Kayaks

One of the nice things about kayaks is provided the weather is settled, you can get really close to places which are inaccessible by either larger boat or land.

We've often looked down into this cove from the path.

Not exactly  smugglers caves, but interesting to get a close up look around and a very nice private beach.

Woo Woo - British Moth

I was trying to figure out the amazing the deck controls on this British Moth "Woo Woo" it seemed that everything was adjustable.

Sadly there was no one around to talk to, but it looks like down haul, Cunningham, fore stay tension and even shroud tension could be controlled from the cockpit.

Managing 12 separate lines in addition to sailing the boat must be quite a technical feat.

Later Woo Woo seen on the water as she powers ahead of a rival, maybe as a result in part due to all that string.

Racing

I'm sure I heard him call "starboard".

Lapwing

Perfect setting for a perfect boat.

The colour scheme is just lovely.

The sail marking looks like Fowey River FR class, but plain white sails instead of the usual brightly coloured sails which distinguish the class.

The Wight as was

I picked up a copy of this delightful account of the Isle of Wight written based on the authors experiences in the 1950's and very early 1960's.

The reason I was so interested, was my Mum took me to the Isle of Wight in, I guess 1962 or 63.

I actually remember getting off the paddle wheel steamer at Ryde pier looking nervously down at the water, before getting aboard the local train which took us to Sandown, where we were staying. Exactly as the picture above. We had traveled down from London Waterloo on an express steam train, this  local one was so different, slow and stopped at lots of rural halts, as it was in the days before the Beecham closures.

Cowes week 1960's, actually not that much different, these days, certainly more crowds and a lot more lycra.  Still a few black tie outfits and blazers to be seen today, and plenty of folk in jeans and blue jerseys.

Totally disappeared, about the only hint of ship building on the Medina these days is the Hammerhead  crane in West Cowes.
 

Yarmouth harboour looking very familiar, if much less crowded that it is today.

Sailing off the needles, I'm guessing not a race as they are flying their ensign. Lovely boat.

Slipway Saturday

Lovely Vertue on the slipway at Peter Williams yard at Bodinnick.

Hamble - A village history

Had a quick look through this history of Hamble recently, which was in the in the cafe bookcase. It has some really good, old photos of the village,river and local characters from he past 100 years or so.

I shall be on the lookout for a second hand copy.

Beer Grylls

The latest iteration of the restaurant/cafe at the corner of Rope Walk in Hamble made me smile.

Even in Hamble the restaurant business is a fragile trade, I've lost count of the number of name/management changes the place has gone through.