BBA December 2014 student launch photos

The Boat Building Academy’s class of March 2014 launched the boats built as part of their course under brilliant blue skies on 3 December. Here’s principal Yvonne Green’s report:

‘Two hundred people including Lyme Regis mayor Sally Holman gathered to celebrate the end of the course.

‘The eleven students came to the BBA from places as far apart as Brazil, America and Bridport, just 9 miles down the road from Lyme.

‘For the first time a father and son, Laurence and Will Shillingford, were on the course at the same time. Will is off to work at Michael Dennett’s in Chertsey, where he will join 2013 intake graduate Adam Smith, while Laurence returns to Bridport, with a 21ft Thames skiff based on a drawing in the book Working Boats of Britain by Eric McKee.

‘The François Vivier-designed 14ft Beg Meil gaff-rigged dinghy made a festive splash of red, crew dressed in homage to the designer.

‘Instructor Mike Broome designed the 14ft outboard-powered runabout.

‘Sadly a strip-planked Alden O Class sloop was unfinished and stayed in the workshop; in order to launch her the students would have made a rush job of finishing, which would have been a sin.

‘But she’s still going to attract a lot of attention once she’s finished.

‘Last but not least is The Lost Tribe. A 12ft glued clinker Fleet Trow. Builder and owner Nigel Chapman plans to use her for fishing, but was taken seriously ill half way through the course. The Trow was finished, but fortunately Nigel is recovering and we look forward to him rejoining us when he’s fit enough.

‘After the certificate awards the students danced until 10pm at the Power Boat Club on the beach opposite the Academy.

‘They’ve thrown down the gauntlet to their friends in the class of September 2014, who move down onto the main workshop floor after Christmas.’

Picture the Creek exhibition of Faversham Creek photos this weekend

Picture the Creek exhibition

Photos of the local creek by Faversham residents will be on show at the Faversham Creek Trust’s Purifier Building from 11am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.

From what I can see, it’s an interesting, often quirky collection, and all the better for it. For details – and to catch a glimpse of some of the photos  – see the Picture the Creek website.

I have to say that I think this is a cracking idea, and I hope lots of people take the opportunity to go and see the show. My only regret is that non-residents were not allowed to enter – so you won’t find any photos of this regular creek user.

Vietnamese fishing boats photographed by Matt Atkin

Vietnam fishing boats

Vietnam fishing boats Vietnam fishing boats Vietnam fishing boats

Vietnam fishing boats Vietnam fishing boats Vietnam fishing boats Vietnam fishing boats

Vietnam fishing boats Vietnam fishing boats Vietnam fishing boats

My brother Matt Atkin has sent over another collection of his remarkable photos from the Far East, this time depicting traditionally built wooden craft and fishing folk on the coast of Vietnam, close to the ancient city of Hoi An, which is itself not far from Da Nang.

Matt points out that the eyes on some of the craft are a traditional feature, and that their job is to help a boat ‘see’ fish.

As usual, click on the images for a much larger shot – and as always, these photos remain the photographer’s copyright. Thanks Matt!

Vietnamese boats