Clive Marsh discovered small boats while working for Canadian Pacific Steamships and is a past Commodore of the Merchant Navy Association Boat Club. In this series he shares tales from his 50 years of boat ownership.
Every now and then I like to sail on a big boat or little ship and one of the best ways to do this is to find a berth aboard a Thames sailing barge. These beautiful shallow sea vessels are normally run by trusts or enterprising enthusiasts.
They cost a small fortune to maintain in seaworthy condition and their owners like to engage passengers and willing crew who can make some contribution to their upkeep. I have sailed on barges out of Maldon and Portsmouth
