The final restoration blog – Raybel ready to sail
April to June 2025
In the very early hours of Wednesday 30th April, Raybel left the dry dock on the spring tide, having a received a favourable survey from Thames barge registered surveyor Toby Lester. From this point we were officially able to start looking forward to Raybel sailing once again.
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Ahead of the dry docking, more rigging fittings had been made, or repaired, and fixed – iron bands around the boom and spreet, and a fairlead fitted to guide the windlass cable. The heavy-duty steering gear which links the steering wheel to the rudder, which had needed substantial repairs, was fitted (though we still need a cover for it). Final rigging blocks were sourced, and new hatch cloths ordered, made up and laid on. The windlass ‘welts’ – wooden battens on the windlass drum – were found to be in port condition and had to be replaced as a matter of urgency before the gear could be lowered again ahead of leaving the Creek. And the ‘standing rigging’ – steel cables which support the mizzen mast – were ordered and set up.
Electrics and navigation
April and May also saw the completion of work that has been carried out by marine electrician, Colin Wilson of Amaric Ltd. We’ve installed three lithium batteries to power the off-shore electric system, with an inverter that converts the 24v power from the batteries to domestic 240v. This means we can have a few onboard appliances in the galley, that can be powered when both on and off shore, without complication. Colin also fitted all the navigation equipment that we are required to have to comply with maritime regulations and (for sailing into London) the Port of London Authority. This included a top of the range Class A AIS (Automatic Identification System) which is used to transmit a vessel’s identity, position, speed and direction; a chart plotter which allows us to see all the other boats around, a depth finder as well as navigation lights, radio and aerial.
Securing the exemption
The survey had identified some work that we needed to get done before we could apply for the Thames barge licence to carry passengers, which is jointly administered by the Sailing Barge Association and the Association of Bargemen. Under an agreement with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, this allows sailing barges to have an exemption from MCA regulations which – because of their historical design – barges would certainly fail. Hence it’s often referred to as the ‘exemption certificate’. It’s an important acceptance on the MCA’s part that barges are unique and – if well maintained and skilfully operated – can still be sailed safely.
Nearly all the tasks we needed to do were in the engine room – replacing some out of date fuel hoses, securing the fuel tank, fitting remote cut-offs on deck for the fuel supply and and the engine, and installing a vent from the fuel tank to outside.
Roll the credits …
Raybel arrived on Milton Creek on 30th October 2019, a tired barge in need of extensive repair and restoration. It has been a huge task - undertaken with great skill by shipwrights Tim Goldsack, John Hall, Laurie Watkins; metal worker Reuben Hopper, rigger Alanna Cameron and rudder maker Heike Lowesntein; sail maker Steve Hall, trainees Josh Goldsack and Sarah Madden; marine electrican Colin Wilson; a vast team of volunteers - naming Roger, Paul, Simon, Ken, Rod, Hugh, Alan, Bryan, John, Kev, Colin, Andrew, Stephen, James and Jim as the main but not only heroes; all overseen by a team of project director Gareth Maeer, project manager Mark Allinson, community and creative star Faye Thorley; and all supported by a fantastic band of Raybel directors - Rob Sargent (joint founding director with Gareth), Matthew Houston (until 2020), Vanessa Linforth, Chris Foster, Emma Trueman and (from 2024) Faye.
And none of it possible without the funders - the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Swires Trust, Queenborough Fisheries Trust, Edward Vinson Trust, Barker Mills Foundation, Low Carbon South East, Swale Borough Council and Kent County Coucil - as well as a host of individual crowdfund supporters.
On May 30th 2025, five years and six months on from that arrival, skipper Laurie and a volunteer crew – some of whom had been involved from the start – navigated the shallow and twisting Milton Creek to the waters of the Swale, and tied up at Queenborough.
Restoration complete, Raybel moves on to a summer of sailing, 105 years since leaving the Creek the first time, back in 1920.
Images: Laurie, Reuben and Rob bringing Raybel out of the dry dock on the high tide following the survey, 3am 30th April; Raybel back wharfside; and with main, top, fore and stay sails given an air.
