A barge built more than a century ago needed emergency repairs after a collision during the 36th annual Swale Smack and Sailing Barge Match.

Thirty-six of the starting field of 71 finished the race on Saturday, which is organised by the Kentish Sail Association.

The 80ft long wooden barge Marjorie, built in 1901, suffered a 4ft gash in her port side when she and steel barge Repertor collided.

Whitstable’s volunteer lifeboat crews found the vessel, which had nine people on board.

Helmsman Dave Parry said: “Water was already up to the level of the floor in the former hold.

“Two members of the lifeboat crew went on board with a salvage pump and started operations to pump out the casualty.”

The crew were already trying to make repairs and the lifeboat took two small children and their mother off the barge and on to a tug boat which had been shadowing the race.

The lifeboat crew, Henry Thomson and John Skinner as well as Mr Parry, then passed a towline to the tug boat which managed to tow the Marjorie from a sandbank where it had been 'beached’ and into deeper water where she was able to then use engine power to get to safety.

After she was safely on her way the lifeboat crew became aware of another vessel, the Sally B, which had run aground at the entrance to the Swale.

A crew member went on board to help and waited for the tide to flood before towing the craft off.

She then made her own way to a mooring in Faversham Creek.

Association secretary Lena Reekie said: “Despite the weather and the crash, it still went very well for everyone who took part.

“And as ever we’re forging ahead with organising the event for next year.”

The boats race from a line at Hollowshore to Sheppey, then Herne Bay and back again, competing for trophies and prizes.

The winners of the various classes were:

Class 1: William and Mary (EM Barker)

Class 1a: Privateer (Nick Relf)

Class 1b: Empress (Tim Johnson)

Class 2: Crow (Bob Berk)

Class 2a: Fanny of Cowes (Nigel Waller)

Class 2b: Bumble (Jeremy Nehsam)

Class 3: Edme (Andy Harman)

Class 4: All boats retired

Class 5: Centaur (Terry O’Sullivan)

Class 6: Nooit Volmaakt (Doug Nich olls) and Daybreak (Tony Woodward)

Class 7: No entries

Class 8: Barking (Ian Woolet) and Silver Sula (Gerry Ohlson)

Class 9: Calisto (Andy Hills)