thames barge trips ipswich

Public Cruises

You can choose from a wide range of cruises, from bird watching to weekend breaks, you can find them below. For further information on a specific trip, click the arrow.

You can also purchase gift vouchers by clicking here .

Boarding Details

Boarding details are sent by e-mail 4 weeks before a trip or when booking (check your junk folder). Be ready to board the barge 1/2 hour before sailing. Search for car parks near Maldon CM9 5HN, Ipswich IP3 0BW, Brightlingsea CO7 ODY, Harwich CO12 3HH.  These details may change, so make sure you read your joining details.

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Sailing Barge Victor East Coast Ipswich

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Experience a truly memorable trip on the River Orwell on Sailing Barge Victor Ipswich-built in 1895 and fully restored to its original rig.

Sailing Barge Victor is a perfect marriage of a majestic and traditionally rigged 19th century sailing vessel with comfortable, modern facilities for guests. A sailing trip on Sailing Barge Victor offers a truly memorable and affordable opportunity to experience living history. 

● We can accommodate comfortably up to 40 guests. 

● Free parking for coaches for parties of 30 or more. 

All scheduled cruises are available for private charter or corporate events, subject to availability.Drinks and refreshments may be purchased from our licensed bar on board which includes a range of fine Adnams beers, cider and soft drinks. Please note that ALL drinks consumed must be purchased on board. In the event of insufficient numbers or adverse weather, the Company reserves the right to offer a full refund or places on alternative cruise dates.PUBLIC SAILINGS Specially designed for individuals, families and friendship groups to enjoy a relaxing sail on Sailing Barge Victor. FULLY INCLUSIVE of complimentary food. Departing from the Old Custom’s House at Ipswich Dock, passing through the lock gates and sailing down the beautiful and historic River Orwell and under the Orwell Bridge.

SUFFOLK SUPPER CRUISES

Delicious, freshly cooked hot supper with side salad and bread roll. Please advise of any special dietary requirements when booking. SAILING DETAILS & TIMES: Depart & Return: 18.30 – 22.00 Fridays May to September.

SUFFOLK CREAM TEA CRUISES

Freshly baked fruit and plain scones with jam and clotted cream served with tea or coffee. SAILING DETAILS & TIMES: Depart & Return: 13.00 - 17.00 Wednesdays and Sundays May to Sept.

Accessibility Information

Due to the historic nature of the barge, access onto and around the barge is limited. Please contact the Ipswich Tourist Information Centre for further details or if you have any concerns. Tel 01473 258070 Email [email protected]

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• Thames Barge Trips

Please book Barge Trips through Topsail Charters, details below:

Swallow Birding & Wildlife have joined forces with Topsail Charters to offer a superb selection of birdwatching barge cruises. You can choose from either a ‘Walk & Cruise’ a ‘Four Hour Sail’ or a ‘Full Day Sail’.

All cruises will have expert leaders from Swallow Birding & Wildlife to greet you and point out the varied selection of wildlife on and around the Essex & Suffolk Saltmarsh Coast.

To book on these exciting trips phone Topsail Charters on 01621 857567 Email: [email protected]   or you can book through their website: http://www.top-sail.co.uk/

SUFFOLK RIVERS BIRDING CRUISE Saturday 28th September 2024  (1030 – 1630) Leaders: Matt Turner & Steve Grimwade A really interesting day sail, exploring the Rivers Orwell and Stour with experts from Swallow Birding & Wildlife ( www.swallowbirding.co.uk ) to help spot and identify the huge numbers of autumn winter birds that visit the rivers Orwell and Stour. From Ipswich you will enjoy going under the Orwell bridge, past Woolverstone, Pin Mill, one of the most painted places on the East Coast, and to Shotley near the mouth of the river, with its old naval training buildings. You head past Felixstowe with its huge container ships and cranes and then through Harwich Harbour and into the River Stour. The Stour is a very pretty river with sights such as the fantastic architecture of the Holbrook Royal Hospital School, Grayson Perrys’ Dream House and the grand beach huts at Wrabness. Fully catered including coffee and biscuits, hot buffet lunch, tea and homemade cake. £70 per person  (Fully Catered)

