Donald Campbell’s Jetstar appears at the NMM Cornwall

Jetstar 480

Jetstar Jetstar

Jetstar

Donald Campbell’s one-off 13ft hydrojet sports-boat Jetstar is on show in the foyer at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall 40 years after he tragically died attempting to set a world water speed record of 300mph.

Campbell’s attempt at the record ended in disaster on 4 January 1967, when his legendary jet-powered Bluebird K7 flipped into the air and crashed on Coniston Water.

The smart and innovative little boat with a blue hull and mahogany decks was intended to Continue reading “Donald Campbell’s Jetstar appears at the NMM Cornwall”

Understanding alternative sailing rigs

Ted Brewer Schooner

The North American magazine Good Old Boat has a cool article online by Ted Brewer about alternative sailing rigs and their development.

Here’s a short but telling excerpt: Continue reading “Understanding alternative sailing rigs”

How Fife one-design Coralie got her sheer back

Coralie Coralie Coralie

Before and after Coralie’s sheerline was restored

I was intrigued by these photos at the Classic Sailboats website showing how Coralie, a William Fife III designed Conway One Design got her sheer back during her restoration. The boat’s sheer had hogged and flattened over the years, due I’d guess to the effects of gravity, and so once her deck was off, the Classic Sailboats folks had a chance to get her back into shape. The effect of restoring her subtle sheerline is dramatic, as I’m sure you’ll agree.