Sep02
Some ancient photos of famous old boats
Tilikum at Margate, with Captain John Voss
standing at the bows. As usual click on the
images for much larger photographs
Fishing luggers sailing out of Mevagissey,
Cornwall
Falmouth quay punt
Lowestoft trawlers in a shot that looks more like a
painting than a photo
West Mersea smacks looking very handsome on a near run
I picked up a dusty old book the other day, and found it contained many photos of some well known old boats. Here are just a few. I must say I was particularly pleased to find the Tilikum shot, as it gives a clear impression of what the boat was like when Captain John Voss had her and sailed such enormous distances. Voss’s book The Venturesome Voyages of Captain Voss is a jolly read, as you’d expect from someone who became a professional adventurer – there are some copies at ABE Books. There’s a bit more on Voss’s voyage here, and thanks to the kind folks at the splendid Duckworks forum, I’ve just learned that Venturesome Voyages is also available online.
On other topics, there are various intheboatshed.net posts on luggers to read and others on Falmouth quay punts, and on fishing generally.
3 Comments »Cruising yachts, Culture: songs, stories, photography and art, Events, Locations, Racing sailing craft, Traditional carvel, Traditional clinker, Uncategorized, Working boats
jeff cole Sep 2nd 2008 at 08:45 pm 1
Such great shot Gavin, just the sort I like! That’s the best pic of Tilicum I’ve seen. I hadn’t realised it had such a low rig. I bet she rolled badly in any sea. I note the Lowestoft trawlers seem to have their auxiliary engines going. It looks like there’s a race of sorts going on. On the nearest Cornish lugger, do you think that is a woman in a dress standing aft looking astern?
Thanks for the pics, the rig details are very clear and you can see where pleasure yacht rigs developed from. Of course many of the professional crews would have been drawn from these fishermen.
Jeff
Chris Partridge Sep 2nd 2008 at 09:41 pm 2
Just love the ‘Tilikum’, and agog that someone would sail a dugout canoe halfway round the world. There’s a great history of the event at http://www.telusplanet.net/public/albear1/thetilikum.html.
Chris
Gavin Atkin Sep 2nd 2008 at 09:49 pm 3
Chris –
Voss’s book can be found in second-hand bookshops and is a good read. I’d lend you my copy if I could find the thing. Did you know she was rescued from some Essex marshes just a few years ago before being restored to her current condition?
Jeff – Yes, it was very low, as befits a long low boat without much of a keel. He really did prove the value of his patent sea anchor, didn’t he?
Gav