Thames Sailing Barge Trust (TSBT)

Thames Sailing Barge Trust (TSBT) www.bargetrust.org Let's go sailing & help preserve Thames Barges - together. https://twitter.com/thamesbarge Might you be a future barge skipper or mate?

The Thames Sailing Barge Trust is a registered charity (number 1102840) that currently preserves two barges, Pudge & Centaur, in sailing condition for the benefit of the public. Experiencing the pleasures and excitement of sailing an historic vessel such as a Thames Sailing Barge is not as difficult as you might imagine. The Thames Sailing Barge Trust offers the opportunity to sail to various loca

tions around the Thames Estuary and also to take part in competition with other barges in the various barge matches arranged throughout the sailing season. Talk to us to find out more. Or if you'd like to learn traditional boat building and maintenance techniques come along to one of our regular work parties and meet a whole new group of friends.

Sail With Us - Blackwater barge matchA nautical spectacle not to be missed. Always well attended, with lots of barges an...
02/06/2026

Sail With Us - Blackwater barge match

A nautical spectacle not to be missed. Always well attended, with lots of barges and fishing smacks racing on the River Blackwater. Back to Maldon Quay for the Saturday night prize-giving event.
Boarding on Friday evening at 19:00 with early morning departure on Saturday for the race start.

SB Centaur - Match Day - 4 spaces available
£100 pp including meals from Saturday morning

Check full details, availability and booking online.

Sail With Us - Blackwater barge matchA nautical spectacle not to be missed. Always well attended, with lots of barges an...
02/06/2026

Sail With Us - Blackwater barge match

A nautical spectacle not to be missed. Always well attended, with lots of barges and fishing smacks racing on the River Blackwater. Back to Maldon Quay for the Saturday night prize-giving event.
Boarding on Friday evening at 19:00 with early morning departure on Saturday for the race start.

SB Pudge - Match weekend - 1 space available
£200 pp including meals from Saturday morning.

Check full details, availability and booking online.

Sail With Us - Blackwater barge matchA nautical spectacle not to be missed. Always well attended, with lots of barges an...
01/06/2026

Sail With Us - Blackwater barge match

A nautical spectacle not to be missed. Always well attended, with lots of barges and fishing smacks racing on the River Blackwater. Back to Maldon Quay for the Saturday night prize-giving event.
Boarding on Friday evening at 19:00 with early morning departure on Saturday for the race start.

SB Pudge - Match weekend - 1 space available
£200 pp including meals from Saturday morning.

SB Centaur - Match Day - 4 spaces available
£100 pp including meals from Saturday morning

Check full details, availability and booking online.

The Thames Sailing Barge Trust would like to thank everyone who came down to Maldon on Saturday to join in with the Shan...
31/05/2026

The Thames Sailing Barge Trust would like to thank everyone who came down to Maldon on Saturday to join in with the Shanty Singers for the 2nd Maldon Shanty Festival in aid of the Thames Sailing Barge Trust.

The weather was good, the singing was good and the community feel around the Quay and other venues was fantastic.

We hope everyone who attended during the day or evening enjoyed themselves and please look out for the dates for next years Maldon Shanty Festival in aid of the Thames Sailing Barge Trust.


Friends of the Maldon Promenade Park
Visit Maldon District
Maldon & Heybridge Heritage Harbour
The Maldon Mud Race
Maldon Heritage Group, Essex
Maldon Shanty Festival
Maldon SHanty Festival
Maldon Town
Chelmsford, Essex
South Woodham Ferrers
Witham, Essex
Witham Community 😊

STILL PLACES AVAILABLEWe still have spaces available for tomorrow's Chiuldren's Day with Storyteller Mike Dodsworth.Book...
27/05/2026

STILL PLACES AVAILABLE

We still have spaces available for tomorrow's Chiuldren's Day with Storyteller Mike Dodsworth.

Book now at www.bargetrust.org/events

PLaces available at 10:30, 11:45 & 14:30

Book NOW


Maldon Town
Friends of the Maldon Promenade Park
Maldon Heritage Group, Essex
Maldon Town Council
Maldon Town
Visit Maldon District
Heybridge Parish Council
Chelmsford, Essex
South Woodham Ferrers
Witham Community Group
Witham Community 😊
Southminster

ONLY A FEW DAYS TO GOBargeman's AlphabetM's for the Mizzen abaft our main horseN's for the Needle that shows our courseO...
25/05/2026

ONLY A FEW DAYS TO GO
Bargeman's Alphabet
M's for the Mizzen abaft our main horse
N's for the Needle that shows our course
O's for the Oars that do row our small boat
And P's for the Pumps that do keep us afloat

CHORUS: So merrily, so merrily, so merrily sail we
There's none so blythe as a bargeman at sea
Sing high, sing low, we're sailing along
So come to the Shanty Festival and enjoy a good song

Q's for the Quarter-deck where the skipper do walk
R's for the Rigging so stout and so taught
S for the Shrouds that we set up so tight
And T's for the Truck on our topmast so bright.

