Gavin Atkin's weblog for the sort of people who like looking inside boat sheds. It's about old boats, traditional boats, boat building, restoration, the sea and the North Kent Coast
Events such as historical events, races, exhibitions, processions, regattas and so on.
Great good luck you lot! The row St Kilda crew practising
They’ve set off – the 100-mile fund-raising row from Village bay St Kilda to Portree on the Isle of Skye in an open rowing boat built around 1890 began earlier today.
The rowers are raising funds for the RNLI and Skye & Lochalsh Young Carers. The link for donations is here; their website is here, the BBC has a story here, and track their progress .
I wonder whether they’ll do it all again next year?
This film in Dylan Winter’s Keep Turning Left series captures these 25ft lovelies (and Sunbeams and XoDs, I’m reminded to point out – see the comments) rather beautifully.
To know more about them click here and if you want to know about Swallow racing at Itchenor Sailing Club, click here.
Designed in 1946 by Tom Thorneycroft as a possible successor to the Star, the Swallow class was used as a two-man keelboat class in the 1948 Olympics, they are now raced three-up. Stars, of course, are still around, but they aren’t quite as graceful on the water…
Yesterday the folks of Elba marked the day two centuries ago when Napoleon landed on the island to live in exile – and used boatbuilder and designer Peter Radclyffe’s newly built 6m gozzo La Grace for the purpose.
She’s a little high on her lines as she’s waiting for an engine and other things to be installed.
The local newspaper has stories and great photos here and here, and put up the YouTube video above. The pomp and style seems entirely in keeping, and I love the hats…
Peter’s Facebook page has photos of the boat, including these:
