It was a wet Monday morning off Brightlingsea as the Sea-Change crew (Richard, Hilary and Ollie) greeted their guests. Rose Ravetz, Louis Kirkman and Ian Harris were experienced sailors involved in sail training and were on board to learn barge handling. Jake Robshaw,a friend of Ollie’s, had earlier come down for a few days holiday and instantly turned from a non-sailor into an enthusiast so he was doing his competent crew on this trip. Also present was Jim Birch, a long time supporter of the trust who was filling a berth and generally lending a hand. Read the whole of Jim Birch’s graphical report …

Colchester Institute Workprep Students sailed with us again this year and they were outstanding; once again they all had to step out of their comfort zones and into completely unfamiliar and new surroundings. Each and every one of them met the challenges with enthusiasm and showed a great deal of kindness and support to each other. They were all resilient, hardworking a real pleasure to be with. This was the first year that every student took on the challenge of climbing the rigging despite their initial reservations – what a brave bunch! More graphics.
Thanks to Julie Clayton for this highly positive report.

We have sailed with Dementia Adventure on five-day residentials for many years and receive great pleasure from watching the benefit gained from the stimulation that their time aboard offers.

Here, after another fantastic time aboard the crew from Dementia Adventure share a group photo with the Sea-Change crew.

River Trader passing Blue Mermaid at anchor in Hamford Water

Having towed away from Pin Mill blocks on Friday behind Gus Curtis’ workboat Blue Mermaid lay again at the Clamp House anchorage to let the bad weather go through. It blew a gale for a short while overnight with heavy rain. Mirosa lay above us, away on their hols. On Friday a smartly-dressed gentleman with matching luggage waited patiently at the end of King’s growing (and so welcome) pontoon as the tide left. With just enough water Mirosa’s bargeboat and trusty Seagull outboard approached. As she grounded ten yards short of the passenger he was spared the walk round to the Grindle by Peter Dodds ready for anything in chestwaders vaulting into the morass to execute a speedy and successful departure. Such customer care is rare and caused some merriment in our young crew who had been forced to walk half a mile to the muddy beach at low water the previous day when they were several chocolate bars at Hollingsworth’s late on tide at the bottom of the hard. (more…)

We have a two empty residential places on our sailing barge mates course aboard Blue Mermaid from Monday 9th to Friday 15th September, out of Maldon.

This is rare opportunity to obtain professional tuition aboard a Thames sailing barge and improve your heritage sailing skills. Bursaries available on application.