Category: Events

Events such as historical events, races, exhibitions, processions, regattas and so on.

Classic Motor Boat Association to rally next week at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall

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Classic Motor Boat Association to rally at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall

Classic Motor Boat Association rally, with the distinctive National Maritime Museum building in the background

The Classic Motor Boat Association is having a big meeting at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. they didn’t get around to telling us, but thankfully the NMM did! Here’s their press release:

From Thursday 20 September, the Classic Motor Boat Association (CMBA) will be holding another one of their famous rallies at National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

Established in 1998, the CMBA brings together enthusiasts of classic motor boats from across the UK. The majority of craft belonging to members of this fast growing club come from the 1950s and early 1960s and are often restored beyond their original showroom condition.

The boats will be moored on the Museum’s pontoon from Thursday 20 September, however, the owners will be cruising on and off around the bay so you might not be able to catch them until they return from their adventures. To get up really close and personal with the boats, visit the Museum’s pontoon from 10-2.30pm on Saturday 22 September and meet the owners of these rare craft who are all willing to share their love of these classic boats with you. At 2.30pm the boats will leave the Museum and set sail for the slalom competition held between County Wharf and Queens Jetty offering everyone a wonderful opportunity to see the powerboats of yesterday performing today.

Among the leading boats expected to attend is Chris Craft, an early 50s traditional wooden runabout, Poncelet a 5m moulded wooden speedboat from the late 50s and a Stapley Ski Race boat that has a long pedigree of towing championship water skiers. A number of Brooms and Albatrosses, similar to the model on display in the Museum, will also be attending the rally.

Tim Parr, event organiser says: “This event has grown year on year and we’re delighted to be back in Falmouth waters once again. We’d welcome the public coming to say hello, meet us and the boats and see, through the exhibits at the Museum, how boating has changed over the years.”

For more information please contact Tim Parr 07971 522525 or see the CMBA site at http://www.cmba-uk.com/

Goodies from Amazon on this topic are:

•Classic Motor Boats

•Gar Wood Boats

•Old Outboard Service Manual

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Famous Contessa 32 Gigi restored by builders Jeremy Rogers Yachts

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Famous Contessa 32 Gig restored by builders Jeremy Rogers Yachts

Contessa 32 Gigi immortalised by John Kretschmer’s book Cape Horn to Starboard. She is being restored by builders Jeremy Rogers Yachts

Jeremy Rogers Yachts will be showcasing the well known Contessa 32 Gigi, at the London Boat Show in December following a major restoration.

Gigi was bought in 1982 by American Ty Techera who had been diagnosed with cancer and had decided to fulfil a lifelong dream and take his last sailing trip around Cape Horn. Techera engaged John Kretschmer to skipper the yacht and in 1984 the pair undertook their journey.

Kretschmer later immortalised the voyage from New York to San Francisco in his book Cape Horn to Starboard.

Jeremy and Fiona Rogers recently found Gigi lying neglected in Galveston, Texas and bought her with the intention of bringing her back to the UK to undergo a complete refit. The refit is underway and will be completed in time for a preview at the December Earls Court event.

Visitors to the show will have the opportunity to meet the Rogers to talk about the restoration of Gigi and John Kretschmer will also be present at the show to spend time talking about his adventures in the boat.

Jeremy Rogers, the renowned Lymington based boatbuilder and 1974 Yachtsman of the Year, began building Contessa 26s in 1966. The Contessa 32 was produced in 1970 with her first appearance at the London Boat Show in 1971, and quickly became a popular cruiser after an early boat, Sunmaid IV, won the Boat of the Show award at the 1972 London Boat Show.

Jeremy Rogers Yachts is still building yachts at the Lymington Yard, and I gather orders can be placed at the boat show for new yachts or re-fits of existing Contessas.

Piracy and slavery – the horror and the pity of The Flying Cloud

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Piracy and slavery - the horror and the pity of The Flying Cloud

Contemporary engraving of a pirate party (from http://anthropik.com/)

I’ve been listening to this hugely powerful song telling a story of slavery and piracy recently, first as sung by my friend Annie Dearman with her band Dearman, Gammon and Harrison, and later by Ewan McColl. Both versions are awesome, but I can’t let you hear an mp3 sample without breaking copyright. However, I can share the lyrics of the ballad with you.

I think it’s pretty clearly a broadside ballad, but unlike many, it’s far from being doggerel. Prepare to be shocked by this story of the cruelty of slaving and of piracy.

The Flying Cloud

My name is Arthur Hollandin, as you may understand
I was born ten miles from Dublin Town, down on the salt-sea strand,
When I was young and comely, sure, good fortune on me shone,
My parents loved me tenderly for I was their only son.

My father he rose up one day and with him I did go,
He bound me as a butcher’s boy to Pearson of Wicklow,
I wore the bloody apron there for three long years and more,
Till I shipped on board of The Ocean Queen belonging to Tramore.

It was on Bermuda’s island that I met with Captain Moore,
The Captain of The Flying Cloud, the pride of Baltimore,
I undertook to ship with him on a slaving voyage to go,
To the burning shores of Africa, where the sugar cane does grow.

It all went well until the day we reached old Africa’s shore,
And five hundred of them poor slaves, me boys, from their native land we bore,
Each man was loaded down with chains as we made them walk below,
Just eighteen inches of space was all that each man had to show. Continue reading “Piracy and slavery – the horror and the pity of The Flying Cloud”