Welcome to Raybel Charters, a maritime heritage community company that mixes business, activism and creativity.
Spanning themes of water, trade, transport, and nature, we collaborate with communities to create innovative and inclusive arts, education and heritage projects, based on the maritime heritage and ecology of the Thames estuary.
Our Thames sailing barge Raybel is now sailing and available for charter, having been restored on Milton Creek, Sittingbourne between 2021 and 2025, just yards from where she was first launched in 1920.
On the global scale, we are part of a cross-ocean network, transporting cargo by sail ship. We import produce to London, from small-scale community producers in Colombia, the Caribbean, Portugal and France, with the final stage of the journey up the Thames made by Raybel.
Latest
Sail Cargo Shop
Producer - Azeite Caixeiro
Provenance - Trás-os-Montes, north-eastern Portugal
Olive varieties – Cobrançosa, Verdeal, Madural
Altitude - 500 - 750 masl
Taste - Intense, fruity, spicy
Certified organic
The Caixeiro family business produces this exceptional extra virgin oil, from olive groves ideally situated between the Terra-Fria (Cold Land) and Terra-Quente (Hot Land) of north-eastern Portugal. Olives are pressed within 4 hours of leaving the tree.
Pressing date – November 2025
Best before – December 2027
Sail voyage
Sailed from Brittany to Cornwall onboard Ibis by Sail Trade South West May 2026
Producer
ASOSEYNEKUN - an association of Arhuaco indigenous producers founded in 2010 in Pueblo Bello, Colombia. Organic, fair-trade, sustainable farming with social commitment. https://gruposeynekun.co/
Certified organic
Locality
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Varieties
Castillo, Tabi, Colombia, Criollos
Process
Washed, fermentation 16 to 28 hours
Harvest
2024/25
Sourced by
Comptoir d’Eole
Roasting
Vagabond, Holloway Rd, London, November 2025
Taste
Fruits, chocolate, and cane sugar. Citrus notes in the aftertaste
Acidity
Medium
Voyage
Sailed from Santa Marta, Colombia onboard Ide Min to Amsterdam, April - June 2025.
Producer
Caixero
Cerified Organic
170g jar
Locality
Valpocos, Tras-os-Montes, northern Portugal
Varieties
· with garlic and herbs in olive oil
· with lemon and herbs in olive oil
100% Cobrancosa olives preserved with a traditional recipe in either lemon or garlic with aromatic herbs, bay & oregano, packed in extra virgin olive oil.
Sail voyage
Sailed from Brittany to Cornwall onboard Ibis by Sail Trade South West May 2026
Producer
Soresa
500g
Cerified Organic
Locality
Valpocos, Tras-os-Montes, northern Portugal
Best before
Store in a cool dry cupboard for 9 months to a year.
Sail voyage
Sailed from Brittany to Cornwall onboard Ibis by Sail Trade South West May 2026
Join the Raybellians - become a member
As we move into a new phase for Raybel a core membership base will be vital to cover some of the costs of maintaining Raybel and keeping Raybel Charters producing new projects and involving more people.
Membership starts at just £5 / month with member benefits including free sails and invites to member get togethers on Raybel.
Get Involved
We're always seeking passionate individuals to join the team and contribute to our various projects, from maintenance work on Raybel, to sail cargo, to running open days and events
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