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Beale Park Boat Show this weekend

Beale Park Boat Show 2

The Beale Park Boat Show runs from this Friday to Sunday (7th – 9th June, 2013) at Lower Basildon in Berkshire.

The organisers say that this year’s event is looking good – exhibitor bookings are strong, there new attractions and visitor numbers are expected to be increased as children are now admitted free when accompanied by a full-paying adult.

The show is well known for its traditionally built craft, the Watercraft magazine competition for amateur boatbuilders and its race small boats powered by various cordless tools. There are also displays and demonstrations, free boat trips (subject to availability), and a ‘try a boat’ scheme operated by exhibitors and children’s activities.

The Historical Maritime Society will this year take to the show’s seven acre lake in a 23ft full-size replica of a frigate’s launch to perform evolutions under oars and sail.

On dry land, the re-enactors will return to their marquee to explain aspects of life at sea for the officers and men, and for the ladies at home; who will also be present at the show telling historical tales of what life was like back then.Visitors will have the chance to learn how crews were fed, what they drank, how ship to ship signalling worked and much more.

The Society also plans to show a WWII four-man commando canoe.

I hoping to make it along on the Friday – if I make it, I will certainly call on Lodestar Books publishers of new and neglected nautical writing, the Boat Building Academy, and the International Boatbuilding Training College.

Damien O’Grady reports on sailing Murray Isles Aurette dinghy

Australian Damien O’Grady has sent us this photo and a short report of his experience of sailing Murray Isles’ Aurette small Auray punt design.

Auray punt fans may remember he wrote a short report of his experience of building the boat a while ago. The plans are included in my book published by International Marine, Ultrasimple Boatbuilding.

See the photos and what Damien had to say in his earlier post here.

This is what he says now he has rigged the boat as specified in Murray’s plans. I’d say it sounds just right for a dinghy of this size:

‘Hi Gavin

‘I finally made the mast and yard from what is here called white beech [it’s called hornbeam here – ed], which I soaked with Sikkens Cetol HLS. I put two canvas collars around the mast – one at the point where it passes through the foredeck, and one where the yard rubs up against it – I stitched these on using heavy duty thread, criss-crossed as you would put laces on your boots. The halyard passes through a simple “dumb sheave”, just as is suggested in your book, which I made by drilling a 12mm hole and working it with a D-section file.

‘You can see most of the arrangement in the attached photo, in which my son is hoisting the yard for the first time. The tack has a line that attaches first to the mast, and then to the little bulkhead just behind the foredeck – this serves to hold the mast in place in case you capsize. I shaped the spars just as shown in your book. I reinforced the foredeck aperture with glass tape.

‘She needs plenty of wind to really get going, but she can handle pretty much anything you throw at her. I’ve had her with that much wind that the bow is almost buried under the bow wave, and you have to shift your weight aft to compensate. Very forgiving for kids to begin sailing in. As an adult, if you capsize, it won’t be because of the wind – it’s more likely to be bad balance on your part.

‘That’s it – I’m very fond of her – my son has been seduced by the speed and glamour of the RS Feva, so now he only takes out the little Aurette to humour me, but that’s fine. I’m thinking next of making a light boom for her, to keep better sail shape.

‘Cheers!

‘Damien’

PS – Damien has sent over some additional measurment information for the rudder not included in the published plans. See them here: rudder_extras

The Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival

Boatbuilder Tiernan Roe of Ballydehob in the South-Western corner of Eire sent in these photos of the Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival, which took place last weekend.

Here’s what he says about the photos:

‘The grey rowing boat is a gandelow from the Shannon estuary region of Ireland, and was built by the AK Ilen Boat Building School.

‘The pretty little lug-sailed boat is a François Vivier-designed Ilur built by Tim Cooke at the fishing village of Union Hall. Well worth having a look at his tumblr he’s really putting in a lot of work into a very nice boat. [And also some more photos of the Baltimore Festival – ed.]

‘I had one of the boats I built for the Game of Thrones TV series on display, which was a bit of fun. The two boats are back in the workshop for a bit of work before they are sent off to exotic locations for filming, now if I can only swing that I have to go too. Ideas on a postcard please… The photos of the Game of Thrones boat were taken by Helen Sloan/HBO.

‘I’m also building another two faerings at the moment and the micro cruiser I have been working on for the last few months is nearing completion – or at least the list of things to do is getting longer so I guess it must be close to a launch.

‘Hope all is well with you and keep up the good work with intheboatshed.

‘Tiernan’

Thanks Tiernan!

Click on the thumbnails below for larger photographs.