Winter Work

Joseph's Opi was looking a bit tired at the end of the season, not to mention a bit of damage where he rounded up in a bit of a blow and crashed into the sea wall, so on a cold January weekend we dragged it back home and just about found enough space to work on it.

Between being away on business and going to A&E with a badly cut thumb (must be more careful) , time pressure means it's going to have to be a quick fix, rub down, epoxy where necessary and few coats of Toplac white to finish. If there's time I might spring for some go faster graphics.

West Solent Wildlife

Out on the coastal path which runs between Keyhaven and Lymington a large area of the saltings are given over to wildlife. Herron are common and clearly feel sufficiently safe to get a relatively close to. This one was feeding in the shallows and moments after this photo was taken caught a sizeable fish.

Try as I might I just couldn't get a decent photograph of these Spoonbills, so you'll just have to take my word that they do indeed have the characteristic round ends to their beaks.

Pink Boats

Not quite sure why I like pink boats, maybe it's a reaction to the ubiquitous white fibreglass or maybe it's because boats are refereed to as female.

Whatever the reasons one of the best pink boat names I've heard of was on sailing anarchy forum, pink with dark pink spots it was called "Salmon Ella".

Still winter days

Despite the cold snap, the commuter chaos and the long nights, there have been some spectacular winter days in January.

Over at Emsworth the morning flat calm above gave way to alight breeze rippling the water below.

Over in the New Forest the land is wet and alive with the gentle tricking of water draining into the streams.

Squatters

Le Guepard

The Guepard (cheetah) is a dinghy designed around fifty years ago by Étienne Riguidel and native to the Gulf of Morbihan.

Single chine with a heavy center plate, the Guepard is traditionally built wood on frame, it's relatively heavy displacement helping to make it a safe and suitable boat for the strong tidal waters.

Guepards are a colorful fleet, often setting a white mainsail with coloured jib to match the hull. The yellow boat above looked great, with only the mast varnished, contrasting colours for deck and waterline make her a stand out boat.

Some colour schemes were more subtle, some less so, great fun and they look like great boats to sail, lots of pictures on the association web site.

Working boat for sale

I got a curious and unexpected email recently.

"I'm sadly selling an old Falmouth Working Boat but of which ilk I'm not sure. After reading your blog I thought you might be able to help me identify it. Please find attached a couple of pictures. Any help will be much appreciated!"

The sender didn't say where he's based, but I'm guessing somewhere in the Southwest of UK.

Certainly an nice looking boat and a distinctive colour scheme.

If you have any thoughts on what she is or history or if you might be interested in making an offer, let me know and I'll forward your details.

Not a RIB

For some reason unless it's a RIB (rigid hull inflatable) there seems to be an almost complete absence of small open, power boats around the Solent.

Now I appreciate the safety qualities not to mention the sheer fun of hurtling along on a RIB. But I just don't like the thought of those expensive inflatable tubes which despite the best materials are slowly degrading in sunlight and prone to puncture.

But where are the boats like this one, looks to be aluminium, tough and able work boat. Other countries seems to do craft like this so much better.

Mala

Doryman would probably approve of this little dinghy left on the foreshore outside La Trinite sur Mer, but undoubtedly well cared for and used.

Mala is a flat bottomed as they come, traditionally build with thick planks and a generous rocker to the bottom.

Apart from the straight stem she has the look of  Atkin's cabin Boy tender, My guess is that she's a stable and with minimal draft an ideal craft for getting ashore in the shallows where the tidal range can be 5 meters.

Reflections

The new year is a great time for reflection, what did we do well, what could we have done better, what will we do differently in the year ahead.

The weather came up trumps on new year's eve with breathless, still water at high tide and sunny skies.