Welcome aboard Wyvenhoe!
The Thames sailing barge Wyvenhoe provides a chance to enjoy a unique traditional sailing experience with the comfort and safety you would expect in the 21st Century.
Lovingly restored, she is a one of the small fleet of sailing barges that have survived since the days when thousands of these craft plied their trade carrying cargo to and from London and other ports along the east coast of Britain, and across to mainland Europe.
Her authentic spritsail rig and distinctive traditional red sails are combined with her powerful auxiliary engine and modern safety equipment to make Wyvenhoe a fabulous vessel on which to sail. She is a staysail barge with five sails totalling 3,000 square feet of canvas.
Wyvenhoe was built in 1898 as a cargo carrying sailing ship. Converted to a motor coaster in 1923, she was restored to sail in 1984.
Bought by Tradsail in 2003 she is now a working ship again - but instead of cargo she carries people on holiday charters sailing in the Thames Estuary and the rivers of Essex, Kent and Suffolk or (by prior arrangement) from the Solent and some South coast ports.
Sailing opportunities
We provide day sails, weekend charters or longer trips for corporate guests and family sailors alike.
Special trips are also available for bird watching and she is an ideal base for artists and photographers. Training in art, photography, knot tying and seamanship can be provided.
Comfortable accommodation below deck
Wyvenhoe’s former cargo holds have been converted to accommodate 12 passengers and up to 4 crew in comfort.
Below deck, Wyvenhoe is carpeted and centrally heated with power, electric toilets and showers, pressurised hot water system and a fully equipped kitchen. There are leather sofas in the saloon, television and air conditioning for the summer.
Safety equipment is carried as specified by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency together with safety lines around the decks and life jackets for all passengers and a life raft. Her radio and GPS equipment are modern safety features, as is her auxiliary engine and generator.
We provide a skipper and mate, and sometimes a third hand and a cook too. But we encourage all our guests to participate in sailing the ship if they wish.