Private Sailing Experiences

If you have a special occasion, want to make an impression on your clients or just want to get a group of friends or family away for a few hours in an atmospheric environment, you can privately hire the barge for up to 12 people for your own shared sailing experience.

A variety of options are possible and we are happy to help design your own bespoke trip – please contact us for a quote.

Our home port is Lower Halstow, but we can also sail from Chatham and Queenborough, tide and schedule permitting.

The prices below are for our 2023 sailing season.


Short Cruise (80 minute trip) – £450 (£37.50 a head)

Great for those who want to try sailing a barge for the first time or have young families.

Not available for sailings from Lower Halstow.

Tidal Cruise (3hrs) – £660 (£55 a head)

Our most popular cruise, suitable for all. Lower Halstow provides the ideal playground for sailing amongst the salt marshes, or get underway from Sun Pier, Chatham to experience the upriver sights of the Historic Dockyard and Upnor Castle.

Afternoon tea or two course lunch can be added for an additional £18 a head, including refreshments, when booked in advance.


Full Day Excursion (8-12hrs) is £990 (£82.50 a head)

A great Estuary adventure awaits! If you want to truly experience a Thames sailing barge in all it’s glory exploring rivers, creeks and estuaries, this is the complete day out. Possibilities include circumnavigating the Isle of Sheppey, trips to Whitstable, Southend or the Red Sand Towers – we’ll go where the wind and tide takes us.

If you would like all inclusive catering included with your day sail, including brunch, 2 course lunch and afternoon tea, plus refreshments, is £1620.


A bar serving refreshments and snacks is available on board for uncatered charters.

To book your day, email us at info@tillerandwheel.com or give the Skipper (Ed) a call on 07814950442.

It has been said before, but there is there is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.