Shoal Waters has been a regular sight on the East Coast since being launched in 1963. Charles Stock designed her as a small 16ft engineless gaff cutter with the aim of exploring the old trading routes of the famous Thames Sailing Barges.
Based at the Blackwater Sailing Club for the first 48 years of her life, she cruised over 70,000 miles, mainly between the Medway in Kent and the Norfolk broads. A few more adventurous trips included the Solent to the south, Whitby to the north and Ostend and Dunkirk across the channel.
Sadly, Charles Stock passed away in 2012 but before he died he was very happy to pass ownership of Shoal Waters to his good friend and fellow small boat sailor Tony Smith. From her new base at the Goldhanger Sailing Club on the River Blackwater she continued to explore the many rivers and creeks of the Thames estuary.
In 2025 Tony sold Shoal Waters back to the Stock/Austen family. We look forward to many adventures as we sail her in her home waters of the Blackwater and beyond.
This is the next chapter of her story.