The first of two barge yachts I saw during my travels this year were upon the water, another was spied recently during the autumn whilst walking.
The first discussed, pictured below, came through Queenborough towards the end of August. I couldn’t focus in on her name, but a sailing friend has said he believes her to be the Clara B.
Initially, I thought she was planning to stop at the harbour’s pontoon, but after slowing, puttered away round the Swale, east bound.
Apparently, the vessel moored off the old Coal Wharf ’round the corner’ in the harbour, where she sat for two days before departing. Where she went, I do not know.
A little more sheer would give her a visual lift to my mind, but that is merely a personal view! It would be great to see her rigged out and sailing, for sure. The Peter Nicholls site says that the hull of these craft were designed around the famous ‘racer’ Girilda, built by Pipers of Greenwich around a 120 years ago.
The Clara B is thought to have been built by Peter Nicholls who is a builder of steel deep water cruising yachts (similar to the bay Class once built round at Conyer) and Dutch types. The firm has also built 10 m length ‘Thames’ barges – barge yachts.
See: https://www.steelboats.co.uk
Again, back in August, we left Queenborough more or less at the same time as the sweet little Nancy Grey. The little ship had been alongside the pontoon as we came through on our way up round the Swale and into the River Medway. She cast off and motored after us…
Clear of the harbour and in open water, her owner, Tim, rounded into the wind to hoist sail. Tim is an old Finesse owning friend who’d had the Finesse 21, Ivy May, for many years. His two lads were aboard, with the eldest revelling in his position aft at the helm.
We tacked about a little to keep within range and watch the crew working away, chuckling: oh how much simpler the Bermudian rig is!
Main set, the jib was broken out and they were away…
Soon after Nancy Grey’s staysail was set and yes, she looked a picture. I have known of the Nancy Grey and her sister Dione for around fifty or more years, having passed them when sailing aboard the spritsail barge May Flower (my childhood home) and also, latterly, the Dione was berthed close by May Flower’s berth being herself kept in Shoregate Dock off Milfordhope Creek – a creek running west from the foot of Stangate Creek.
We later met up with Tim in Chatham Marina where we’d come in for a couple of days for use of the laundry, showers and a visit to Rochester. He said he was pleased with ‘Nancy’ but clearly had a lot to learn.
In the autumn, on our way to a hotel holiday based in deal, we stopped off at Faversham for a coffee break. A stop here also means a pop into the yard at Iron Wharf, for me! I also popped into speak to Alan Staley )
See: http://www.alanstaleyboatbuilders.co.uk
I was surprised to bump into ‘Nancy’ up on chocks, stripped of hull paint. The hull looks sound enough, but clearly some filling, sanding and painting awaits Tim’s attention: he’ll not want boat to dry out too much!
The bottom of both of the sister barge yachts isn’t flat, but a very flat ‘V’ and they have a bit of a keel below the ‘flat’ bottom, as can be seen when looking from aft.
Nancey Grey’s owner tells me that he is desperately trying to get some paint on the old girl, but the autumn weather hasn’t been particularly conducive.
I look forward to meeting her again next year upon the water.
Another is Calluna, a barge yacht dealt with in a similar blog in October 2014, discussing barge yachts. This is also a product of Peter Nichols.
Calluna’s owner did not rig this year due to the shortness of the season during our Covid-19 crisis, and the little ship has sat, patiently, at her moorings along the shore by the Belton Way Little Boat Club. The owner, does however have another small Bermudian sloop which he has used to entertain himself aboard!
For the old blog, see:
In that 2014 post, I also talked about the last of the little ships seen. Now though, all is not as rosy for her. The vessel is the ‘proper’ little barge yacht, Tiny Mite.
Tiny Mite also hails from the Shuttlewood yard at Paglesham on the banks of the River Roach. The yard is long closed, but the weathered and old clapboard shed still sits at the top of a crumbling hard.
Tiny Mite’s owner has been quite ill of late and the ship is now on the market. As previously said, in 2014, she has been extensively rebuilt. However, since her launch, I do not believe she has been sailed.
She has sat in a rigged and ready state for a number of seasons, but her mainsail was ‘blown out’. The owner does have a spare sail available. Cosmetic maintenance is clearly required.
Notice how shapely the old girl is against the much flatter lines of Nancy Grey. Tiny Mite, is in essence a miniature spritsail barge, however, her scantlings would not be expected to bear the weight of anything such as cargo carrying. She is a yacht!
Well, if you are interested in this lovely vessel, your best bet is to contact the Leigh Motor Boat Club, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
A friend said to me, ‘…if I’d been ten fifteen years younger, I’d…’
Go for it, if inclined. She’s a fine ship under sail.
See here an earlier post about a book and booklet sent to me – the booklet is amazing and ‘advertises’ new build barge-yachts, back in the years following WW2.
See: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-gets-a-wow-present-in-post