Matthew Atkin photographs the boats of Hong Kong

Boats of Hong Kong  Boats of Hong Kong

 Boats of Hong Kong  Boats of Hong Kong

Boats of Hong Kong  Boats of Hong Kong  Boats of Hong Kong

Boats of Hong Kong  Boats of Hong Kong Boats of Hong Kong

My photography enthusiast brother Matthew Atkin has been excelling himself lately – so here’s a new batch of his excellent shots of boats, this time from around Hong Kong.

It’s an amazing place. I have difficulty getting my head around the contrast between the anarchic and often ramshackle air of the fishing boats, traders and sampans on one hand, and the mind-numbing uniformity of the high rise blocks – to me it’s as if there are two completely different cultures, or even countries here. Thanks Matt!

Boats of Hong Kong Boats of Hong Kong

 

Elegant mystery yacht at Orford

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Beautiful yacht at Ore

Beautiful yacht seen at Orford

We spotted this intriguing and wonderfully elegant yacht at Orford in Suffolk while strolling and photographing working boats and wrecks a few days ago. Can anyone help? What’s her name, what is she? Is she Scandinavian? And what’s her story? If you know, please either contact us at gmatkin@gmail.com, or use the comment button below.

As seen on TV – the Humber sloop Spider T

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BBC film of Humber sloop Spider T

The BBC has made a short film about the 1920s New Holland-built Humber sloop Spider T, which is now available for charter, corporate events and so on. Click on the link above to go to the relevant BBC page – I don’t think this one will be limited to UK viewers only.

Owner and restorer Mal Nicholson tells her story as the cameras wander around the boat, and there’s even a nice clip of the Spider T sailing. Priceless stuff, and well done Mal!

For more on the Spider T story, click here for intheboatshed.net posts and here for the Spider T website.

As I write, Amazon lists just two copies of a book by Michael E Ulyatt about the Humber’s legendary sailing barges, which show clear evidence of both Viking and Dutch influence in their development: Flying Sail: Humber Keels and Sloops. Also, Tony Watts’ excellent book Holmes of the Humber includes George Holmes’ descriptions of many of the Humber’s characteristic boats, as well as his own boats and voyages.