Thames Sailing Barge Edith May and Whitstable Oyster Smack Thistle F86 - Tiller & Wheel

Tiller & Wheel Ltd is proud to offer unique experiences aboard their fully restored Thames Sailing Barge ‘Edith May’.

From sailing experiences to exciting Barge Matches, we have trips suitable for all.

Tiller & Wheel is a small family business operating two historic vessels – Thames Sailing Barge Edith May and Whitstable Oyster Smack Thistle F86.

We are dedicated to promoting the historic East Coast fleet of smacks and barges and providing high quality experiences and events aboard these historic vessels. Tiller & Wheel is the first to offer FREE sailing trips and an affordable subscription model, making sailing an option for all. 

Guests are limited to a maximum of 12 per trip, resulting in an exclusive experience where the crew will be able to introduce you to the art of sailing the barge and offer the opportunity of helping to set the sails and take the helm.

Sailing is not all about pulling ropes and a big part of the day is the food. We stock a range of local and coastal beer, wine and spirits and all our food is homemade using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.

Mainly based on the River Medway and River Swale, the barge is also entered into the ‘Barge Championship’ - a series of 8 races held all over the East Coast. Join the crew for the day and sail in competitive company with up to 15 other barges - a unique spectacle on our waters.