SB Orinoco

As Elsie Bertha was lost in 1894 it is probable that Orinoco, bought new in 1895, was her replacement. At some point, she was fitted with a deckhouse and, conceivably converted to wheel steering although she may have had this originally.

Masons were rather unsporting on a Friday in 1897¹For an account of the 1897 race see Ruffy and the Waldringfield Connection in RDA’s Deben Autumn 2011, the eve of competing in Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Barge Race on Saturday morning. The crew were not allowed to unload the centre hold first. Barges were quite flexible, and this would have allowed the hull to straighten, so improving performance. Bob Ruffles was Orinoco‘s mate in that race and progressed to master by 1914 with Cranfields in Ipswich. Masons Augusta and Petrel also competed. Orinoco(1895) came third, Consul(1894) second and Centaur (1895) won. It would be good to know where Augusta (1874) and Petrel (1895) were placed. Perhaps the newer boats had an advantage. This result was reversed a mere 122 years later in the Medway Match 2019 when Orinoco was first and Centaur third.

It is a testament to these vessels that not only have Orinoco and Centaur survived, but people care for them enough to preserve and race them at significant cost.

There was a reunion of previous skippers which featured in the East Anglian Daily Times in the late fifties or early sixties.

She was run down in the Thames and sunk in 1966 but has been re-floated and then restored by Laurie Tester in 2002. The Orinoco survives at Iron Quay Faversham. Geoff, “Frog”, Ingle owns and races this 125 years old vessel. (2021). There is a Facebook page here.

Summary

Name: Orinoco, Main trade: Cement, Port of Registry: London, Off. No.: 104862, Tonnage: 70, Where built: East Greenwich, Builder: Hughes, When built: 1895, Owners: Mason 1895, Cranfield 1916, History: Skipper Ruffles 1914 Quantrill 1944. Sunk 1966, Rebuilt 1970, Restored 2002, 

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  For an account of the 1897 race see Ruffy and the Waldringfield Connection in RDA’s Deben Autumn 2011