Pilot gig Young Bristol launched with all due ceremony and pomp

Young Bristol

Young Bristol Young Bristol Young Bristol

Young Bristol Young Bristol
Young Bristol

Win Cnoops of the Underfall Yard and the Slipway Collective has been in touch with some photos of the launch of the pilot gig we first saw in a half-built state at the Beale Park Boat Show. It certainly seems as if both the local dignitaries and rowers treated the event with all the reverence the beautifully built new boat deserved. Thanks Win!

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For more photos and information on pilot gigs: Continue reading “Pilot gig Young Bristol launched with all due ceremony and pomp”

Bob Telford’s first race sailing a dinghy with a standing lug

standing-lug-sail1

Standing lug sail from W P Stephens classic Canoe and
Boatbuilding for Amateurs

Bob Telford called by the yard currently restoring his impressive Maurice Griffiths-designed Idle Duck (type the word Idle Duck into the search box top left for more on this boat), only to find himself roped in to what sounded like an interesting round-the-buoys outing. Instead, though, it turned out to be a learning experience…

‘I knew something was afoot when I trundled into the inner sanctum known to some as Alan’s Community Center, for Retired Shipwrights, Dockyard Mateys and Associated Layabouts, and saw him and Peter look up, saying ’just the man…d’you fancy sailing in the Swale Match in me dinghy?

‘”Yes,” says I, without thinking.

‘The boat is a 10-ft lug rigged clinker job, so there I was, on my own, in a dinghy I had never rigged, let alone sailed, heading for the line for a race against four 16-ft fully crewed gaff-rigged dayboats.

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Read the rest of Bob’s story: Continue reading “Bob Telford’s first race sailing a dinghy with a standing lug”

Bristol Channel pilot cutter and yacht Carlotta is being restored

Carlotta

Carlotta Carlotta

The Bristol Channel pilot cutter Carlotta was built in 1899 by William H Halford of Gloucester, England for the Cumberland Sea Fishery Committee for use in patrolling the fisheries in the Cumberland area. She was nevertheless built to the same scantlings, materials, design and layout as two pilot boats built previously by the Halford yard, St Bee’s and Brittannia.

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She was converted into a yacht in 1907, and from then on had an extraordinary history Click here to read more: Continue reading “Bristol Channel pilot cutter and yacht Carlotta is being restored”