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Trading ahead
A traditional swim-ended Thames Barge adrift in a wind has the capacity to gain headway as well as leeway.
Click on the links to the right to download document as Microsoft Word Document, Apple Pages document, or PDF.
Trading Ahead
- Military bridging pontoon
- Swim-ended Barge with Budget
An investigation into the application of the principles of Watermanship to the handling of vessels on the River Thames
A special study I wrote in 1964 as a mature student at Garnett Teacher training college. Had I been at a 'University', it would have been called a 'Thesis'
It is in two parts, the Text and the illustrations. Unfortunately some of the illustrations are missing but will be added as and when I locate them.
Letter to The Times newspaper Nov 1999
I had used the tragic loss of the submarine "Truculent" to stress some important points of watermanship to my students. After watching a program on the loss, I wrote to The Times newspaper and they did indeed print my letter.
The letter outlines the tragedy and the lessons to be learned from it.
Getting ashore in an emergency - know your piers
If an emergency was to arise, for example if a passenger or crew were to become ill, you will need to get ashore as fast as possible.
A candle under a bell jar will burn the oxygen in the jar slowly, the flame slowly diminishing as the oxygen is used. Lift the jar before the flame totally dies and it will once again burn. Fail to lift the jar in time and the candle will remain extinguished.
Know your piers that you can get to quickly and you may just save a life.
See my list of Piers fitted with Brows. This list is 40 years old so make sure to compile your own and keep it up to date.
If someone would like to send me an updated list, I shall include it here.
Competency Guidelines for Apprentice Watermen and Lightermen
Facts about tides
- 25 Facts about tides to remember
Parts of a Barge
A list I created in 1963
A wonderful picture posted on facebook by Simon McCarthy