Sea Trials 2008

Sea Trials are now being carried out. The first trial was on Friday 25th July and Saturday 26th July in the Blackwater.

As the insurance was not finalised until the Friday morning, due to the need for an out of water survey on the Thursday, this was very much a spur of the moment event. In fact the Trustees realised that the Blackwater Barge Match was due to take place in the Blackwater on that very Saturday, so at the last moment the Dawn was entered for the match as part of her sea trials, almost 20 years to the day since she last raced.

The weather was forecast to be very light winds, so a few extra light air sails were borrowed to add to Dawn's working sails. All went very well. Dawn sailed beautifully and won a prize for the best rounding of the Outer Mark. Dawn came in third in her class and third over all, which is very good indeed considering there has hardly been time to get everything working - a great compliment to the team who have been working hard to get the Dawn operational.

The Trustees will now be putting together a sailing plan or programme for the rest of the season, depending on what members would now like to do. We also have to bear in mind that the official Heritage Lottery Fund sign off will not be until September.

Please watch this website for more news on the sailing programme.

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Sails up and off we go!

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Not much wind out here.

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Dawn comes through Heybridge lock . Dawn takes her place alongside the barges at Maldon (third one out).