Southend-on-Sea : With a gust of wind puffing out its sails , the Thames barge Sara makes its way back to London from Southend during the first Thames sailing barge race for 15 years . Sara , with 82-year-old Captain Charlie Fielder at the helm , is the favourite for the race . About a dozen of these picturesque barges took part in the race . The course had to be shortened because of the lack of wind . Fewer than 100 of these fine craft are now left to ply the river . many have been turned into houseboats . 21 May 1953