Annual Swale Smack and Sailing Barge Match
Whitstable Category Outdoor Activities
41st SWALE SMACK & BARGE MATCH 2016
Saturday 6th August - Start 11am
The COURSE is likely to be from the Start Line in the East Swale (Sand End Buoy) out to a mark where the old Spaniard was, in towards Herne Bay and back into the Swale to the Finish near the entrance to Faversham & Oare Creek.
There is a late start this year; the barges start first at 11 am, followed by the other classes with 15 minutes interval.
The START: Committee Boat (HOOP OP ZEGEN) and SAND END;
COURSE: Sand End – Columbine (P)
Outer Mark: KSA marker buoy 1(Spaniard) (S)
KSA marker buoy 2 (Herne Bay) (S)
KSA marker buoy 3 (Sewer) (S)
Whitstable Street (P)
HOME: Receptive (S) and Committee Boat
One smack went aground just after HW on the very hard bottom on Whitstable Flats, not far from the start, and there was some anxiety that damage might have been sustained, but she got off safely on the next tide.
Spectators and photographers an view the race from various vantage points. At Harty Ferry, before the start, all the vessels from all the different classes can be seen setting sail and moving down to the start line.
The race can then be watched from Seasalter, Shell Ness on Sheppey and from
Whitstable, Tankerton and Herne Bay.
