Centaur’s last skipper sails aboard her once more.
On Sunday 23rd May, the Trust were pleased to welcome Bryn Weightman to Maldon for a sail on Centaur. Bryn was Centaur’s last skipper before she became a lighter taking timber from the ships in the Blackwater to Heybrigde Basin. Bryn who is now 89 and lives in Wales with his wife is wheelchair bound but we managed with the help of volunteers to get Bryn onboard for his trip down the Blackwater.
To commemorate his return, Peter Taylor, Trust Chairman and skipper for the day, presented Bryn with a copy of the book about Centaur’s history along with a signed limited edition print of Anne Plummer’s painting of Centaur.
On his return to Maldon, Bryn recollected stories of his time as skipper and details of the various mates he used to work with. Bryn is thought to have been the last skipper to load a cargo of cement under sail.
