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Wyvenhoe history Wyvenhoe is a Thames sailing barge. She was built of iron by Forrestts at Wivenhoe in 1898. She was one of only three barges built there. She was built for a London owner and was a typical coasting barge trading to Calais and other Channel ports with a variety of general cargoes. Eventually she was sold to the London and Rochester Barge Company, and in 1923 she was converted to a fully-powered motor ship. After the second World War the barge was refitted at Faversham and then traded until 1982 when Richard Walsh re-rigged her as a sailing barge. Wyvenhoe holds the distinction of having traded for a longer time than any other British registered ship. She was successfully raced by skipper Gerard Swift in the 1980’s. In the late ‘80’s she was acquired by Macpherson Plc who carried out a substantial refit which included a luxury conversion below and the hull was substantially re-plated. A powerful 140 hp Gardner diesel engine was fitted and the stern extended. In the 1990’s Wyvenhoe was owned by a management training company and was predominantly static, based in London. During 1999 she was used to film a sequence in the James Bond movie “The World is Not Enough” which unfortunately included her appearing to be blown up! The same year she sailed to Bristol for the Festival of the Sea. In her centenary year she went to Windsor where Her Majesty the Queen came aboard to celebrate the centenary of the Windsor Sea Scouts. Charterers can now sit in the same chair occupied by the Queen during her visit, which has been marked with a plaque! In 2003 Wyvenhoe was found by her current owner lying in London and up for sale. Another major refit followed to ensure that she was restored to her former glory. Since then Wyvenhoe has been sailed frequently and has participated again in the traditional barge matches, or races, that take place along the Essex, Suffolk and Kent coast each Summer. • Wyvenhoe measures 85.6 feet (25.63 metres) long by 19 feet (5.76 metres) wide. • With a registered tonnage of 83.19 tons she carries 3500 square feet of sail. • More information about Thames Sailing Barge history.
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