Sailing Barge “Will” is back for an Open Weekend, the last time was more than two years ago.
The vessel is available for visitors to look at close up, as well as tour round the deck (with care). She is a working barge, but takes cargoes of guests now instead of goods as originally built for, providing charters for up to 50 people. Thames sailing barges were the mainstay of shipment of goods in and around the Thames and the estuary, up the east coast and sometimes across the channel.
Fully rigged, and with lee-boards (one each side) that are characteristic of this type of flat-bottomed sailing river vessels, the Will is the largest such barge built, and made of steel (including the lee-boards) unlike the majority which were built of timber. The lee-boards are winched up to help to minimise draft and allow access up river as far as possible as well as permit safe sitting on the ground when desired, eg when at a quayside unloading cargo whilst the tide goes out . Constructed in 1925, measuring 97.6ft long (almost 30m), she is a big and impressive vessel, and is 100 years old next year.
Thames Barge Will – Thames Sailing Barge Will – London boat charter
