Category: Traditional carvel

Traditional carvel plans and boatbuilding

The Classic Boat Awards – an opportunity to recognise Giacomo de Stefano, among others

Giacomo de Stefano

Our pal Giacomo de Stefano surely deserves some recognition for his achievement in voyaging from London to Istanbul in self-built 16ft open sailing dinghy – an Iain Oughtred Ness Yawl, no less – last year, overcoming illness and host of other obstacles and difficulties along the way.

So I think the Classic Boat Awards this year represent an opportunity to give him a well deserved pat on the back, as well as to help focus attention on the reason for his journey – to publicise the plight of the world’s waterways.

Read about the case for Giacomo to receive CB’s personality of the year award here and vote here. And while you’re at it, you might also consider voting for some of our other friends up for a bit of Award action this year including Stirling and Son for the stunning Integrity, and for Adrian Morgan’s lovely Faering built from solid timber or maybe the James Caird replica Alexandra Shackleton built by students at the International Boatbuilding Training College.

I was also pleased to see that the restoration of the Breton tunnyman Biche by the Chantier du Guip is now complete – I’ve had a soft spot for her after seeing her in a sad state some years ago. Read about her claim for an award here.

I was also surprised and pleased to note that someone has entered a Maurice Griffiths designed entry, the Lone Gull named Little Gull. To give restorer Peter Harrold a fillip, read this and bung him a vote too. The well publicised and big money projects shouldn’t be allowed to have things all their own way!

A harbour stroll at Keadby Lock, Alkborough and Barton upon Humber

Keadby Lock Alkborough Barton on Humber and Caistor 6

Humber sloop Spider T at Keadby Lock

This harbour stroll from North Lincolnshire – my home county – includes the magnificent Humber sloop Spider T (thanks for the pleasant evening and comfy stay Mal!), the confluence of the River Trent and the Humber Estuary from the wonderful 12th century turf maze at Alkborough, Alkborough Flats (once hard-won farmland, now tidal to reduce flooding elsewhere), pub signs (often a guide to what places were once famous for), the Humber Bridge and the harbour at Barton on Humber.

I must say Barton’s particularly interesting – there are some lovely boats waiting to be rescued in the boatyard, an impressive lighter, what looks like a proper Colin Archer, the fine Ferry Queen (presumably a retired ferry from somewhere), a sweet small clinker-built sailer, and a magnificent ropery building that’s now sadly divided. And there’s that wonderful windmill – though sadly it has long lost its sails.

And what’s that fabulous white sailing yacht with the beautiful gold leaf on her bows? Answers on a post card please to… (The comment link below will do… )

See more of Barton here.

Most of the shots were taken with a FujiFilm S200, a few with an HTC mobile phone.

Lovely Youtube video of classic Troy racing yachts off Fowey

There’s a high definition version featuring different music here. The film was taken by Troy class racing yacht skipper John Forsyth, who captured his material by strapping a camera to various parts of his boat.

We’re glad he did. My thanks to Fowey traditional boat builder Marcus Lewis for pointing out this one!

PS –Max, who writes the Bursledon Blog has a post on the Troys, and a few nice photos.