I am writing about the impact of the Covid19 pandemic on our planned activities this year.

As of today Sea-Change will cancel all charters until further notice.

We will continue to fit out the barge and will resume operations as soon as possible, and hope this will enable us to reschedule.

Deposits will be repaid where requested.

This decision has not been taken lightly but in the interests of everyone’s safety there is no other choice.

We wish you all the best during this difficult time and hope to see you all again as soon as is possible.

Hilary Halajko,  Chair of Trustees

Photos of our beautiful new sweeps being built by Collars.

Thanks to all our supporters just ONE LAST PULL is needed for £500 to cover the drawing and fabrication of a pair of steel crutches, galvanising and location points welded to Blue Mermaid’s rail and finishing

Click photo to enlarge

Staff from Clacton based Inclusion Ventures travelled to Maldon today to visit Blue Mermaid, which is currently in dry dock prior to getting underway for the new season.

Regular clients, Inclusion Venture‘s aim is to improve the lives of vulnerable young people from the most disadvantaged areas of Jaywick & West Clacton; supporting them to discover a wider prospective, and positive future that fulfils their potential. They are doing a great job.

1. Sailing barge matches
This year we will be entering some of the matches and there are still places available for up to six guests on some of these.This may not happen as much in future years as the priority is charitable work, but the trustees have decided to give the barge a chance this year. If interested please get in touch, the cost will be £100 per head.

2. Training
For some years we have offered a structured sailing course and this year will be no exception. It will take place the week after the Colne Race (ie Monday 14th September) starting at Brightlingsea and ending in Maldon and will be for no more than six students. The idea is to provide structured experience for people working towards a Barge Master ticket or just interested in learning about how a sailing barge works. Items covered in a typical five day course are each sail and the rig, drudging (weather permitting) and main anchor work, multiple coming to and away from anchor in various wind and tide scenarios, picking up a buoy, kedging, use of stoppers, bowsprit jib (fixed stay and traveller) and stemhead rig, use of leeboards, heavy weather scenarios/rolling vangs/sail reduction configurations, man overboard, boat work. Opportunity is taken in the evenings to discuss as much as possible about local knowledge considerations and safe anchorages with an introduction to the exemption scheme and the Barge Master process.

It is assumed people will have a basic knowledge of sailing, but not necessarily in barges. Numbers are kept small to aid participation and every attempt is made to make the week affordable with a heavily reduced fee of £450 per head, with a £50 discount members of SSBR, AOB or SBA. Please contact us here.

Blue Mermaid. Photo courtesy Den Phillips. Click to expand

The View from the Wheel

Sea-Change Sailing Trust’s Annual Report 2019
By Richard Titchener

Blue Mermaid – The First Season

In April 2019 the new barge towed away from Downs Road Boatyard for the first time to have the compass swung and undertake sea trials. Onlookers would have wondered at the several slow circles off the Basin while Peter Garrod worked his magic on the beautiful compass he has refurbished for us. He then presented the deviation card and climbed aboard the tug to return ashore ….Read the whole report here.

Voting is open for the Classic Boat Awards 2020.

Sea-Change’s Blue Mermaid is one of the entries in the Traditional New Build category.

Please vote for us here now. Voting closes 8th March 2020.

Today’s classic sailing and motorboat scene owes its existence to the passion and dedication of many people – boat owners, regatta organisers, crew, naval architects, volunteer yacht club officers and of course the skilled boat builders who have built or restored the vessels on our list. The annual Classic Boat Awards celebrate them all.