Earlier this year Christobel and I received an invitation to attend the official launch of the Sea-change Sailing Trust’s new Thames spritsail barge, Blue Mermaid. The barge is a ‘faithful’ replica of the original sunk by a magnetic mine during WW2. Her remains sit somewhere near the old position of the West Hook Middle Buoy n the Swin. Soon, with the help of the Port of London Authority, a diver will retrieve a fragment of that vessel which will be preserved and kept aboard the new barge in memory of the crew who perished.

The Blue Mermaid viewed from West Mersea…

Yesterday, whilst ambling back to the waterfront in West Mersea, I spotted the new barge majestically sailing out past Sales Point over on the Bradwell Shore. For me it was a moment of magic: although the barge has been sailing for a couple of months – working up – I had not seen her in such guise.

My old family home, the Thames spritsail barge May Flower, was sailing in the Swin close by the Blue Mermaid when she was blown up. May Flower’s crew sailed round the area looking for survivors … for this reason, I have long held an affinity to the Blue Mermaid Project and, more importantly, for the work of the Sea-change Trust.

So, a little over a week ago now, on a delightful July morning we sailed into Maldon and berthed at one of the local yards.

The stern of the Blue Mermaid and bow of the Reminder, true sisters… 

I captured a view of the Blue Mermaid’s stern with the bow of the Reminder outboard … identical sisters separated by around ninety years. Later I walked past, along Maldon’s Hythe, for a look … the mate and some apprentices were hard at work making things spic and span – one burnishing the binnacle!

The Blue Mermaid’s topsail set for the ceremony…

Walking towards the Hythe on the day, the sight of the Blue Mermaid’s topsail set proudly aloft among  the cocky sprits of her sisters brought a lump to my throat. This was truly an very historic occasion. Although there has been one other barge built in recent years, she was specifically for use as a home and yacht – Defiance – a reincarnation of a Medway river barge (less a metre removed from her aft end to comply with ‘yacht’ rules). Another is the Snark. The classification of these two remains a mystery to me … it appears they’re ‘not’ barges, but yacht barges, a term not often used these days.

The Blue Mermaid’s topsail, by the way, has been sponsored by the Maldon Little Ship Club in a ten year sponsorship – a mighty impressive deed.

Trust supporters in conversation…

On the Hythe, people milled, chatting, admiring and toasting the fine vessel.

All aboard!

At some predetermined point, it fell to Chair of Trustees, Hilary Halajko, to propose the vessel’s blessing – the man of God who was supposed to have attended was apparently unavailable to to sickness…

There were thanks to supporters … sponsors … for kind deeds and everyone for coming along was followed by distribution of bouquets to various – Catherine Dines represented the Heritage Marine Yard (Downs Road) in the absence of Jim. Hilary herself wasn’t forgotten too!

Hilary Halajko making her speach.

A ‘talk’ was given too … but lost me when the line ran into similarities with Gordonstone School … absolutely nothing to do with the ethos and reasons behind ‘Sea-change’!

Speeches over, the vessel was suitably toasted, and a buffet was opened for people to partake of refreshment. This was all hosted by the Maldon Little Ship Club led by Commodore Stubbs. The buffet was the ‘baby’ of his wife Cally, an enthusiastic crew member of a barge herself.

The buffet spread…

Supporters and guests enjoying the rather tasty provisions…

Having enjoyed a few nibbles, Christobel and I went aboard the Blue Mermaid. We’ve been aboard many times over the past two years and watched all the changes from a bare steel shell to a fully fitted out and rigged sailing machine. There are still a few jobs to do … there is with any vessel, but she’s here, in use and doing the trust’s work.

From this on launch day at Toms Yard, Polruan, Cornwall…

To this…

 

Above deck, the barge is complete… Below, a little still needs to be done – varnishing the aft cabin companionway bulkheads for instance was noticeable. But to all intents and purposes she is finished. There follows what are essentially self explanatory pictures around the ‘ship’…

 

The ‘swept hold’ is home to fold away bunks – trainees, clients and extra crew.

The forward 4-berth unit to starboard.

The well appointed galley located under the aft waist deck.

To port of the galley is another 2-berth cabin.

The skipper and mate’s cabin, aft. ‘The cuddy’ – one day I hope (with sibling approval) the barge can have May Flower’s double burner cabin lamp, still a precious item of my mother’s…

A few cups gained in early barge match forays, builder’s plaque from Toms of Polruan, and notable contributors board…

As I was going ashore I spotted Don Ramsay going aboard – a key man in the workings of the Trust as administrator and head fund raiser…

Kindly Don…

I had a brief chat with the Toms Yard representative … we had chatted at the Blue Mermaid’s launch and at her safe arrival in Maldon. She was essentially ‘gob-smacked’ by the huge changes from the bare hull built at the family yard … yes, I think we all are!

‘Toms’ and Richard Titchener, Chief Executive Officer and Skipper chatting…

A very long time ago back in 2005 I wrote in my book, The May Flower a barging Childhood, published in 2007, at the end of chapter 1, detailing ‘where’ barges are now and the future, whilst discussing the fact that modern yachts are built with the rigs of their forbears whether it be a Bemudian of gaff and finished by saying:

‘if the future barge is a new steel one, the most important aspect is its rig and how it is used.’

The Sea-change Sailing Trust has built an ethos working with young people who are falling through the net, people with dementia, schools, sailability and provision of a seafaring training. This is all coupled with plans to carry a cargo, but the main aim is to achieve aims against the elements of tide and wind under sail … on the way a youngster who fails to understand the need for mathematics will learn chart work and along the way discover mathematics…

The Trust is to be commended…