Sailing Barge Edith May

Edith May was built for racing as a medium sized coasting barge and is amongst only a handful of barges to have been built with a rockered bottom to enhance performance. The late Vernon Harvey bought the barge from trade and she was rerigged 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 1960’s, 70’s and early 80’s and to this day her reputation is still revered amongst bargemen.

Some wonderful insights into a Sailing Barges working days. Lots of the some two thousand Sailing Barges built and registered never appear in newspaper article even their launches often go unreported its only strange and notable instances that make the pages. Here we gain a glimpse into the workings and runnings of a little commercial ship, all be it unlucky instances it gives us insight into her cargos and routes as well as her later racing career.

You can find more about her current career under the stewardship of Tiller and Wheel

Edith May the latter day racing queen leads.