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
Rabelos are a traditional Portuguese cargo boat developed for transporting people and goods such as port wine along the Douro River to Porto.
The Wikipedia tells me that port wine companies continue to maintain a fleet of rabelos and race them each year on St John’s Day, June 24. It must be quite a sight.
My thanks to Dave Rowlands for spotting this one!
1927 Fastnet winner and legendary Albert Strange-designed cutter yacht Tally Ho is in need of help.
She’s lying at Brookings Harbor, Oregon where the harbour authorities have decided that if she isn’t taken up by a new owner intent on bringing her back to life by June, she will be destroyed.
The aim of the Albert Strange Association is to bring her back to the UK for repair and restoration, and hopefully back to racing. Historic and beautiful as she is, she would be a wonderful project for someone with the right resources and interest.
Designed in 1909 and built for the owner of an early British Isles steam trawler fleet, she was built by Stow & Son of Shoreham for cruising in comfort while indulging in deep-sea fishing.
The yacht is said to have all the beauty associated with an Albert Strange design, but withthe power and seaworthiness of a pilot cutter. She won the 1927 Fastnet race in near storm conditions, and only two yachts of the whole fleet managed to complete the course. Read some terrific descriptions of the race.
See also the Save Tally Ho Facebook page and the Wikipedia and National Historic Ships entries for Tally Ho.
People feel strongly about this vessel. Here’s an appeal from the Council of American Maritime Museums.
PS – The magazine Classic Sailor has just published this nice piece about Tally Ho. Let’s hope there is good news soon.
The 1896-built lifeboat Francis Forbes Barton is back on the Isle of Thanet after being rescued from Lincolnshire when she was in danger of being destroyed. She’s currently at Ramsgate Harbour.
Constructed at Birkenhead, she is said to have served at Broadstairs from 1897 to 1912 and at North Deal during World War I.
The Frances Forbes Barton Preservation and Restoration Trust is planning to raise funds and restore the lifeboat. Read about her here, here, here and perhaps best of all here. The trust also has a Facebook page.