Topsail Charters hosted the annual GVZ employee outing on September 9th this year.
The Thistle, a former sailing barge, provided the venue for the day trip down the Orwell.
![having-fun-sailing-on-the-orwell sailing-on-the-orwell-1](https://i0.wp.com/www.gvzglasshouses.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Having.Fun_.2-2.jpg?fit=394%2C316&ssl=1)
![Having Fun Having Fun](https://i0.wp.com/www.gvzglasshouses.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/rsz_having_fun_3.jpg?fit=2304%2C1536&ssl=1)
Having Fun
The Thistle was built to carry coal, grain, or straw and first sailed in August, 1895. It has been afloat ever since.
The vessel left its mooring about midday in perfect sunshine and summer cloud. After passing through the Ipswich locks, it motored down to the Felixstowe and then sailed back with the tide and the wind.
![Ipswich Locks Ipswich Locks](https://i0.wp.com/www.gvzglasshouses.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/rsz_locks_1.jpg?fit=2231%2C1524&ssl=1)
Ipswich Locks
![To the open sea To the open sea](https://i0.wp.com/www.gvzglasshouses.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/rsz_locks_4.jpg?fit=1943%2C1536&ssl=1)
To the open sea
![Container ship at Felixstowe port Container ship at Felixstowe port](https://i0.wp.com/www.gvzglasshouses.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/rsz_felixstowe_docks_4.jpg?fit=2304%2C1536&ssl=1)
Container ship at Felixstowe port
![Paul Hale, guitar Paul Hale, guitar](https://i0.wp.com/www.gvzglasshouses.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/rsz_entertainment_2.jpg?fit=2066%2C1528&ssl=1)
Paul Hale, guitar
Lunch
A lovely lunch, drinks, coffee and biscuits were served by Iwona Yasielec and Claire Luff, and gentle renditions of music oldies were provided by Paul Hale and his brother.
Topsail Charters
Topsails Charters was founded in 1987 and owns four barges – three which are used for public trips and private hire from ports in Suffolk and Essex, and one which is under refurbishment as a restaurant.
The company won the Visit Essex “Best Small Attraction” in October, 2015.
![GVZ "Family" GVZ Family](https://i0.wp.com/www.gvzglasshouses.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/rsz_after_3.jpg?fit=2304%2C1536&ssl=1)
GVZ "Family"