The Dawn Sailing Barge Trust Limited

News Letter – February 2008

From the Chairman

Firstly apologies for the length of time that you have had to wait for this newsletter to appear. Looking back through the records its about eight months since the last newsletter appeared. There is quite a lot to report some of which I am sure you are aware of.

New skipper’s cabin

The launch and rededication ceremony received excellent coverage, television and press attended the event and all the coverage was very positive. The rededication in particular was well attended and a number of notable attendees were present.

Progress since then has not been as quick as we hoped, however as I write we are close to having a fully completed vessel. The final sign off from the lottery has not been achieved, as we have not been able to undertake any sea trials. This is now scheduled for May, in the meantime we are covering Dawn to allow the timbers to fully dry out and allow us to complete the painting we started before the re-launch. Volunteers will be needed to complete these works, watch out for the notice on the web site to confirm the dates!

Looking ahead, 2008 is the big year, Dawn will be fully restored and sailing, the end of a long hard road and the beginning of another, the challenge now is to ensure Dawn earns enough money to ensure her continued survival. This requires different skills from the restoration works and the Trust is looking for any volunteers who think they have the time, skill and enthusiasm to help. See below for urther details.

 Re launch May 19 th 2007

 Although the re launch was delayed by 1 month we think you will all agree it was worth the wait. The Trustees and many volunteers spent hours cleaning and painting the barge, and emptying the dry dock of 2 years of accumulated debris and scaffolding in the weeks leading up to the re launch.

The barge, in its dry dock, was towed out into the river and moored alongside the Decima (Tim Goldsack’s barge) in the early hours of Friday 18 th May. On the next low tide the dry dock was ‘holed’ to allow water in. On the early afternoon tide Dawn was floated out of the sunken dry dock, much to everyone’s relief, to float for the first time unaided since being rebuilt. The dry dock was repaired and floated on the next high tide and towed to Heybridge Creek.

The intention was to moor Dawn in the river overnight and tow her into the basin for the re launch ceremonies on the Saturday, however the forecast was not ideal so the decision was taken to tow her through the lock gates into the basin on the same tide.

We hope those of you who attended the ceremony on the Saturday were pleased with the result of many years hard work by the Trustees and the work carried out by Tim Goldsack and his shipwrights in the last few years.

The dignitaries in attendance were from Maldon District Council and Maldon Town Council, as well as our Patron John Whittingdale. The ceremony and blessing were carried out by the Rev. Margaret Jones, whose great grandfather was one of the original shipwrights who built Dawn in 1897. The guard of honour was provided by the Household Cavalry, who may use the barge for troop training when she is finished; we may also deliver a cargo of hay to them for their horses in London

The re launch was attended by about 400 people and we raised about £1500. We also received a fair amount of publicity from local papers, Anglia News and several national sailing magazines. Shortly after the re launch Dawn was towed back to her berth so the rebuild could continue.

Rebuild progress

 The hull was completed in February 2007 and painted soon after in preparation for the re launch. The hatch coamings, bulwarks, rails and capping around the deck were completed soon after as was the stern cabin top.

The rudder and lee boards have been returned from Maylandsea where they were stored; the rudder has now been fitted to the barge and the lee boards have been repaired and are ready to be fitted. The original spars have been shot blasted and epoxy primed, and are now on the barge. Most of the original deck fittings have been refurbished and are being re used.

The wooden rigging blocks have all been delivered and most of the rigging is complete. The mainsail has been fabricated and the other sails are well under way. Once the final measurements have been taken for the sails the barge will be covered for a couple of months to allow her to be dried out before she can be painted and completely finished.

Refurbished rudder

Internally the stern cabin and the foc’sle have been completed to a very high standard. Collision bulkheads have been fitted at either end of the hold, storage tanks are fitted and a shower is being fitted.

We have obtained sponsorship from a London insurance company ( NMB ) who will be paying our insurance premiums for five years as well as having their logo on the topsail.

Open day 12th April 2008, 11am – 4pm at the barge shed at Heybridge Basin

Barge manager

The Trustees would like to appoint a barge manager to oversee the general day to day running of the barge. The manager would be the first point of contact for anyone interested in using the barge, and he would liaise with the Trustees. The position would be on a voluntary basis and administrative expenses would be reimbursed.

Is there a member who may be interested in taking up this position, or does anyone know someone who may be interested. Please let Neil Holdsworth know if you are interested. 01245 360727