Month: September 2010

Old fashioned and classic sailing boats of the Norfolk Broads, autumn 2010

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On Barton Broad 13 Hunter's Yard sailing cruiser

On Barton Broad 8 Broads sailing cruiser

On Barton Broad 14 19th century Broads sailing cruiser Zoe sails by On Barton Broad 14 19th century Broads sailing cruiser Zoe sails by On Barton Broad 11 RNSA dinghy sails by

On Barton Broad 5 A Hunter's Yard boat sails by On Barton Broad 10 Broads sailing cruiser

Norfolk Broads Wherry Albion Norfolk Broads Wherry Albion How Hill boatshed

Photos of traditional sailing craft of the Norfolk Broads, including everyone’s favourite, the 19th century Broads sailing cruiser Zoe, a Royal Navy Sailing Association dinghy, the Norfolk wherry Albion, and a charmingly dilapidated boat shed. Click on the images for a much larger photo

We’re just back from a short trip to the Norfolk Broads in the Broads sailing  cruiser Camellia, hired from the helpful folks at the Broads Yachting Company, of Horning – and these are some of our snaps. If only we could have stayed longer!

We recently rather enjoyed the book The Norfolk Broads: The Golden Years, which we bought in Norfolk earlier this year. It’s a compendium of photos and descriptions by the charming Broads writer and keen sailor Philippa Miller, and include many shots of familiar scenes from the area going back to early in the 20th century. It’s difficult to get now, but I notice Amazon sellers have a few copies.

As seen on TV – the Humber sloop Spider T

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BBC film of Humber sloop Spider T

The BBC has made a short film about the 1920s New Holland-built Humber sloop Spider T, which is now available for charter, corporate events and so on. Click on the link above to go to the relevant BBC page – I don’t think this one will be limited to UK viewers only.

Owner and restorer Mal Nicholson tells her story as the cameras wander around the boat, and there’s even a nice clip of the Spider T sailing. Priceless stuff, and well done Mal!

For more on the Spider T story, click here for intheboatshed.net posts and here for the Spider T website.

As I write, Amazon lists just two copies of a book by Michael E Ulyatt about the Humber’s legendary sailing barges, which show clear evidence of both Viking and Dutch influence in their development: Flying Sail: Humber Keels and Sloops. Also, Tony Watts’ excellent book Holmes of the Humber includes George Holmes’ descriptions of many of the Humber’s characteristic boats, as well as his own boats and voyages.

Marcus Lewis restores Troy, starts two Fowey Rivers, and visits Plymouth Classics

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Troy Class yacht Ruby restoration

Troy Class yacht Ruby restoration Troy Class yacht Ruby restoration Troy Class yacht Ruby restoration

Troy Class yacht Ruby restoration Troy Class yacht Ruby restoration Troy Class yacht Ruby restoration

Troy Class yacht Ruby restoration Troy Class yacht Ruby restoration

Ruby, a Troy Class yacht restored by Marcus Lewis

Cornwall boatbuilder Marcus Lewis has also written with his latest news, and included photos of the  Plymouth Classics Rally. Here’s what he says:

‘I took a new Fowey River dinghy to the Plymouth Classics Rally – lovely venue, lovely people, lovely weather on Saturday though it was pretty wet and miserable on Sunday. I didnt sell any new boats, but there was a lot of interest in seeing a new wooden dinghy, especially from many of the old Devonport Dockyard workers, several of which started their careers as shipwrights only to end up doing other things in the Dockyard.

‘I’ve attached a pic attached of Cornubia (ex Hirta) in excellent shape after her rebuild. She was originally built at Polruan, which is across the river from my workshop. (Photos below)

‘Ruby, the Troy Class yacht I have in for a rebuild, was launched just in time for Fowey Regatta week, and competed in her 80th season of racing. It was a fairly windy and testing week, that was hard work with thankfully little damage.

‘Ruby picked up a third prize one day, which is pretty good in a fleet of over 20 boats. There are photos of the regatta at the Jet Photographic website.

‘In the workshop now are the beginnings of two new Fowey River dinghies (see photos below). I have Tom Trevessey, a graduate of the Boat Building Academy working with me at the moment, putting into practice some of the things he has learnt.

‘Cheers for now, Marcus’

Great stuff Marcus – and thanks for the photos!

Marcus Lewis is based at Fowey, Cornwall. He can be reached on tel 07973 420568 and via his website at www.woodenboatbuilder.co.uk.

Fowey River dinghy Fowey River dinghy in Marcus Lewis' workshop

Two Fowey River class dinghy boat building projects started in Marcus Lewis’s shed

Plymouth Classics 2010 Plymouth Classics 2010 Plymouth Classics 2010 Cornubia Hirta

Marcus’ shots from Plymouth Classics 2010. It warms one’s cockles to see the old Hirta, now renamed Cornubia, in such great shape