User:DavidAnstiss/Centaur

http://favershamcreektrust.com/category/thames-barges-2/

Thames barge Centaur was built by John and Herbert Cann and launched at Gashouse Creek, Harwich on February 15th 1895 when the Thames and the Medway froze over and the temperature dropped to 30o below freezing!

A typical Essex coasting barge of 65 registered tons, she went on to an active commercial life until 1955 when she and her sister ship Mirosa (now chartered from Iron Wharf) ceased trading; she was converted to carry passengers in 1965.

(note from East Coast Sail Working Sail 1850-1970, by Robert Simper, Seafarer Books (London), 1987, isbn:0850363527 page 90) She was bought by Franis and Gilders (formed in 1933, who had up to 14 craft in their fleet). But after the World War II, the firm sold all the boats, the last to be sold were 'Kitty', 'Centaur', 'George Smeed' and 'Mirosa'. Which were sold as lighters in June 1955.

In 1974 Centaur started her new life succeeding Westmoreland as the flagship of the Thames Barge Sailing Club, later to become the Thames Barge Sailing Trust, who have extensively restored her.

Centaur is now used to provide individuals with weekend voyages, and charters, and every summer she now cruises the Thames Estuary and the Essex, Suffolk and Kent rivers.

Experiencing the full pleasures and excitement of sailing on an historic vessel such as a Thames Sailing barge is not as difficult as one might imagine. The Thames Sailing Barge Trust, which owns both Pudge and Centaur, offers the opportunity to sail to various locations around the Thames Estuary and also to take part in competition with other barges in the various barge matches arranged throughout the sailing season.

The Thames Sailing Barge Trust (TSBT) was established as a club in 1948, becoming a registered charity in 2003. Official No. 99460. 61 ton, built of wood at Harwich in 1895 by Cann. 85.6 x 19.5 x 6.2. Owners Charles Stone, c.1900 Dolly Rogers, 1911 Ted Hibbs, 1915, John Sawyer, then Francis & Gilders and L.R.T.C.

In 1955 she went to Brown & Co. and derigged for use as a timber lighter. Bought in 1966 by Richard Duke to rerig as a charterbarge she was sold in 1974 to the Thames Barge Sailing Club - now the Thames Sailing Barge Trust for members sailing. Restoration work 1984-93. Based at Maldon. ref - http://www.thamesbarge.org.uk/barges/barges/centaur.html

ref - http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/193/centaur

52nd Pin Mill barge match (Suffolk) Centaur was one of the oldest in the race, built in 1895 for Captain Charles Stone of Mistley, to carry “160 tons or 600 quarters of wheat”. She was slow but steady, ideal for continuing through heavy seas where lighter rivals would give up. Centaur’s crew of 14 By the time Centaur was derigged and her sails were burnt in 1955, just 20 sail-only barges were still trading. url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/outdoors/outdoor-activities/10262769/Sailing-barge-racing-a-slow-boat-to-a-past-century.html title=Sailing barge racing: a slow boat to a past century first=Adam last=Lusher date=24 Aug 2013

first=Vicky last=Wilford url=http://www.hlf.org.uk/news/Pages/SpritsailBargeCentaur.aspx title=Support for conservation of spritsail barge Centaur date=2 August 2013 accessdate=22 March 2014 The Thames Sailing Barge Trust based in Maldon, Essex has received a confirmed grant of £100,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund

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