The 57th Pin Mill Sailing Barge Match took place on June 23rd. The conditions were quite unusual in that there was steady north to north west breeze that made for very rapid progress down the River Orwell from Pin Mill to the Port of Felixstowe and out to sea. However that made the return quite a bit slower and while Edme (one of the fasted barges in the fleet) made it over the line with some breeze, the wind then died and so it was an hour and a half before the next barges made it across the line.

Beer was no doubt well earned!

 

Adieu of 1929, retired from the match, presumably due to the headwind

 

Class 1 Bowsprit Start 1030
1st EDME
2nd Mirosa
First over start line EDME
First round outer mark EDME
Shield Adieu – retired

Class 2 Fast Staysail Start 1045
1st Niagara
2nd Repertor
3rd Reminder
First over start line Reminder
First round outer mark Niagara
Shield Melissa

Pete Dodds Mirosa of Faversham dates from 1892 and sails without an engine

Class 3 Staysail Start 1100
1st Ardwina
2nd Centaur
First over start line Ardwina
First round outer mark Ardwina
Shield Blackthorn

Fastest start overall Reminder
Mick Lungley trophy Reminder
Seamanship Centaur
Overall excellence EDME

Melissa built in 1899

The pictures are taken by James Hamilton (click them to enlarge them). There were taken from the Suffolk side of the River Orwell and from Landgaurd Fort looking across to Harwich and back into the Port of Felixstowe. Main photo shows Melissa chasing Repertor