The Sea-change trust made it into the Braintree Times a few days ago, see:

http://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/north_essex_news/11152153.Mayland_charity_plans_to_build_first_new_Thames_sailing_barge_in_84_years/

This is exciting because at last the ‘daily’ press are beginning to get intereated, perhaps, next it will be The Times…

Also on the trust web site is a sprinkling of other exciting news, one especially is the moving on of one of their clients to the International boat building college in Lowestoft.

https://www.facebook.com/SeaChangeSailingTrust/photos/a.109161749122994.5306.109159015789934/708357669203396/?type=1&theater

Two pictures of the trust sailing the Reminder up towards the Hythe at Maldon in 2012. The foresail ws dropped as soon as the barge had gone through the tack to prevent her head falling away … it was a delight to watch each tack … what work for the crew, but this is how it used to be done before the humble engine appeared on the scene. I remember the euphoria of one of the young crew…

The news I’m longing to hear is the signing of a contract for the new barge hull… On this front there was some spurious news about this in the current issue of the SSBR Mainsheet magazine, which has been ‘scotched’ – it being that the barge was to be built in Poland! Nothing wrong with that, but after-build transportation is too expensive I’m told.