Keyhaven Walkaround

 I can't resist a walk around at Keyhaven and especially not having been over there for a few months it was a good opportunity to see if there were any new and interesting boats.

Above a very tidy and practical harbour launch, great for fishing, picnics around teh harbour or even setting a few lobster pots.

Not new to Keyhaven but very tidy Drascombe Scaffie 14'9" double ender , simple and seaworthy which seems like an ideal boat for exploring the western Solent.

Not typically taken by motorboats but this example seemed very practical, called the Coastworker 210 looks to be a fast, stable and rugged working craft, the company also produces a smaller 18 foot version.

 Again far from new but nice to see this classic up on the hard presumably for ongoing maintenance.

Local supporters

 Local supporters are out in force for the World Cup over at Sarisbury Green.

 

Skiffs in action

The 18 foot skiffs were out recently at Weston SC while I was doing safety boat duty, fortunately the skiffs are largely self supported otherwise I might have had a problem keeping up, not to mention leaving the Lasers and regular b0ats behind.

I did rush over o this one but the crew were really relaxed so just stood by while they righted the boat and then sped off into teh distance down Southampton Water.

My summary would be - Fantastic boats, very fast requiring good athletic, sailing and swimming skills

 

New houseboat

There's been a variety of houseboats on this spot in the saltings over the years ranging from serious sea going craft ot a wide body canal boat. This latest looks to be a dutch type barge with a modified wheelhouse and stern enclosure, looks really nice. 

That looks like the perfect  spot for watching the evening sun going down on the river with a cold beer in hand, there's perhaps a clue to a possible downside in the top photo - yes that's a motorway speeding camera sign - who know barges went so fast.

 

Bursledon Windmill

Despite having lived here for almost 30 years I've never actually been in the local windmill so took the opportunity on a rare open day to take a look.

The mill apparently is one of the oldest of it's type with wooden engineering powering the mill wheels, the mill wright's expertise with wood was quickly replaced by metal from the start of the 18th century and few of older mills survive.

The mill was operational until around 2014 and it was a lovely sight in summer standing above the trees on the top of Providence Hill with the white sails rotating. 

The mill has had a few difficult years, apparently leased to the council who were to run it as a museum and then decided to get rid of all the museums, now back with the trustees the plan is to fit new sails and get the mill operational and making flour.

In addition the plan is to use the site for events which is a lovely and unique location for weddings and other activities.

Local legend has it that while the mill was in use King Charles insisted on Bursledon flour for some of the Duchy  biscuits or cakes.

 Above the governor mechanism to keep the mill wheels turning at the correct speed, apparently the mill has no tail piece so to bring the sails onto the wind the entire top piece is rotated manually, there is a scheme to automate that with electric motors and wind direction detectors.

Push the boat out

Push the Boat Out days are put on for new our nervous sailors at Hurst Caste SC to sail in company with safety boat support and held normally on Saturday's as us working folks can't make the mid week "potters".

Not being a nervous nor new sailor I was crewing the safety boat which afforded time to try and take some photos.

The majority of the fleet were SCOWs which are one of the popular classes at HCYC

There was a sailing challenge to leave beach with a 30 second duration between each boat and arrive at a buoy near Hurst spit in the same order and with the same time interval, in the event they got off quite smartly making a fine procession down the moorings, but the fleet soon split up with the more experience sailors racing off ahead.

 Along with the SCOWs was a one of the club Hartley 12's and a small fleet of kayaks who made good pace against what were at times gusty winds.

 

 

 

Past times

Killing time at the airport I was browsing the current boating magazines which seemed very thin and short on content other than glossy pictures

In contrast I ad a quick look through some a couple of old copies of PBO which ware littering up my office, subjects covered include converting an inflatable into a life raft, diesel engine maintenance, repairing a stern bearing and how to build spars for a gaff rig including reference to Skene's Elements of Yacht Design. For the more cerebral there was a piece on celestial angles and sight reduction tables. 

 In the intervening 40 odd years practical seems to have a new focus, more about choosing the best of the latest piece of equipment

Victory Class - preparing for the season

 Stopped off in the Old Portsmouth yard of the Victory Class where members were getting their boats ready for the season

 

 The class is unusual in that the 21 foot boat designed by Alfred Westmacott developed in 1934 from a modified Bembridge One design was updated in 2006 with a fiberglass hull design and both wooden and GRP boats race together.

 

 

The yard is a really nice facility just opposite Portsmouth Sailing Club which in itself has an interesting history, the club house is a Grade II listed historic building constructed around 1830 which served variously as a consulate building for 13 nations and a French onion store before becoming the club's home in 1926 (happy centenary).

 

Bubble

Very original with patina showing an age similar to my own and complete with it's very own, very cute and very patient guard dog (no sophisticated electronic alarm systems on this baby).

Isetta 300 1950's micro car with a 298cc single cylinder four stroke producing around 13 HP, seating for two, this fine example even has a sun roof.

Born in an age of post war austerity and fuel shortages it was a great design providing affordable transport with weather protection.

The iconic opening front door, where the steering wheel hinged out of the way to allow the driver access was a great innovation, one slight downside was having no reverse gear if it was parked too close front on it was extremely difficult to get out, maybe that's why this one had the sunroof.

