Dec18
An entertaining article about sailing canoe pioneer John MacGregor
‘After taking on supplies at Gravesend, I shoved off into the tide, and lit a cigar, and now I felt we had fairly started,’ wrote philanthropist, barrister and pioneer of the Victorian canoeing craze, John MacGregor in his classic A thousand miles in the Rob Roy canoe.
He seems to have been a highly entertaining if largely bonkers character, from what we learn from this article published in Sea Kayaker Magazine.
I really must get around to reading Macgregor’s book myself!
See this post for construction information and ‘plans’ for Rob Roy-style canoe described by Neison in his book Practical boatbuilding for amateurs.
3 Comments »Boat plans and books of plans, Canoes, Free boat plans online, Locations, River boats, Small boats, Techniques, Uncategorized
Paul Mullings Dec 21st 2009 at 08:39 pm 1
Hi Gav, You may also like to view this http://www.archive.org/details/voyagealoneinya02macggoog
Oh and by the way thanks for the stirling work with the web site and a Happy Christmas to you and yours and a safe and peaceful New Year Cheers Paul
Paul Mullings Dec 21st 2009 at 08:49 pm 2
Gav, There are also these links to other John MacGregor cruises;
http://www.archive.org/details/brotherscousins00macgrich
http://www.archive.org/details/thousandmilesinr00macguoft
http://www.archive.org/details/robroyonbaltica00macggoog
http://www.archive.org/details/robroyonjordann00macggoog
Cheers
Paul
Brian Smith Jan 11th 2010 at 08:41 pm 3
Hello, Gav,
Tony Bibbington of the Mersey Canoe Club has been using an original Rob Roy canoe to follow in the footsteps of MacGregor. If you go to http://www.duene1.de and then click on 2009 calendar and Nov 4 you will find photos of his trip round Heligoland. There is also an article from Canoe Focus which I have sent separately.
Regards,
Brian