[1] The swim-headed barge ( the swimmie) was convenient for river work, slow to windward, fast off the wind but performing abysmally in heavy weather in the seaway.
In the 1840s the swim head gave way to the rounded bow that was soon replaced by a straight stem (the stemmie).
[2] "The Golden Dustman", William Henry Dodd, organised the first race in 1863, giving cash prizes for the first barges in the stumpie and topsail classes.
The owner of the leading 1867 stumpies, Lee, painted Invicta, the white horse of Kent on his black mainsails[3] The races were to induce the barge owners to improve the standard of equipment, and raise the status of the crews.
The course sailed was shortened to Sea Reach No.3 North Buoy as the outer mark [4] There are nine barge matches a year, and for example in 2018 :