 

Spice Island Walkabout

Not having been to the Camber in Old Portsmouth for a while and having a day off Mrs BB and I parked up at Eastney and cycled along the seafront in the good weather.

In all honesty not too much had changed which is all to the good, the Spice Island Inn actually isn't that old being the amalgamation of two pubs around the 1990's. Going further back in history 17th and 18th centuries the area has a bad reputation for drunken sailors, smugglers, women of the night and general bad behavior, non of which was on display during our visit fortunately.

A superyacht alongside GunWharf Quay

The Still and West and the harbour entrance which was temporarily blocked by HMS Vanguard in the 1960s, one end of the ship was wedged just behind the pub and the other end in Gosport. There's a fantastic  photo in the pub.

Pretty much where Vanguard was resting on the Gosport side, the Mary Mouse ex trinity house light vessel.

 The Millennium tower just across the water which forms the exit for the Wight Link ferries terminal, with said ferry just embarking over to presumably Fishbourne, no need to way you can practically shake hands as it passes!!
 

Mariners beware - Southsea submarine barrier

In the same way that scuba diving isn't really a spectator sport, there's not that much to be seen at HW.

 Constructed in the early 20th century 1905-9 running from the beach out to the Horse Sand fort (seen in the distance as protection to prevent fast motor torpedo boats or small craft from getting into Portsmouth.

Constructed of 60-ton concrete blocks and heavy ironwork there is a gap that very small boats can use, although I've always preferred to sail around

Return of the onion seller

 After quite some time an onion seller has returned to Lymington market, or at least a new seller has taken up the post.

 

Previously a French seller from Roscoff area would typically visit around September, which was a tradition dating back to the 1950's when sellers would bring bicycles over as cheap and probably the only realistically available personal transport to sell their wares.

The new team are English, but still really good of them to bring this tradition back. 

Qwerky

  Great name for a tender and perhaps quite appropriate, with a mast step and off center dagger board it looks to be able to sail as well as row. I especially like the sculling notch in the transom which is a sure sign of a good dinghy

 The two inspection hatches on the side benched are a good idea but might be a little uncomfortable.

New sail plan?

I don't often use other people's photos on the blog, so thanks to whoever posted this on the internet and if I'm contravening any convention or rights I will take it down immediately. 

 The reason to put it up is that it's such an attractive sail plan. I've been doodling around ideas to put a larger sail plan on Tosh our Cornish Cormorant, years ago I had a conversation with Roger Dongray who designed the original Cornish Crabber, the Cormorant and the Cornish Yawl of which No 1 Greta we owned a few years ago, was Roger's own boat.

Roger's advice on the Cormorant is that it could easily manage a 10% increase in sail area and probably 15%, the challenge for any redesign is to to lose the easy handling of the current rig and make it attractive - the West Mersea boat above certainly achieves the latter.  

 

Technology - down memory creek

Browsing through some old copies of practical Boat Owner I realised how far and fast marine electronics have come in the past 40 years.

Back in the day and in fact I have never have invested in speed and direction other than a Windex at the mast head primarily used at night when it was illuminated by the masthead light and it's impossible to se the wind direction in pitch black conditions.

 Autonnic Research were however a really helpful and great to deal with company, I seem to recall at least one of the directors was a keen and somewhat traditionalist yachtsman, they were one of the last companies to produce an electronic towed log. The propeller came on an electrical cable which really only needed to be deployed on long passages avoiding taking out the fouled up through hull and avoiding holes beneath the waterline completely.

The same towed unit could be and was fitted to the Stowe Navigator log fitted to Blue Clipper allowing us to close up the through hull and it served us well both ways across the Atlantic.
 

Lock's Heat Classic Cars enjoying the sun

The good weather brought out a good selection of cars at the Locks Heath Sunday meeting

Above Sunbeam Alpine of which I had 2 back in the early 80's one driven down to the south of France which wasn't such a great idea, traveling down we had the roof up to keep off the sun and buffeting wind noise but it was really hot. 

 Above - What a contrast in front grills, guessing this is a 70's Caddy with absolutely no apologies to aerodynamics. 

Below - In the Citreon DS looking like it might have flown in, incredibly the design debuted at the October 1955 Paris motor show 

 A crowd pleasing favorite Pininfarina designed Fiat (128 I think?) 

I think it was Hot Wheels that first brought out model hot rod and other wild designs back in the 60's, I wasn't much into toy cars back then but those were the ones I wanted, must be great to have a full size one now.

Interesting micro car, I forget the make and model, far too distracted by the snakeskin interior trim, which according to the owner was original, probably an option?

 White Corvette and red leather interior about as Americana as they come, fantastic.

Nice MGA, compared to the Corvette the 1500cc or 1600cc seems a little light for a sports car, but then it only weighed circa 2000lbs. 

Classically French and certainly in these parts rare, Peugeot. 

 

Vanden Plas Princess, my friend Malcolm and I bought one of these while we were at college at the local auction, I think for around £180 or so. Unusual features were hydraulic jacks at each corner operated via a panel under the drivers feet and a flickering fire effect heater in the rear.

Lot of fun, needless to say this one is in much better condition. 

If you're going to have an old sports card then one like this might just be perfect