BIRDS OF THE RIVER BLACKWATER DAY CRUISE Saturday 12th October 2024  (0700 – 1930) Leaders: Carla Davis & Simon Wood During the winter months, the saltmarshes and mudflats of the River Blackwater host huge flocks of waders and wildfowl including Black-tailed Godwits, Pied Avocets, Dunlin, Eurasian Oystercatchers, Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Teal and many less common species as well as a chance of raptors such as Western Marsh Harrier, Peregrine Falcon and Merlin. This full day sail on the tide, takes you down river past Northey Island, Osea Island, Mayland, Mersea, Bradwell and possibly into the River Colne. As we near low water, the skipper may anchor close to the mud flats off Bradwell or Tollesbury Creek. Experts from Swallow Birding & Wildlife (www.swallowbirding.co.uk) are on board to help spot and identify the many species that make the River Blackwater their home.  The barge has central heating, and the day is fully catered with plenty of hot homemade food, so even though it is a long day, you can warm up and relax in the saloon. Fully catered from breakfast to tea. £70 per person  (Fully Catered)

BIRDS OF THE RIVER COLNE CRUISE Saturday 19th October 2024  (1100 – 1500) Leaders: Yvonne Watling & Matt Turner During the winter months, the saltmarshes and mudflats of the River Colne host huge flocks of waders and wildfowl including Black-tailed Godwits, Pied Avocets, Dunlin, Eurasian Oystercatchers, Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Teal and many less common species as well as a chance of raptors such as Western Marsh Harrier, Peregrine Falcon and Merlin.  Join the barge at Brightlingsea Town Jetty and head up the River Colne, past Pyefleet Creek and Fingringhoe Essex Wildlife Trust Reserve towards Wivenhoe. Experts from Swallow Birding & Wildlife (www.swallowbirding.co.uk) are on board to help spot and identify the many species that make the River Colne home. The barge has central heating, and included is a hearty Brunch Bap with Sausage, Bacon and Eggs plus a hot drink.  The bar also serves hot, soft and alcoholic drinks at an additional cost. £60 per person  (Fully Catered)

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Sailing Barge Victor

Sailing Barge Victor is a perfect marriage of a majestic and traditionally rigged 19th century sailing vessel with comfortable, modern facilities for guests.

A sailing trip on Sailing Barge Victor offers a truly memorable and affordable opportunity to experience living history.

It is unique as a barge that was built in Ipswich and has worked all its life in the East of England, and proudly represented Suffolk in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

The barge is moored outside the Old Custom House so take a stroll along the waterfront and admire this beautiful old vessel, which has been lovingly restored and maintained, or why not join skipper Wes and his crew for a sailing trip out along the River Orwell. Make memories that will last a lifetime!

Public Cruises:

Private cruises:.

Directions to Common Quay, Ipswich.

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Attractions by town/village:, plan your future trip to the suffolk coast in the comfort of your own home.

The attractions and hotels, along with bars, cafes and restaurants in Suffolk are following the strict Public Health England and World Health Organisation guidelines to maintain public safety at all times, and are closed. The advice is not to travel at all - even to campsites, caravan parks or second homes whether for isolation purposes or holidays. People should remain in their primary residence to avoid putting extra pressure on local services. For now, please enjoy our website and look for inspiration for your future trip to the Suffolk coast so you are ready to visit as soon as we re-open! For more information on social distancing visit www.gov.uk/social-distancing

SB Repertor · Traditional Thames Sailing Barge · Races, Day Trips, Weekends and Cruises

Enquiries and bookings, please call 07831 200018 or email us

All prices are per person.

Matches (races), passage trips and daysails are priced individually.

For charters (your own sailing trip), prices are as follows:

Day Sail £100

Weekend trip £220

Three-day trip £300

Four-day trip £400

Five-day trip £475

Twelve passengers for the price of 11; self-catering at 10 per cent discount.

S B Repertor takes a maximum of eight passengers for races, 12 for other trips.

To check whether places are available, or to make a booking, please contact us .

Confirmation of chartered trips depends on a minimum of eight passengers booked, but we can join individuals or smaller groups to make up numbers.

