Educational Adventure Voyages on the Thames Sailing Barge Thalatta
Description
For over 50 years the East Coast Sail Trust has provided educational voyages onboard Thalatta for children aged 10 and over, filled with exploration and adventure. During their time on board, children gain confidence and discover qualities of initiative and self-reliance, as they face the challenges that life at sea provides. Since 1967 over 10,000 children have benefited from this unique experience which enriches and remains with them for the rest of their lives.
Voyages last up to 5 days and normally explore the East Coast of Essex and Suffolk by going to sea and anchoring overnight in one of the many rivers and estuaries available. The new crew boards Thalatta – often at Ipswich Haven Marina or The Hythe, Maldon, and are straight away given an introductory talk explaining the ‘rules of the ship’ and safety instructions. From that point on the ship routine entails sailing the vessel, using the dinghies, learning about wildlife, food preparation in the galley, writing up the log and many other activities.
A maximum of 12 people (including accompanying adults) can be accommodated which means each can receive personal attention and guidance. Log books compiled by children over the last 50 years make fascinating reading, and copies of entries can be provided to present-day adults who recall their happy voyages as a child. Children must be aged at least 9 and ¾ to sail on Thalatta and there is no upper age limit.
About Thalatta:
Thalatta is a seagoing vessel built with massive oak frames and planked now with iroko; a superb example of a fully rigged traditional spritsail barge. She was built at MacLearon’s yard at Harwich in 1906. For many years, in peace and war, Thalatta carried 150-ton cargoes under sail to British and Continental ports, up until 1966, when she was one of the last few wooden coasters still in trade. Fully restored to an ‘as new’ condition in 2012 with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Thalatta is now one of the finest examples of a wooden coasting barge on the East Coast today.
