This event has finished Took place on: Sunday, 14th Sep 2014
The annual Steve Faldo Memorial Barge Driving Race is a chance to see traditional lighterage skills being carried out as they were up until about 50 years ago.
The skill of barge driving enabled a single Lighterman to move a laden barge or ‘lighter’ around the port of London using his knowledge of tides and tidal sets with a single sweep or oar. These barges or lighters would have been moored or ‘fetched’ alongside the many ships and warehouses working within the port and in a similar manner you will see the competitors ‘fetching’ and collecting flags from the target barges today.
The main race is manned by professional watermen and lightermen who, to this day, still operate the many tugs and passenger vessels on the tidal Thames. There will also be a second shorter race without fetches.
The Dave Pope Challenge has been added to the day’s events to allow members of the public a chance to experience barge driving under the supervision of Thames lightermen. The Steve Faldo Memorial Barge Driving Race is one of several races of its kind held each year.
The race is in memory of Steve Faldo, captain of the Marchioness, who died along with fifty others when it sank after being run down by a dredger on 20 August 1989.
Viewing: Riverside locations between Tower Bridge and Waterloo Bridge.
Contact and Booking Details
This event has finished Took place on: Sunday, 14th Sep 2014
Booking details and information at this website.
No need to book tickets - just turn up on the day.
Disclaimer: All information given is correct at the time of compiling the listings. Any questions about the event should be directed to the event organiser. Photos and images used in this listing are supplied by the organiser.
2014-09-14 2014-09-14 Europe/London Barge Driving Races A chance to see traditional lighterage skills being carried out as they were up until about 50 years ago. https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/calendar/2014/09/14/barge-driving-races-47504 ,,, Meeting point to be confirmedWhat else is hapening in London on 14th Sep 2014