangogrooveworkshop

We sail with two one on the helm and one deckman ...me the third man is usually making tea at 35 degrees on the way out and in his bunk on the way back sick as a hound

'king enormous sails on those Thames barges though - heavy cloth too. There were other crew on board - 3 women - but they were just catering and organising the passengers, and didn't do any 'boat work'.

Thinking about it - 31/5/11 at 08:23 AM

I once spent 3 days on one out of Ipswich. They are amazing well recommended. Need to pace yourself to hoist the top mainsail its a killer.