Starts from breakfast or lunch on day of sailing.

Chartered trips and races are fully catered. For passage trips, catering varies.

We provide good home-style cooking.

B&B on board before a trip

B&B overnight before day-trips is usually available at £25 per person. Two-day and longer trips may include this — please ask.

Sailing programme 2024

January to May 2024 - Maintenance, Dry Docking, Refitting and Rigging out At Faversham Reach and Iron Wharf — see Sailing trips

Available for Day Sails, Weekends and longer cruises from and to Faversham or Queenborough — see Sailing trips

Medway Match and Passage Trips before and after As 3 day trip from Faversham to Chatham and back, including the Medway Match — see Sailing trips

Thu & Fri

Passage from Faversham to Chatham before the Medway Barge Match — see Sailing trips

(£175)

subject to 8 confirmed bookings

MEDWAY BARGE MATCH from and to Chatham · Possible to join on Friday for overnight at Chatham. Sail 0700 Saturday. Prizegiving supper after the race · Return 1600

Passage from Chatham to Faversham after the Medway Barge Match — see Sailing trips

Fully booked

FULLY BOOKED

3 Day Private Charter

Passage from Faversham to Southend before the Southend Barge Match — see Sailing trips

Southend Barge Match and Passage Trips 3-4 day trip from Faversham to Southend and back including the Southend Barge Match — see Sailing trips

SOUTHEND BARGE MATCH from Thorpe Bay Yacht Club · Start 1200 at Thorpe Bay · Disembark 1600 at Thorpe Bay

Passage from Southend to Faversham after the Southend Barge Match — see Sailing trips

Thames Match and passage trips 3-4 day trip from Faversham to Gravesend and return, including the Thames Match. Possible prizegiving supper in Gravesend after the race — see Sailing trips

Passage from Faversham to Gravesend before the Thames Match — see Sailing trips

Subject to 8 confirmed bookings

THAMES MATCH · Possible to join Friday evening for overnight Sail from Gravesend at 0700 Saturday · Disembark at Gravesend at 1700

Passage from Gravesend to Faversham after the Thames Match — see Sailing trips

Pin Mill Barge Match and Passage Trips as 3-4 day combined trip including the Pin Mill Match with passage trips from and to Faversham — see Sailing trips

Passage from Faversham to Pin Mill/Ipswich — see Sailing trips

PIN MILL BARGE MATCH from Pin Mill · Sail 0600 from Ipswich. Prizegiving supper at Pin Mill Sailing Club after the race · Return 1800 to Ipswich

Passage from Ipswich to Faversham after the Pin Mill Match — see Sailing trips

Open to public as static venue as part of possible Faversham Nautical/ Pirate Festival on Sunday 7 July At Faversham Reach — see Sailing trips

Blackwater Barge Match and Passage Trips before and after as a 3 Day Trip from Faversham to Maldon and back, including the Blackwater Match — see Sailing trips

Passage trip to Maldon before the Blackwater Match — see Sailing trips

BLACKWATER BARGE MATCH from and to Maldon · Possible to join Friday for overnight. Sail 0600 from Hythe Quay, Maldon · disembark 1800 at Hythe Quay, Maldon

Sun & Mon

Passage from Maldon to Faversham overnight after the Blackwater Match — see Sailing trips

SWALE BARGE and SMACK MATCH from Faversham · Possible to join Friday for overnight. Sail at 1500 Friday from Faversham Reach or join at 1800 Friday or 0500 Saturday by bargeboat from Hollowshore · Disembark Saturday at 1600 by barge boat at Hollowshore

Open to public as static venue as part of Open Faversham Heritage days on Saturday 17, Sunday 18, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 August. Possibly open by phone appointment only 19 to 23 August - contact on 07831 200 018 Possibly open, by phone appointment only (07831 200 018), from Monday 19 to Friday 23 August At Faversham Reach — see Sailing trips

Passage from Faversham to London (St Katharine Docks) before the St Katharine Docks Classic Vessels Festival (3 to 10 September) Join 1000 Sunday at Faversham Reach or by barge boat from Hollowshore from 2100 — see Sailing trips

