A crewman was injured when a Thames sailing barge lost her topmast during the 37th Swale Match in Kent on Saturday.

The steel-hulled Repertor of Harwich retired from the race after her topmast snapped in half. The top half of the spar was lashed to the port rigging as the barge limped home. A crew member was reportedly airlifted from the barge with cuts to his head.

Classic yachts, smacks and Dutch barges also joined the racing from the East Swale out into the Thames Estuary and back.

Around 300 yachtsmen either raced in or watched the event.
See Dick Durham’s blog