Swale Sailing Barge Match 2021 - A decent breeze and dodgy wind shifts...

The 2021 Swale Match took place on 31st July 2021.

The race is an inclusive event, welcoming craft from all over the East Coast and beyond, held on the North Kent Coast.

For the past two years, the race has been cancelled due to bad weather (see our video from last year's attempt!) and a poor forecast looked like it might scupper it once again. Fortunately, this did not come to pass and 6 barges entered, with Edith May racing against Blue Mermaid in the Bowsprit Class, Niagara and Repertor in the Staysail Class and Orinoco and Cambria in the Restricted Staysail Class.

There was a decent W breeze at the start, which backed to SW as the race wore on, although it was in a very playful mood allowing for plenty of changes in position and an unexpected upset in the Staysail Class...

The race was sailed in memory of Lena Reekie, who was one of the principal components in the success of the event over many years.



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