Sailing down the Orwell

Topsail Charters hosted the annual GVZ employee outing on September 9th this year. 

The Thistle, a former sailing barge, provided the venue for the day trip down the Orwell.

 

sailing-on-the-orwell-1
Having Fun

Having Fun

 

The Thistle was built to carry coal, grain, or straw and first sailed in August, 1895. It has been afloat ever since.

The vessel left its mooring about midday in perfect sunshine and summer cloud. After passing through the Ipswich locks, it motored down to the Felixstowe and then sailed back with the tide and the wind.

 

Ipswich Locks

Ipswich Locks

To the open sea

To the open sea

Container ship at Felixstowe port

Container ship at Felixstowe port

 

 

Paul Hale, guitar

Paul Hale, guitar

Lunch

A lovely lunch, drinks, coffee and biscuits were served by Iwona Yasielec and Claire Luff, and gentle renditions of music oldies were provided by Paul Hale and his brother.

Topsail Charters

Topsails Charters was founded in 1987 and owns four barges – three which are used for public trips and private hire from ports in Suffolk and Essex, and one which is under refurbishment as a restaurant.

The company won the Visit Essex “Best Small Attraction” in October, 2015.

GVZ Family

GVZ "Family"

 

 

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