Open Day 29th March - See how Thalatta's major refit is progressing! We are scheduled to be back on the water in 2009 with your generous continued help and support.

ABOUT THALATTA

The ship: a traditional sailing coaster

Thalatta is a sea-going vessel 90 feet long, built of oak; a superb example of a fully rigged traditional spritsail barge. She was built at Harwich in 1906. (The word Thalatta is Greek, meaning the Sea).
Craft of this type developed to combine good sea-going qualities with an ability to navigate easily in the shallow rivers of the south east coast.
For many years, in peace and war, Thalatta carried 150-ton cargoes under sail to British and Continental ports, surviving as one of the last few wooden coasters in trade, latterly under power.
The barge's sailing rig is nowadays augmented with a powerful modern diesel engine; otherwise she remains in character and appearance almost unaltered since the days of sail. In trade Thalatta would have been crewed by a Skipper, Mate and Third Hand just as she is today.

A modern role, working with children

In 1967 the ship was entirely restored and re-rigged to take on a different role as a schoolship under the flag of the East Coast Sail Trust. Since then thousands of young people have benefitted from the experiences of living and working as crew on Thalatta's five-day voyages.