Month: May 2007

A 400-year-old shallop built and sailed again

John Smith 400

John Smith 400 John Smith 400 John Smith 400

Photos by Michael Wootton

This curious and rather Dutch-looking spritsail-rigged craft is a recreation of the shallop, a boat from four centuries ago.

‘On June 2, 1608, Captain John Smith and fourteen English colonists set out from Jamestown in a 30-foot open boat or shallop to explore and map the Chesapeake Bay. Travelling over 1,700 miles in just over three months, Smith and his men witnessed the Chesapeake at its productive peak, with its incredible ecosystem intact and a multitude of American Indian cultures thriving along its shores. The observations and sketches made by Smith during his travels would form the basis for his remarkable 1612 map of the Bay, which served as the definitive rendering of the region for nearly a century.’

Smith’s voyage is being recreated as I write – read all about it here: http://www.johnsmith400.org

Thanks to Ed Bachmann for pointing this one out!

[ad name=”intheboatshed-post”]

Sad news of the Cutty Sark

Cutty Sark in dry dock, London

An old photo of Cutty Sark in dry dock

Cutty Sark figurehead Cutty Sark, Foudroyandt and seaplane in Falmouth Harbour

Cutty Sark’s famous figurehead; Cutty Sark, Foudroyandt and seaplane in Falmouth Harbour (all images copyright RCPS)

I had other, happier things to write about tonight, but like many people who know London well there’s only one story today – the wrecking by fire of the last of the extreme clipper ships, Cutty Sark. The news reports say that the fire may have been deliberate – if so, I can only imagine that it must have been an act of madness, for the Cutty Sark has been a beloved landmark, and represents nothing that could cause any offence. For anyone who does not know the story, I have pasted the content of the NMMC’s press release on the subject below; the photos above come from the same source.

The full story of the Cutty Sark and her restoration is here: http://www.cuttysark.org.uk

I’ve been a fan of the Cutty Sark since I was a child in London, and regular readers will know that I posted something that touched on her only a few days ago:
Superstitions at sea Continue reading “Sad news of the Cutty Sark”

‘Phwoar!’, says Light Trow builder Ben Crawshaw

Onawind Blue

Light Trow Onawind Blue

Just back from a jolly holiday (in the Ariege region of France, and very pleasant, thanks) I was absolutely delighted to read about the mounting excitement that Ben Crawshaw is feeling over this project to build my Light Trow design. I’m pretty excited too, so I hope regular readers will forgive me for drawing attention to his project once again.

Ben is building the first boat from the plans and I’m delighted with the job he’s doing. The photo above shows the new boat with its decks cut out and laid across the sheer: ‘Phwoar!’ is how he describes it in his blog, and after all his hard work he deserves Continue reading “‘Phwoar!’, says Light Trow builder Ben Crawshaw”