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
Some photos marking the end of the 2014 cruising season. The dreamy boat is Simon Harding’s Cygnet of London. I gather she was guilt in 1906 by the Burgoine brothers of Kingston on Thames to a design by her first owner, a G Chalmers.
I have some shots of her sailing over the weekend when I can find my mislaid camera…
PS – I’ve now found my camera (I left it on the boat!) and added my shots of Cygnet of London under sail, and a few of local wildlife for good measure.
Photos from this summer taken off Isle of Harty and the Isle of Sheppey, and at Queenborough.
The smack yacht is the lovely Bird of Dawning, which lives at Oare. Read about her here.
We are delighted to report that Hollowshore’s legendary Shipwright’s Arms has reopened following the dreadful night in early December, when the sea over-topped the sea defences and flooded the marshes with salt water.
The pub’s website has this to say:
‘Well folks, it was a long hard haul, but we managed it and are now open for business again… We had to replace just about everything, but on the bright side the pub has never looked better.
‘Although we have made some improvements, the pub is just about as you will remember it, so why not come along and check it out. We need your custom more than ever after being closed for eight weeks so look forwards to seeing you soon.’
Do check out the old pub’s history – I hadn’t realised that there’s some evidence that parts of it apparently go back to the 13th century.
Naturally, I intend to visit this favourite pub for a drink and a chat with friends very soon!