Category: Culture: songs, stories, photography and art

Traditions and culture relevant to the world of real boating and sailors

Quick – see curraghs in action on the BBC

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A happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to all our readers!

As I write, we’ve just watched an excellent segment of the BBC series Coast covering the West Coast of Ireland, including some great stuff about curraghs and an interview with Tim Severin of Brendan Voyage fame.

I’m telling you all this because you can see it too via the BBC’s new BBCi Player feature. Follow this link http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/, go to the A-Z listing, click through the programmes beginning with C, and there it is. But be quick – it’ll only be there for seven days.

PS – I notice that old pal Chris Partridge of Rowing for Pleasure is saying the same thing, so it must be true!
For more on curraghs at intheboatshed.net, click here.

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How to build a punt by Captain RF Wykeham-Martin, with plans

 

Wykeham-Martin sailing punt sailplan

Wykeham-Martin’s sailing punt. In his description he remarks that the leeboard could have been a little bigger

I was very pleased today to find this description of how Captain R F Wykeham-Martin built a sailing Thames punt.

It comes from a splendid collection of Thames-related material provided by Where Thames Smooth Waters Glide, an informative site sponsored by the River Thames Society. By the way, if the name Wykeham-Martin is familiar, it’s because this great gentleman also devised the widely-used foresail furling gear still known by his name.

If you’re at all interested in the Thames, check out the source of this material, Where Thames Smooth Waters Glide, which has links to many fine on-line books, including the stunning Our River by George D Leslie.

For more intheboatshed.net posts on Thames-related matters, including plans for a Thames skiff and a racing punt, click here.


L illo from George D Leslie’s Our river

Christmas at Rye Harbour – and a handsome old motor launch hull for sale

Small gaffer Petrel makes for home

The small gaff-rigged cruiser Petrel makes her way back through Rye Harbour. As usual, double-click on the images for a larger picture

Small gaffer Petrel makes for sea Small gaffer Petrel at sea Small gaffer Petrel makes for home

Small gaffer Petrel makes for home

Four images of Petrel making for sea, out on Rye Bay, and making her way back to the harbour

A few photos taken at Rye Harbour today, Boxing Day 2007. There were a lot of people out and about, all trying to make up for the previous day’s blowout, no doubt.

I was entertained by Petrel’s brief trip out to sea (above). The little boat’s crew had a great day for a sail, but they stayed out for just minutes: could they have been rushing back for turkey tikka massala followed by Christmas pudding sauteed in butter?
Wooden motor boat hull for sale at Rye Wooden motor boat hull for sale at Rye Wooden motor boat hull for sale at Rye

A handsome carvel-built wooden motor boat hull for sale – click on the central image for the phone number to call

Rye Harbour My kids, Ella and Ewan on the beach Rye Harbour red shed

A view out to sea from the harbour; my kids Ella and Ewan on the beach (note Petrel at sea, and WWII pill box gun emplacement to right); Rye’s brightly painted landmark red-roofed shed

Rye Harbour entrance derelict dolphin Rye Harbour’s heroic lifeboatmen and their boats Cottage at Rye Harbour Camber Sands busy with people

Disused dolphin at the entrance of Rye Harbour with Dungeness Power Station in the background; Rye’s heroic lifeboatmen’s rescues included a rowed rescue of an aeroplane in the 1920s, and the subsequent loss of all 17 crew in another rescue some time later; a cottage at Rye Harbour; Camber Sands full of people having a Boxing Day walk

The Francis Frith Collection has some fine photos of Rye from long ago.

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PS – Don’t miss Dick Wynne’s great story – click on the Comment link below.

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Book a room in South-East England