Adam Newton’s new rowing boat wins at Beer Regatta

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Adam Newton of The Boatyard at Beer has written to say that although he hasn’t yet quite finished his glued clinker 14 ft rowing boat, it has already won the rowing race at the Devon village of Beer’s famous Regatta.

A stretched version of the 12ft Shaldon Regatta, the Boat Building Academy alumnus reports that in winning the race he beat a Fox 14, a rowing skiff designed by BBA instructor Justin Adkin and built by another BBA student, Jim Little.

Adam seems particularly pleased with that achievement, as he says it shows the boat goes well. Congratulations Adam!

Iain Oughtred-designed Tammie Norrie built by BBA student

Tammie Norrie at Beale Park - Photograph by Emma Brice Launching Fiona's Tammie Norrie, with Gail in waders - Photograph by Derek Thompson LRPS

Fiona Molloy Tammie Norrie awaiting launch

Boat Building Academy student Fiona Molloy built an Iain Oughtred-designed Tammie Norrie – click on the images above for a much larger view.

Lancashire-born Fiona developed a new passion for sailing and shortly after threw in the day jobin management accounting in London in order to do something different and more practical for a while. In 38 weeks on the long BBA course she built an 13ft 6in  glued clinker Tammie Norrie using plywood and mahogany. She chose the boat for its combination of manageable size and stability.

The choice to do the BBA course wasn’t really a career choice for Fiona: she will go back to her previous job, though hopefully in a setting connected with the sea and boating. But first she’s spending this summer using her new skills to varnish her living room floor and attending some sailing courses on a cutter with the aim of completing an RYA day skipper qualification.

See a photo diary of Fiona’s Tammie Norrie build here.

Glued clinker John Gardner Whitehall skiff launched by BBA students

Derek Thompson LRPS - Mark Cotterill Whitehall skiff on parade

Derek Thompson LRPS - Mark Cotterill Whitehall skiff on the water Tracey Marler - Mark Cotterill Whitehall skiff Tracey Marler - Mark Cotterill Whitehall skiff waiting for launch

Chelsea Davine - Whitehall skiff with Matt Cotterill and Yvette Smith newly engaged

Photos by Derek Thompson LRPS (first two); Tracy Marler (third and fourth); and Chelsea Davine (fifth)

Boat Building Academy students Matt Cotterill and Nuh dan Per built this glued clinker epoxy ply 14ft Whitehall skiff ready for the student launch in December, reports BBA staffer Emma Brice.

Originally from the Yorkshire Pennines, Matt worked in package design and 3D branding before throwing it all in and taking up the chisel in March 2010.

Matt chose the John Gardner-designed skiff because of its general similarity to the traditional boats of the Thames – he lives in the Thames Valley.

The boat, named Nicky Nacky Noo, was made using Gaboon marine plywood, with West African mahogany plywood for the sheer strake. Matt, who I gather showed clear evidence of his designer’s eye, and great attention to detail and craftsmanship, incorporated steamed timbers and various bronze fittings.

When it came to launch day Matt certainly added a dimension of his own to the schedule: surprised onlookers cheered as he rowed out on his maiden voyage, got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend Yvette. She said yes, and accepted the wooden ring Matt had made himself.

A local newspaper article about the newly engaged couple appeared under the headline ‘Bride and Boom’.

I should add that Chris Partridge of Rowing for Pleasure beat me with this story weeks ago, but it’s still a very cute tale.

With the course is over, Matt is setting up his own workshop to develop wooden products, inspired by the shapes and forms of boat building and using boat building construction methods.

Nuh, Matt’s main helper on the build, is of Turkish descent but was born and grew up in Germany and is one of a number of German students who have studied at the BBA. Nuh was an IT project manager for a car manufacturer before attending the course at Lyme. He is now pursuing boat building opportunities in warmer climates and hopes to move to Greece.

PS – Photographer Derek Thompson has signed up for the next BBA 38-week course due to start in March and attended the December launch day to see what he was in for. I guess he found out…