Sailing Barge Victor

A brief history of Sailing Barge Victor:

1895 Victor registered in London. It was built by Horace Shrubsall at the Dock End Yard, Ipswich for Owen Parry. Until the Second World War she collected linseed from farms around the East Coast and took it to Owen Parry’s Mill in Colchester returning to London with the oil in barrels. It is thought that this cargo may have in large part contributed to her excellent condition.

1926 Felix Mallett, one of the most renowned skippers of his generation with distinguished service in both world wars joined the crew to skipper Victor.

1932 Owen Parry was bought by London & Rochester Shipping Co and Victor was valued at £450!

1939-1945 During the War Victor loaded munitions out of Chatham dock – including torpedoes and shells – for transfer to cruisers, corvettes and destroyers under cover of darkness, and is lucky to have survived a bomb that directly hit and completely destroyed a lighter vessel lying alongside her.

1947 Victor was the last sailing barge to be decommissioned. Victor was towed to Brightlingsea.

1950’s Victor was converted to a motor barge and used by the London & Rochester Company on the Medway until it was sold in 1964, again for £450!

1964-1974 During the next 10 years Victor passed through the care of three owners. She had a short career as a strip club before being taken to Ramsgate for Henry Winger. Luck was on her side again when she was abandoned in difficulties in The Channel. The Ramsgate lifeboat picked up the crew from the barge boat and towed Victor to Ramsgate where she lay for four years unused. John Bloom acquired her and took her to the Medway as a houseboat.

1974 Victor was purchased by Owen Emerson, a navy trained shipwright, who rebuilt and re-rigged her.

1995 Nick Briggs bought Victor and operated the vessel as a 40 passenger charter barge and floating office for Nick’s consultancy business, located primarily on the South coast at Beaulieu and at Tower Bridge in London.

2005 Victor was bought by Steve Godwin and Tony Chancellor who brought her back to the East coast to Horlocks old yard at Mistley where David and Wendy Foster of Mistley Marine provided a fine berth and facilities. She underwent a major refit in 2005/2006, including new mast, sprit, running and standing rigging, new electrics, water, heating and fuel tanks, refurbished decks, saloon, cabins, galley and heads.

Victor now is in 1st Class condition and working again in the charter and events business with a MCGA Passenger Certificate for 40 persons, a testament to her fine condition. David ‘Wes’ Westwood of Ipswich is now the Skipper and manages operations.