New Zealand racer restoration project

Our friend the noted Kiwi boat designer John Welsford suggested that we should include this one at an early date, and he’s right – she’s a corker.

Rainbow is one of the ‘big Logans’ – one of a small group of large racing yachts built in Auckland by Logan Brothers. Built in 1898 with a hull made from three diagonal skins of kauri wood, she’s 50ft long and 38ft on the waterline.

The restoration currently underway will restore her original form, with a flush deck and gaff rig – a real racing machine from a classic period.

For more on this fabulous boat go to:

http://www.classicyacht.org.nz/node/954

Can you add to this story? Email us at gmatkin@gmail.com

 

Windermere steam boats get £465,596

The Lakeland Arts Trust has been awarded £465,596 to restore the boats of the Windermere Steam Boat Museum. The museum houses a wonderful collection of rare boats of international importance, including Dolly, the world’s oldest propelled mechanical boat, Captain Flint’s houseboat from Arthur Ransome’s children’s novels, and many other historic and elegant craft.

A key aim of the projects is to create a centre of excellence for boat restoration and an opportunity for local people to learn new skills.

Windermere Steam Boat Museum:

http://www.steamboat.co.uk/

If you can add to this story, please email me at gmatkin@gmail.com .

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The amazing restoration story of the Nancy Blackett

The Nancy Blackett is a 28ft Hillyard cruising yacht that famous children’s author Arthur Ransome bought second-hand in 1934.

In fact, she was quite new, having been built in 1931, but in her young life had already borne two names when Ransome renamed her after a character in his children’s novels.

The story of how she came to be rescued by Mike Rines, who restored her and finally sold her to the Nancy Blackett Trust, is astonishing – perhaps the most remarkable aspect of it is that he lived only doors away from Ransome’s home at the time he owned the Nancy B, yet knew little about the author and nothing about his connection with the boat.

Nancy Blackett story and pictures

http://www.solarnavigator.net/arthur_ransomes_nancy_blackett.htm

Nancy Blackett Trust website:

http://www.nancyblackett.org/

Swallows & Amazons enthusiasts pages for more material about Ransome’s boats, both in real life and in his novels

http://coastweather.com/html/sanda.html

If you can add to this story, please email me at gmatkin@gmail.com .

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