After some delay, I now have some dates from Sailing Barge Victor for a trip down the Orwell from Ipswich, passing Cliff Quay, to the Port of Felixstowe, a cruise along the quaysides there, and a look up the Stour at Harwich and at Harwich international.
During the trip and depending on weather, we should be under sail for part of the time, and you'll also learn a lot about commercial barges and shipping on the Orwell. If we're lucky we may have Mervyn Stafford aboard as mate, and he first went to sea in barges back in 1946! Skipper Wes Westwood will be happy to fill in all the background on Victor and her history, and I hope to be able to arrange one or two little treats which I think participants will enjoy! Given reasonable weather, I think the crew will be will to let us all take a few minutes trick at the wheel . .
Ideal dates would be either Friday 15th May or Saturday 16 May, leaving Ipswich Old Custom House at around 8 or 8.30am and arriving back for about 5pm. The trip will include a sausage/bacon roll breakfast, and tea and coffee are freely available during the day. A bar is possible. All-day parking is within 5 or 10 minutes stroll along the dockside for about