CHORUS: So merrily, so merrily, so merrily sail we
There's none so blythe as a bargeman at sea
Sing high, sing low, we're sailing along
So come to the Shanty Festival and enjoy a good song

U's for the uprights around our ship's wend
V's for the Vangs on our Spreet's joggle end
W's the Wheel where we all take a turn
And X, Y and Z is the name on our stern.

CHORUS: So merrily, so merrily, so merrily sail we
There's none so blythe as a bargeman at sea
Sing high, sing low, we're sailing along
So come to the Shanty Festival and enjoy a good song

Its just a few days to the Maldon Shanty Festival which will take place on Saturday 30th May 2026 on and around the Hythe Quay, St Mary's Church and Promenade Park in Maldon.

The event is free, but collections will be made for the Charity the Thames Sailing Barge Trust.

The event runs between 12 noon and 5:30pm and in the evening there is a Free concert in St Mary's Church from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.

Fifteen Shanty Groups from across East Anglia and the South East will be attending.

Refreshments will be available at various venues.

Come and enjoy a great day and if you wish, sing along with the various Shanty Crew.

Details can be found at www.bargetrust.org/events

Maldon Town Regattaa
Maldon Town
Maldon Town Council
Maldon Little Ship Club
Maldon & Heybridge Heritage Harbour
Friends of the Maldon Promenade Park
Maldon Promenade Park
Visit Maldon District
Harwich Shanty Festival
Whats Up Maldon
National Historic Ships UK
Blackwater u3a
Blackwater Sailing Club
Blackwater Sailing Barge Match Association
Brightlingsea Sailing Club
Tollesbury
Chelmsford, Essex
Ipswich Maritime Trust
Witham Community 😊 😊
South Woodham Ferrers
Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
Royal Burnham Yacht Club

HALF-TERM IS NOW UPON US> WHY NOT COME TO MALDON ON THURSDAY AND ENJOY THE GREAT WEATHER AND A FREE ACTIVITY FOR CHILDRE...
23/05/2026

HALF-TERM IS NOW UPON US> WHY NOT COME TO MALDON ON THURSDAY AND ENJOY THE GREAT WEATHER AND A FREE ACTIVITY FOR CHILDREN OVER & YEARS OLD.

The Trust are holding its second Children's Day during the May School Holiday on Thursday 28th May,

This day is a Storytelling Day which will be led by Mike Dodsworth, the renowned professional storyteller. Mike ran a similar event last year and due to the feedback we thought we would invite him again.

There are four sessions on the day each lasting an hour and the day is for children between 7 & 11 doing KS2 at school. A maximum of 16 children per session. Book early to avoid disappointment.

The event is being held on the 1895 built historic Thames sailing barge Centaur at the Hythe Quay, Maldon. Sessions start at 10:30.
Entrance is by donation.

All children should be accompanied by an Adult. We are sorry, but children under 7 are unable to attend this event.

Too book your place, visit www.bargetrust.org/events

PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Whats Up Maldon
Maldon Town Council
Visit Maldon District
National Historic Ships UK
Maldon & Heybridge Heritage Harbourur
Maldon Town
Maldon Museum in the Park
Friends of the Maldon Promenade Park
Maldon Heritage Group, Essex
Witham, Essex
Witham Events
SOUTH WOODHAM FERRERS
South Woodham Ferrers
Braintree Essex Community Inc Great Notley - Halstead - Silver End - Witham
Chelmsford Essex Community
Visit Essex

Diary - Training - First training weekend of 2026Last weekend was the first training weekend of the year. Onboard both C...
21/05/2026

Diary - Training - First training weekend of 2026
Last weekend was the first training weekend of the year. Onboard both Centaur and Pudge were a mix of skippers, mates and trainees working through their training programmes.

A big thank you to all those who support the scheme and make all this possible.

Sail With Us - Blackwater One Day SailsA one day sail exploring the scenery of the river Blackwater. You will be onboard...
20/05/2026

Sail With Us - Blackwater One Day Sails

A one day sail exploring the scenery of the river Blackwater. You will be onboard Centaur for nearly 12 hours and will be able to take part in sailing the barge. If conditions allow, then there may be an opportunity to visit West Mersea or Brightlingsea.

£110 including breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.
Check full details, availability and booking online.

Sail With Us This Thursday - Medway Barge Match – 21st May – Pudge£430.00 including all meals from Friday morning, the e...
20/05/2026

Sail With Us This Thursday - Medway Barge Match – 21st May – Pudge

£430.00 including all meals from Friday morning, the end of race awards ceremony and dinner, for 4 Nights.

Join us for the famous Medway Barge Match. Join Pudge at Maldon on Thursday evening and make sail early Friday for the river Medway on Friday.

This is the first race of the 2026 Thames sailing barge racing season. The Medway Barge Match traditionally runs from Gillingham Pier to Medway Bell Buoy and return, a course distance of 29 miles.

Along with the Thames, the Medway Barge Match is one of the most historic races in the world. Officially, the Medway Barge Match was established in 1880 and has been held almost every year since, only temporarily being halted for the World Wars.

Check details, availability and booking online

Address

The Hythe
Maldon
CM95

Telephone

+447840862685

Website

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