Category: Sailing cruisers

Sailing yachts used for cruising, or as cruiser-racers.

Whatever happened to this large Mylne-designed gaff schooner?

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Large schooner designed by Mylne

Was she built, and is she still alive in the world somewhere? If you have
information on this or any other Mylne yacht, please let David Gray know!

As reported earlier, naval architect David Gray recently bought the historic Mylne company complete with a vast library of plans and drawings. As he and his colleagues go through the files I gather some real treasures are turning up – and some interesting mysteries.

So can anyone help with answer David’s question below? Who was the boatbuilder? And what was her story? Then as now, I’m sure yacht designers frequently sweated blood over plans that were never built, but if she was made real, she’s the kind of yacht that would be outstanding anywhere. Follow the link to see the Mylne website.

‘Gavin

‘Please find attached the general arrangement drawing for the large gaff schooner we found yesterday. We are currently investigating to see if she still exists. Built for a Mr Lewis around 1912-1913, she’s 95ft over deck, 68ft waterline, 108ft spar length, 20ft beam and 11ft draft. If anyone has any information we would be pleased to hear from them.

‘Best regards

‘David Gray, Director
‘A Mylne & Co – Classic Yacht Design – Est 1896’

London Whalers are back

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Rowing a Montague whaler on the London River, with a Thames barge in the background

Rowing on the river with the London Whalers. You can join them –
just follow the weblink below

Dick Wynne has written to say that his restored 1934 Montague whaler is being repainted and will be afloat again in two weeks or so.

Regular readers will recognise Dick from the Albert Strange Association – see the Blogroll to the right of this post. This time, he’s recruiting a group of people to her off the ground (so to speak) in London under oar and sail. She’ll be operating evenings and weekends, given enough interest, so if you’re in London and fancy a little old-fashioned rowing – mixed, no doubt, with some old-fashioned socialising – get in touch via the London Whalers website.

–

Napoleon’s own rowing boat

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Napoleon\'s famouse canot at he Musee de la Marine, Paris

Napoleon\'s famous canot at the Musee de la Marine, Paris Napoleon\'s famous canot at the Musee de la Marine, Paris

Napoleon\'s famous canot at the Musee de la Marine, Paris Napoleon\'s famous canot at the Musee de la Marine, Paris

Views of Napoleon’s famous canot at the Musee de la Marine, Paris.
Truly a boat fit for an emperor!

On entering the Paris Musée de la Marine, the first thing the visitor sees is Napoleon’s wonderful canot – and it hits you right between the eyes. The gilding is fantastic, even down to the fish that adorn each of the oars.

What do you think – does it represent a challenge to amateur boatbuilders?

The canot was apparently built in secret and used by the emperor and his young empress Marie-Louise to inspect his fleet at what the museum authorities are pleased to call the Port of Anvers in 1810 – though the people who live there call it Antwerpen, while anglophones generally use the name Antwerp. I’ll put up a post about a painting of that event in a few days.

Of course there are lots of other things to see and do in Paris, as the Rough Guide to Paris makes clear!

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