XOD

On the hard at Itchenor one of the local XoD fleet Perdix.

Googling Perdix XoD shows her to be a competitive boat, a regular entrant sailing at Cowes Week over the past 25 years as well as in the Itchenor fleet and doing rather well in the class centenary event.

I'm guessing from her varnished topside that she is planked in teak, and certainly looks fabulous.

For more information on XoD see 1001 Boats Blog or the class association.

Folk Boat Friday No.5

Apologies for featuring this boat again, but it really is a lovely example, out on her summer mooring at low spring tide.

The other Around the Island Race

Sadly I donated our ancient Seagull to an enthusiast years ago, it was seized but he was determined to restore an old Model 40.

A 50 mile trek around the Isle of Wight might be pushing it a bit, but a local Seagul derby could be a lot of fun.

Ready for the Races

With the summer season in full swing the river is brimming with go faster racing machines.

Sally

Sally of Kames is an 8 ton auxiliary sloop designed by James McGruer and built at the Bute Slip Dock Co. Ltd. in 1953

Seen here lying at Birdham Marina where she has been having some care and attention by Tim Gilmore and his team, including the annual repaint and varnish over winter. She's looking spectacular.

Folk Boat Friday No.4

One of the Lymington fleet, a modern Nordic Folk Boat.

Tom Tit

Returning to Keyhaven presumably after Yogaff, the Old Gaffer's festival at Yarmouth on the isle of Wight, local Itchen Ferry Tom Tit looking fantastic as always.

Believed to be from the drawing board of Arthur Payne and built by Fayes in 1894.

Sea Nuffink

I have to confess I don't really understand motor boater.

Skiff or Gig?

I'm not sure exactly how to describe this boat which in dimensions is very similar to the local Bursledon gigs, but built by Devon builders B&A Pomeroy in 2002 and a very fine craft she is.

Interior detail showing the builders plate and construction detail. The owner had a really lovely set of hollow shaft wooden blades, light as a feather.

Folk Boat Friday No.3

Not strictly a Folk Boat, this is a Marieholm 26,designed by Tord Sundén as a development of the international Folk boat, on the hard at Hamble Point.

Good drying day

Glorious sunshine and a midday low water, a perfect day for a scrub.

Down on the hard at Itchenor work was in full swing, the scrubbing piles were full and bilge keelers were demonstrating just how useful two keels can be.

Drying out on sloping ground can often be a bit of a challenge and very much depends on weight distribution aboard. Angelina our Endurance cutter always had an inclination to lay over to starboard unless counter balanced with 10 gallons of water in jerry cans on the port rail.

Folk Boat Friday No 2

Lurking among the masses of white modern boats is the occasional classic.

D Day Memorial

These stones, erected in the Victoria Country Park at Netley overlooking Southampton Water commemorate the memory of those who took part in the D Day operation.



The inscription reads:

Write on this stone,

No words of sadness,

Only the gladness due.

That we who asked the most of living

Know how to give it too

Frank Thompson 1920 -1944

Seventy years ago on the eve of d Day, those who took part were waiting or boarding the flotilla of craft in the creeks and harbours of the Solent; an armada which took them across the channel to change the course of recent history.

Our gladness seems all too little, but we give it gladly and with thanks.

Standing out in the crowd

How to spot your tender at the crowded dinghy dock.