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30th May 2009
The Medway Barge Match held its 101st event on 30th May 2009. A wonderful day for sailing was in store for the 8 competitors with a decent NE breeze and plenty of sunshine. Three classes were run and the results were as follows: Staysail: Repertor (1st), Reminder, Wyvenhoe, Lady of the Lea Coasting: Pheonician, Orinoco (RTD) Bowsprit: Mirosa, Adieu. Mirosa had the fastest start at 48 seconds after the gun and the fastest elapsed time at 3hrs 57mins 39sec. She won the seamanship for sailing an exemplary race. The course was shortened as the barges tacked out of the river to No. 9 buoy as the tide was running out and the NE wind was freshening so it would have been a struggle for the slower barges to get round the course.

31st May 2008

It is said of the Medway Match that it will either blow a gale or else not blow at all and this year was true to form, with very light and fickle winds. These are the most testing conditions for the crews and skippers as the wind is what drives their vessels and without it, they have restricted steerage and therefore less control. Given the late start and lack of wind, the barges did not have enough time to make the Medway Bell and return. As such, they were turned around No. 11 buoy instead. Despite the course reduction, the wind died completely in the evening as the barges were running home and so the front two barges were finished between Darnet Ness and Folly Forts. The other barges positions were taken where they were so as to enable them to start their engines and return home before it got too late. 

Not all the barges completed the race as the Wyvenhoe ran aground opposite Kingsnorth Power Station and had to motor off, resulting in her retiring. Also, the half-sized barge Cygnet decided that she would abandon the race and so headed out of the Medway with the other barges but did not turn back!

The evening prizegiving was held in the St Georges Centre, Chatham, which used to be a Church for the Navy and provided a grand setting for the evening, which was attended by over 200 people. Rather than the casual affairs of recent years, this had a more formal feeling with a hearty meal of beef stew and dumplings or curry – something all the barge crews appreciated! The prizegiving finished just before midnight, when all the competitors returned to their vessels and to the various rivers of the East Coast from whence they came, with everyone appearing to have thoroughly enjoyed this historic occasion, despite the lack of wind.

Results: (skippers of winning barges in brackets)

River class: Whippet (1st - Owen Emerson), Dinah, Cygnet (DNS)

Coasting class: Gladys (1st - Gary Diddams), Orinoco , Pheonician, Lady Daphne

Restricted staysail: Repertor (1st - Rebecca Polden), Greta, Reminder, Decima, Ardwina, Wyvenhoe (RTD), (First over start line - Reminder (four seconds after gun).

Bowsprit: Edme (1st - Andy Harman), Marjorie, Mirosa, Adieu, (First over start line - Mirosa)

The crew of the Edme won the seamanship, with the OOD Jimmy Lawrence awarding it to her for showing great skill in sailing her around the outer mark, with every one of her young crew working hard to get the barge set up and sailing fast as soon as she rounded the mark.