Name Orinoco

ORINOCO is a Thames Sailing Barge of timber construction, pitch pine and oak and has a Gardner inboard diesel engine model 60W. She was built in 1895 by Hughes of Greenwich and registered in London. Originally owned by Frank W Masons of Waldringfield on the Deben, she was later bought by Cranfield Brothers of Ipswich. In 1966 ORINOCO sank after a collision in the Thames. After refloating and repairs she was sold to Lawrie Tester who refitted her in his yard at Hollowshore and raced her in numerous events where she was seldom excluded from the prize lists. During the storms and floods of 1977 she dragged her moorings and grounded for 6 months waiting for a large enough tide to refloat her. She was then sold to Peter Sands and Robert Poppe who continued to race her successfully. ORINOCO was bought by her present owner in 1998, relocated to Faversham and has been undergoing restoration for more than a decade. During the later stages of the restoration she has resumed her racing career.