The Thames sailing barge ‘Blue Mermaid’ will be visiting Gravesend Town Pier on a Lottery Heritage-funded community engagement sea tour from Friday 26^th April to Saturday 27^th April.

The barge will be open to members of the public to come aboard free of charge from 6 pm to 7 pm on Friday 26^th April and 5 pm to 6 pm on Saturday 27^th April.

There will be an opportunity to meet our crew and have a look around a Thames sailing barge and view a display about the heritage of Thames sailing barges, and the work of the few survivors of this historic fleet.

Immediately after this open hour each day, there will be a free screening of the feature-length film ‘Wind, Tide & Oar’ to a seated audience inside the hold of the barge.  Seating is strictly limited to 40 places, and as a result, a free ticket will be required to view the film. Tickets can be obtained free from www.windtideandoar.com/screenings

  TOWN PIER, GRAVESEND | April 27th at 19:00 & April 26th at 18:00*. Explore the hold of a traditional cargo vessel, now transformed into a floating cinema, and enjoy a screening of the newly released Wind, Tide & Oar film, followed by a Q&A session with project collaborators. Film length: Approx 90 mins. | Free tickets, please book here: www.windtideandoar.com *as Blue Mermaid has no engine, the advertised schedule depends on favourable weather and may be subject to change. WIND, TIDE & OAR | The Film Wind, Tide & Oar is a compelling exploration of engineless sailing and the lives of those who navigate the seas without relying on auxiliary power. Shot on 16mm analogue film over three years, it follows a diverse array of traditional boats, delving into the rhythms and motivations of sailing engineless. Addressing themes such as ecology, mental health, heritage, traditional skills, and maritime history, Wahl offers a poetic and intimate perspective on the ancient craft of harnessing the wind for travel, creating a stark contrast to the contemporary issues of sea exploitation and pollution. SKIPPERS OF THE FUTURE | Sea-Change Sailing Trust After premiering at Royal Museums Greenwich, Wind Tide & Oar is embarking on a unique tour of the Southeast coast on the iconic Thames sailing barge Blue Mermaid. The ship will visit ten ports, transforming its cargo hold into a floating cinema for exclusive screenings of the film, Q&A sessions, and displays of maritime heritage. Supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund, the Skippers of the Future project will see young people and adult trainees crew the ship between ports, learning traditional maritime skills. Contact details: judy@seachangesailingtrust.org.uk windtideandoar@gmail.com