The Cruiser Fleet held their second talk and lunch event on Sunday. A gathering of over 40 members enjoyed a most interesting and at times amusing presentation by Stephen Nunn on the History of the Barges of Blackwater.
Stephen brought alive the history of these wonderful sailing vessels as they developed from being small flat-bottomed lighters on the river Thames to large sailing craft trading all along the Kent and Essex coastlines. The evolution of the Thames Barge happened through the 1800’s, changing in shape and size to meet an ever-increasing demand for trade. Different types of barges were developed for the transporting of different kinds of material from hay and feedstuff to bricks and building materials.

Stephen’s personal connection to the barges came through the marriage of his great grandfather, a bargeman in Maldon, to a fisherman’s daughter, his great grandmother. He talked of the experiences of his grandfather who had worked as a bargeman on several barges transporting beer from a Kentish brewery to Maldon and then returning with the empties for refilling.
Stephen spoke of the War time service these craft made from moving supplies up and down the coast and to London, through to the evacuation of Dunkirk.
Of the original 2000 or so craft that once existed there are now about 200 still sailing, mostly as pleasure or training craft. The restoration and maintenance of these vessels is mostly undertaken by various Trusts although some are still in private hands.

A most enjoyable presentation followed as always by one of Simon’s wonderful Sunday Lunches.

The last Cruiser Talk and Lunch for this year will be on Sunday 16th March when we have Dick Holness, co-editor of the East Coast Pilot coming to talk about the compilation of the east coast sailor’s bible, and highlighting some of the recent updates to the latest Version 6 edition.