Category: Small boats

An invitation to the BBA summer student launch

BBA summer launch invitation

Click on the image for a larger view

Once again, we’re invited to celebrate with the Boat Building Academy class of September 2012 as they gather at Lyme Regis harbour to launch boats built as part of their 38-week boat building course.

The boats include a Whitehall rowing skiff, a Red bird canoe and a traditional clinker-built replica of the Morgan Giles’ Pip-Emma dinghy currently housed at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth.

The boats will be ceremonially walked in procession from the Academy to the harbour, and after a few words from BBA director Commander Tim Gedge and town mayor Sally Holman, they will each be launched to cheers from the crowd and the popping of champagne corks.

To find out more about the BBA class of September 2012 and see the build diaries of each boat, click here.

A Finesse rally on the Medway

The assembled fleet...

Well, this looks like it was fun. Author and weblogger Nick Ardley and a bunch of other Finesse yacht folks around the Thames Estuary have held their first rally – it seems to have been a varied affair, with some weather, some sunshine and a few engine problems.

The group of boats, including Finesse 21s and 24s visited Stangate Creek, the  marina at Chatham, and then Lower halstow and Stangate again. Good for them – I gather it will all happen again…

Read Nick Ardley’s account at his website.

For more posts about Finesses, click here.

Crossing the Thames on the Friday aboard Whimbrel, photo Nick Ardley
A glorious evening
Mariette seen through Whimbrel’s shrouds in Pinup Reach
The assembled fleet
Whimbrel taken by Dick Smith on Mariette
Whimbrel taken by Dick Smith on Mariette
Windsong of Leigh by Hoo Island photo by Dick Smith

Robert Manry remembered

Robert Manry Tinkerbelle Atlantic crossing log

I’ve just learned about the Robert Manry Project, which exists to remember the life of sailor and journalist Robert Manry, who in 1965 sailed solo across the Atlantic in the 13ft 6in clinker-built dinghy-with-a-lid Tinkerbelle, in 78 days.

Manry went on to write a popular book, Tinkerbelle, about his demanding and sometimes terrifying trip. He was lucky to survive.

Through its website, the Project aims to collect reminiscences, and to produce a film – there’s a trailer on the website.

Perhaps the best bit, though, is Manry’s log of the voyage – a fascinating document, particularly if like me you have previously read his book.