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''Edith May'' is a wooden Thames sailing barge, built in Harwich, Essex in 1906. She was then used to carry various cargoes (mainly grain) until 1952, when a diesel engine was fitted and she was then used in various Thames Sailing Barge matches, winning several. She was a museum ship for a time, and was restored in 2010 to offer charter trips on the River Medway. ==History== The Thames sailing barge ''Edith May'' was built for her original owners, William Barrett of 153 Mornington Road, Leytonstone, Essex and her first skipper was Captain Howard. She was then sold to Alfred Sully (also known as G.F. Sully based in London), who managed the barge from just after the First World War. They owned many Thames sailing barges at that time, with ''Edith May'' the smallest barge.〔 The barge continued in the ownership of Sully’s throughout her working life, carrying cereal products, wheat, barley etc. between East Anglia and London. Her largest cargo was 133 tons of wheat (from Manitoba, Canada), but more typically she would carry around 120 tons.〔 In 1952 an auxiliary engine was fitted (a Ford diesel engine of 120 hp).〔 In 1953, she won the Thames Barge Sailing match under the skippership of Chubb Horlock. It was believed to be the Coronation Match of that year.〔 In September 1957, she was converted into a motor barge at Colchester.〔 Then Vernon Harvey bought the barge from trade and she was re-rigged with the gear from the famous racing barge, ''Veronica'' when her career ended in 1963. Regarded as a latter day racing Queen, the ''Edith May'' dominated the Sailing Barge Matches of the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s and to this day her reputation is still revered amongst bargemen.〔 After 1961, she was re-rigged by Jack Spitty (an Essex-born barge skipper) for the owner. In January 1961, she operated as a motor barge, skippered by Bob Childs, a local bargeman. Bob in his retirement, wrote the book ''Rochester Barges''. In 1966, Jack Spitty became the Skipper in several matches. Anglia Television produced a programme about Jack Spitty and his barge ''Edith May'' as part of the ''Bygones'' series.〔 In 1971, Jack Spitty (aged 79) also won the Blackwater Sailing barge race.〔The best of the Saturday Book, John Hadfield,1981〕 She was sold and moved to Liverpool during the 1980s (to become a museum ship) before returning to Maldon in 1987.Sea Breezes Publications August 2011. To operate as a charter barge. She sat in St Katharine Docks, London (while owned by Roger Angus), for several years and was not maintained very well. Then on 7 October 1999 she was bought by Geoff Gransden who moved her to Lower Halstow on the River Medway.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Edith May」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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