Don’t miss the new Dinghy Cruising Association website

Dinghy Cruising Association website

I’d like to draw readers’ attention to the Dinghy Cruising Association’s splendid new website http://dinghycruising.org.uk.

It has always been packed with goodies – articles on dinghy sailing and cruising, advice about techniques and equipment and the rest – but  it’s now much easier on the eye and includes some new sections, including a weblog and a section on the legends of dinghy sailing, including Frank Dye and well known Association members.

I should add, though, that the DCA’s wise webmaster has gone to some lengths to makes sure visitors to the site realise its as much for casual dinghy cruisers (like me) as it is for the fearless adventurer and the hardy folks who camp in small open boats.

One striking pieces of news I picked up on visiting today are that Essex small boat sailing legend Charles Stock has had to give up his boat Shoal Waters after 50 years of regular use – the boat has passed on to well known boating weblogger Creeksailor. (For more on Stock and Shoal Waters, click here and here.)

There are also items here about the Everglades Challenge, Ben Crawshaw’s continuing adventures with his boat Onawind Blue, two of the DCA’s annual awards and our friend Dylan Winter’s journey around Britain’s coastline.

If you’re still with me after all these links… I’d say the DCA’s site is well worth a visiting regularly: http://dinghycruising.org.uk

 

The magnificent Excelsior

Fishing trawler Excelsior all sail set

Sailing trawler Excelsior motoring Sailing trawler Excelsior motoring Sailing trawler Excelsior bows down and bustling on

Magnificent. Bloody marvellous. Splendid. Ordinary, mortal words seem inadequate to describe LT472, a 77ft smack built at Lowestoft in 1921 and named Excelsior.

She’s said to be only fully sea-going sailing vessel in the National Historic Ships Core Collection that is available for the general public to sail. Read all about her here: www.excelsiortrust.co.uk .

Joe Farrow asks about a fishing boat restoration at Southwold

Southwold fishing boat restoration photographed by Joe Farrow

Southwold fishing boat restoration photographed by Joe Farrow Southwold fishing boat restoration photographed by Joe Farrow Southwold fishing boat restoration photographed by Joe Farrow

Just when I was thinking we’ve been a little low on restoration projects lately, these photos and their accompanying enquiry arrived from Joe Farrow. They’re from the fascinating little harbour at Southwold, which today seems to me to be just the same as it was when I first visited as a kid with my father, four and a half decades ago.

Here’s what Joe says:

‘Hi Gavin,

‘Long time no speak! Today while walking down the harbour at Southwold I spotted something which I hope will interest you.

‘Basically, it’s an old fishing boat, which I suspect many years ago was a sailing vessel. She came out of the water, looking particularly sorry for herself some time ago now. It appears someone is gradually rebuilding her, in so much that they appear to have grafted in two new planks on the port side, and scarfed in new sections of the frames around the bulwarks.

‘I was fascinated, and wondered if anyone knew anymore about her, and so took lots of photos. If they are of use to you and your blog, please do use them!

‘Cheers, Joe’

With that elegant stern I think Joe may be right. Can anyone help him with the background of this boat please? If so, please email me at gmatkin@gmail.com or use the Comment button below.

For more posts relating to Southwold including the wonderful 19th century gentleman’s yacht Leila, click here.

And finally – if you have a story you’d like to share, do please let me know!

PS – Check the comments link below to read an informative comment on what’s happening with this boat, which turns out to be a bawley (for more posts mentioning bawleys, click here). Also, the photo below is one of the same craft some time ago.

Bawley at Southwold