Sat & Sun

Public Open Days at St Katharine Docks, London for Classic Vessels Festival — see Sailing trips

Passage from Faversham OR from London (St Katharine Docks) to Brightlingsea (to be confirmed) before the Colne Smack and Barge Match — see Sailing trips

Colne Barge Match and Passage Trips as a combined 3-4 day trip from London (St Katharine Docks) or Faversham to Brightlingsea and back to Faversham, including the Barge Match — see Sailing trips

COLNE SMACK and BARGE MATCH from Brightlingsea · Sail 0800 · Return 1600

Passage from Brightlingsea to Faversham after the Colne Smack and Barge Match — see Sailing trips

Private Wedding Party

100th Anniversary of First Registration - 23 October 1924 - in Harwich — see Sailing trips

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Sail with us again on the Victor

Posted on 30th June 2020

With lockdown restrictions in England slowly being lifted, we can celebrate by being afloat again. Every year the Ipswich Maritime Trust charters barge trips down the River Orwell on the Sailing Barge Victor .

We have set out some COVID secure guidelines to allow our chartered barge trips to continue, following discussions with the Ipswich Society , the caterer we use and Sailing Barge Victor . As such we are pleased to announce our first sailing onboard Victor will take place on the 9 th July .

In order to follow social distancing guidelines, we have restricted the number of guests allowed on board. As such these trips only have 12 tickets available for each barge trip.

If you are interested in coming on the first sailings of the Victor this summer, please head to our events page . Alternatively please contact our Event Organisers John and Bob on 07789825680 or via [email protected]

Please find our COVID secure and social distancing guidelines below. We hope that you are interested in getting back on the water. As well as helping keep the Sailing Barge Victor afloat in these difficult times.

Victor which was built in Ipswich 125 years ago and had a big summer of sailings planned to celebrate this important birthday. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case due to the pandemic. But we are trying to do our best to support Victor and our river cruising community in any way we can during these tough times.and we encourage you to get involved and support the Victor too.

For those that don’t know Victor was the last of the sailing barges to be decommissioned in 1947. Today Victor is well maintained with the original sailing rig. Which was so well thought out that the barge could be sailed by one man and a boy. In their heyday 2,000 Thames Sailing barges sailed East Coast rivers. Their trade included taking cargo such hay, straw, and grain to London and returning with horse manure and many other cargoes. A shallow draught allowed access to the farms of the Suffolk and Essex coast that border rivers and creeks.

In 2019 we ran two successful trips to Harwich with the Ipswich Society and these trips feature again this year. Many Ipswich Maritime Trust members will likely know the River Orwell well. Though many in Ipswich and the surrounding area have not yet taken or had the opportunity to see how the town relates to its ancient route to the sea.

The best way to see this ancient route is on-board a sailing vessel and we will do our best to continue to support the Victor and other cruising vessels on the River Orwell. Especially as they deal with the effects of the pandemic. If you would like to support us in helping these vessels, then we always welcome new members and volunteers .

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IPSWICH MARITIME TRUST LTD Flat 96, The Cambria, Regatta Key Key St, IP4 1FF

Registration No: 1696918 Registered under Charities Act 1960 No:286603

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Supper Cruise Experiences

Supper Cruises  | Late Spring to early Autumn  

DAY SAILING FROM GRAVESEND

Day sail charter for amazing team building and memory-making.

With their famous ochre coloured sails  Thames Sailing barges in full sail were once a common sight all along the Thames Estuary. 

And sailing is what they were built to do.  

Come day sailing with us and see the life course through Will’s many square metres of canvas as she leaps into the waves. With remarkable speed and power, you can feel the thrill of large ship sailing, learning the ropes as we go , but also enjoying the relaxing wide open waters of the Thames estuary to the East.

We’ll lunch in a quiet bay, and soak up the sights and local birdlife. We can make this as exciting or relaxing as you want. Just come on board!

What to expect on s day sail charter with Will.

• 09.45 – Guests embark for their day sailing experience at Gravesend Pier/Pontoon
• 10.00 – Tea, Coffee and Bacon Rolls are served
• 10.45 – The sails are set and guests learn how to sail guided by our experienced crew onboard
• 12.30 – The bar opens and guests enjoy a Hot Buffet Lunch in the saloon
• 13.45 – Guests disembark at Gravesend Pier/Pontoon

A full day between 10.00 and 16.00 is also possible, finishing with a Tower Bridge lift, and a central London disembark. 

Who is this event for?

Day Sailing on a Thames Barge is perfect for corporate teams who want to get together, or just friends who want a different fun challenge on a day out. And if you want to be ‘sailed’ rather than sail yourself, that’s fine. We’ll keep you fed and watered as you kick back and relax on deck, and treat you to whatever level of sailing you would like. This day out can really be adapted for anyone. 

Make your enquiry today

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Clay Shooting Cruise

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Introducing Pudge

Built in 1922 by London & Rochester Trading Co., Pudge is a Thames sailing barge with a hull constructed of pitch pine on oak with a flush deck, with the steering wheel on a ‘short spindle’ without the usual raised cabin top. Originally spritsail rigged with a bowsprit she had an auxiliary oil engine made by The Bergius Co. Ltd of Glasgow and was installed in 1932. Pudge is one of the last wooden barges to be built, (although further barges were built of steel). Pudge spent much of her working life carrying goods between London and Ipswich.

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Built in 1922 by London & Rochester Trading Co., Pudge is a Thames sailing barge with a hull constructed of pitch pine on oak with a flush deck, with the steering wheel on a ‘short spindle’ without the usual raised cabin top. Originally spritsail rigged with a bowsprit she had an auxiliary oil engine made by The Bergius Co. Ltd of Glasgow and was installed in 1931. Pudge is one of the last wooden barges to be built, (although further barges were built of steel). Pudge spent much of her working life carrying seeds between London, Ipswich and Rochester.

Her working life as a cargo carrier was interrupted in spectacular fashion by the Second World War when she was requisitioned in May 1940 whilst in Tilbury, drafted to Dover and thence to Dunkirk to aid the evacuation. Three barges including Pudge were taken in tow by a tug and crossed the Channel under cover of darkness. As they reached the beaches at Dunkirk an explosion lifted Pudge out of the water and, in the words of her skipper, “she came down the right way up”. On her way back to England she took onboard survivors and set off, picking up a tow from a tug on the way, to arrive safely back at Ramsgate. Pudge is one of only four of the Dunkirk Spritsail Barges that survive. Pudge is a member of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships and is entitled to fly the flag of St. George. Pudge is also on the register of National Historic Ships.

Following Dunkirk she resumed her normal trade in and from London docks, Ipswich and the Medway ports with grain, cattle cake, fertilizer, etc. until her last freight of pineapple juice in 1968 when she was bought out of the trade as a twin hatched motor barge by the Thames Barge Sailing Club. Re-rigged by members for summer weekend sailing and chartering. She was re-engined in 1990 after her passage to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dunkirk. Since then she returned to Dunkirk for the 75th anniversary in 2015.

The Thames Sailing Barge Club evolved into The Thames Sailing Barge Trust in 2003, and Pudge has continued to run charter trips with the aim of preserving and teaching the skills needed to sail and maintain the traditions of the working sailing barge. A staged programme of renewal began in 2005 at Maylandsea with a rebuild of the bows, progressing to the deck and stern as finances permitted with a return to sail in 2007. Restoration work continued to maintain her fitness for charitable sailing work. The Trust have recently worked on replacing her decks and coamings and upgrading her accommodation following the award of a grant from the Heritage Lottery and a fundraising programme. She returned to sail in May 2023 a year after her 100th birthday.

In June 2012 Pudge was present at the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant on the Thames as part of the ‘Avenue of Sail’

The Trust has managed to obtain copies of nearly all of her Crewing Agreements which detail her history in terms of places she visited and the crews that sailed her. These date between 1922 and 1967. We have also been able to identify many of the cargoes she carried and these complete record can be found on the clicking the link below.

Complete Set of Pudge Crewing Agreement & Cargo Details 1922-1967