Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard June to September

Thames Sailing Barge Trust launch sailing barge Pudge Centenary crowdfunding appeal

by Thames Sailing Barge Trust 28 May 2022 15:15 BST
Pudge Harwich © James Willmott

The Thames Sailing Barge Trust based in Maldon, Essex has launched a crowdfunding appeal to help sailing barge Pudge complete her accommodation refit in time for her centenary.

The Trust received a grant of £328,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), enabling much of the work to be completed on the restoration of their Thames sailing barge, Pudge. However, due to the rising costs and the challenges experienced during the pandemic, more funds are needed to return Pudge to sailing condition.

Mick Nolan, trustee and skipper of the Thames Sailing Barge Trust said: "Pudge is looking like new, with restored wooden decks and hatches, and we are currently working on the total refit of the passenger accommodation, which will offer comfortable and affordable two-berth cabins. Pudge will be one hundred in July and we hope to be able to complete as much of the work as possible by then and have her rigged in time for her 100th birthday."

S.B.Pudge a Thames spritsail barge, built in 1922 in Rochester, Kent was one of the last wooden barges built. Pudge is also a Dunkirk Little Ship, being involved with the evacuation of troops in 1940. These major restoration works will allow the Barge Trust to continue to operate Pudge for the use of local groups and members of the general public, giving those that sail with us some experience of the way these iconic early 20th century cargo vessels were worked on the East Coast rivers and estuaries. The work has allowed some trainee shipbuilders to extend their skills to larger wooden vessels. The project has reached deep into the community providing opportunities for volunteers, youth organisations and schools to research the early history of Pudge and to use modern media and displays to share their output with the wider public.

John Whittingdale, the MP for Maldon, said, "For many people, the Thames barge is a symbol of Maldon and the Trust does great work in maintaining the two it owns and at the same time helping to keep alive traditional shipbuilding skills"

If you can spare a few pounds to help the Thames Sailing Barge Trust continue in their work to help keep these icon vessels sailing for the public, and preserve traditional sailing and maintenance skills, please visit our crowdfunding page here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/thames-sailing-barge-trust-1102840

Related Articles

RS21 Worlds entry is open
Plus: part exchange scheme, and why is youth sailing so important? RS21 Worlds entry is open, details of our part exchange scheme, and why is youth sailing so important? See also a list of RS events in the UK this summer. Posted today at 11:00 am
RS200s at Bowmoor
Masters Championship and West Country Boat Repairs RS200 Southwest Ugly Tour event Bowmoor was delighted to welcome visitors from as far afield as Bough Beech, Castle Cove, Bartley, Draycote and Chew Valley for the 2025 RS200 Master's Championship and the third round of the West Country Boat Repairs RS200 Southwest Ugly Tour. Posted today at 9:50 am
DF95 Summer Series at Barton's Point week 1
With a ghost of a breeze at the Isle of Sheppey With a ghost of a breeze and a 90 degree shift forecast only nine boats attended the first East Kent Summer Series event at the club's Isle of Sheppey venue. Adrian Tomlinson finally got a course set, but it quickly changed to two reaches. Posted today at 9:43 am
ILCA UK Women's Regatta Weekend at Rutland
A stunning weekend for training, racing, yoga, a rules talk and friendship A stunning weekend of warm, sunny weather awaited 24 women and girls and their boats looking for training, racing, yoga, a rules talk and friendship. Posted today at 7:45 am
2025 Transat Café L'OR is packed with surprises
73 boats sailed by 146 co-skippers will set sail on October 26th 73 boats sailed by 146 co-skippers will set sail on October 26th on the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandy. Posted today at 7:20 am
The Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue is back at sea
Peter Burling joining the team for the Rolex Fastnet Race After a refit that began in March, the Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue was relaunched this Thursday, July 3. Lined up for the months ahead is an exciting race programme, culminating this year with the Transat Café L'Or in October. Posted today at 5:14 am
Transpac's Middle fleet sets off for Diamond Head
Seventeen boats begin the 2,225-mile Pacific Crossing in light air conditions Seventeen boats begin the 2,225-mile Pacific Crossing in light air conditions in Transpac's second start. Posted today at 2:39 am
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D4
High stakes for semi-finalists as the final four teams in each division are locked in The third day of racing at GKSS Match Cup Sweden saw the completion of the quarter-final match-ups in both the Open and Women's class, locking in the final four teams in each division for Friday's semi-finals. Posted on 3 Jul
Northern ILCA circuit at Rudyard Lake
Gritted teeth, hard hiking and several capsizes Rudyard Lake Sailing Club held the latest round of the Northern ILCA circuit with eleven ILCA sailors on Saturday 28th June. Posted on 3 Jul
Celebrating 50 years of AZAB
Royal Cornwall YC host gathering of Azores and Back competitors Yachtsmen and women from around the world gathered at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club to celebrate 50 years since the Club's "Azores and Back" (AZAB) yacht race first set off from Falmouth Harbour. Posted on 3 Jul