Author: Neil & Debbie

  • Sail with us!

    Sailing barge Drifter offers short, (1.5 hour) and longer sailing trips in the Falmouth area. No sailing experience is necessary, and the experienced crew of 2 take care of everything onboard. The Falmouth area offers a large and sheltered bay for sailing and we can also explore deep into the rivers and creeks, all beautiful…

  • How to sail a Dutch barge – The Boom.

    The boom is the long  spar that is hung from the bottom of the largest sail. It extends from the base of the mast to the stern and on a sailing barge, is typically made from solid wood. Unlike a lightweight aluminum spar on a modern yacht, it is strategically designed to be heavy and…

  • What is a Lemsteraak?

    Over the centuries, a particular form of sailing barge was developed that worked well in the shallow waters of the Netherlands. These barges were used for fishing and transporting goods along the coasts, and also inland on lakes and canals.