Sailing-barge on the Thames: rounding the Nore Light-ship, 1865. The third annual sailing-barge match took place under the management of...the Thames and Medway General Craft-owners Association...the course being from Erith to the Nore Lightship and back. Three prizes, the highest being a cup of the value of ?18, with ten guineas divided among the crew, were offered for the topsail barges; and three prizes, of rather less value, for the stump-rigged barges...The barges started from Erith a few minutes before eleven...with a spanking breeze from the south, and a little rain; the wind, therefore, was abaft and abeam nearly all the way to the Nore. They got down in something less than two hours; and when they rounded the lightship, the topsail barge Agnes, 100 tons, belonging to Mr. Parker, had the lead well; next came the Surprise, 90 tons, Mr. West; the Francis, 88 tons, Mr. Burley; the Matilda and Amy, 90 tons, Mr. Willet; the Henry, 100 tons, Mr. Hill; and the Robert Stone, 85 tons, Mr. Stone; the stump barges coming round ten minutes later. The wind had now strengthened considerably; and, as the topsail barges rounded in the squalls, they struck their topsails...The Perseverance, 100 tons, Mr. Bromley, rounded much the best of the lot. From "Illustrated London News", 1865.