Category: Steam power

On Barton Broad

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Nancy Oldfield Trust on Barton Broad

Nancy Oldfield Trust on Barton Broad

Nancy Oldfield Trust on Barton Broad

The Nancy Oldfield Trust enjoying a brisk breeze on Barton
Broad. Click on the photographs for a larger image

This is a Broads One Design, often called a Brown Boat, and they’re very common on the Norfolk Broads.

The Nancy Oldfield Trust is based at Barton Broad and provides activities including sailing, canoeing, motor boating, fishing, bird-watching and environmental studies for anyone who is disadvantaged or has a disability, and good for them – I imagine anyone stepping out of the boat at the end of this ride would have felt that life was good and that they were about ten feet tall.

Follow the link for more posts referring to the Norfolk Broads.

Japonica on Barton Broad, Norfolk Broads

One of the Martham yard’s Japonicas reefed down ready
to face the wind on Barton Broad.

Steamer Falcon on Barton Broad

The Museum of the Broads’ steamer, Falcon

Broadland river scene on the way to Stalham and the Museum of the Broads

A typical Broadland river scene on the way to the
staithe at Stalham, and the Museum of the Broads. My
daughter loves coiling unused mooring lines. And note the
ubiquitous Broads mud weight!

Video of a regatta at Horning, 1908

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Norfolk’s local ITV station has an interesting scrap of film shot at Horning regatta in 1908. One striking point is that the scene is very different from the one we know today – not least because it’s so devoid of trees.

Dig the steam-powered pleasure boat, elegant racers and smart standing-lug rigged sailing boats, not to mention cruising boats very like the types still sailed in the area today.

The Beale Park Thames Boat Show is this weekend – so try not to miss it!

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Beale Park Thames Boat Show

Photo courtesy of the Beale Park Thames Boat Show organisers

Motor cruiser and Wharram catamaran at the Beale Park Thames Boat Show

Contrasting boats on the water at the Beale Park Thames Boat
Show – an elderly motor cruiser and a Wharram catamaran.
Thanks to boatbuilder Fabian Bush for the photo

Falmouth quay punt drawn by Percy Dalton

A newly discovered Percy Dalton drawing of a Falmouth quay punt
found by the folks at boating booksellers Dalton Young

Earlier today I found myself reflecting that quite a few of the people who contribute to intheboatshed.net are likely to be at the Beale Park Thames Boat Show this weekend. Naturally we’re planning to be there on Saturday and looking forward to meeting as many of them as possible.

I’d encourage any reader who can get there to make the trip as well. For boat building and boat restoration enthusiasts, part of the success of Beale Park is that it’s a show that works on many levels.

Those who admire exquisite craftsmanship will find it, while those who need to be encouraged to build their first simple plywood boat will find that as well.

There are also stalls selling recycled bits of boats and old books, cut-price chandlery, smart bronze bits and pieces, top-quality hardwoods and plywood, sophisticated glues and resins. And then there are the sociable membership organisations. The Eventide Owners, the Dinghy Cruising Association and the rest, are all there to talk with show visitors, and they’re easily interesting enough to make for an interesting conversation.

But on second thoughts perhaps I won’t be able to stand and talk for too long – after all, I’ll be making sure my camera is full of photographs to keep this weblog going through the winter months!