Too good to miss

I had planned to do some DIY on Saturday, but there was a break in the dull, wet weather we've been having for far too long, so we took the opportunity to go out and enjoy the early spring sunshine.

And what a day it was. This pair of gaffers look ready for the season, on their moorings in the Lymington river, with the saltings in the background and the Isle of Wight in the distance.

Two Years on - 1001 Boats

As the Bursledon Blog approaches it's second year I’ve been thinking a lot about what to do with it. On the basis of comments and clicks there are quite a few people who continue to read and hopefully enjoy my meandering observations, plus I’m still enjoying writing local about our local experiences.

This idea to try and do something more came out of my November post 1001 Boats to see before you die. Several of my fellow bloggers suggested that we should compile such a list (see the comments), from that idea comes the 1001 Boats Blog.

The idea is very simple, let's post images and information on a 1001 boats and while we're at it to raise a little money for charity.

1001 Boats which inspire, boats which fascinate, boats which captured the imagination of a small boy, boats which carry grown men to adventure, boats which are too important to be forgotten, boats which are beautiful, boats which are significant.

Perhaps not 1001 Boats which you really need to “see before you die" but your favourite boats, boats which for whatever reason are important to you.

They can be boats you have built, boats you have sailed, or boats which you just plain admire.

The aim is to have an interesting and extensive blog full of boats which people can enjoy.

Visitors will be invited to donate directly to two nominated charities.

So here’s the pitch please go over to 1001 Boats and become a follower, please email me and with pictures and stories, please tell your friends.

To kick off 1001 Boats I’ve chosen Blue Clipper a Van de Stadt designed Legend 34, built in 1970 by Tylers a famous UK yard.




But why not pop over to 1001 Boats and see the full details.

Hamble Morning

People will be thinking that I have a thing about winter, but this was a quite spectacular a bright sunny morning, clear skies and not a soul around. On the corner of Rope Walk is the Royal Southern YC which would normally be busy with yacht crews coming and going.

The public slipway was oddly silent and still with no sign of any activity, shame that it's never like that in the summer when I want to launch.

Apart from a couple of swans the village was almost deserted at 9.00am on recent a Sunday morning, it has to be said that the fine morning was a surprise after what seems to have been such a cold and grey winter, perhaps that was why it was so quiet, whatever the reason it was nice to have the place to our selves.

Ketch

I didn't know much about this lovely ketch which we first saw on the river a few weeks ago down at the Royal Southern YC pontoon in Hamble, at the time I didn't have my camera with me, so it was a nice surprise to see her on what I guess is a permanent mooring up in Swanwick pool by the Jolly Sailor.



She's classic looking with a canoe stern, length on deck I estimated about 43 or 45 feet. That pilot house looks like a great place to be, offering good visibility together with a safe and cosy spot for the watch keeper.



Her name is Maybird of Falmouth and a quick google revealed that she was was designed by Fred Shepherd and his assistant at the time Fred Parker and built at Tyrrell's yard in Arklow.

Causeway

Chichester Harbour has been important since Roman times and even further back with evidence of both Neolithic and Iron Age settlements. The natural harbour has been a port and fishery over the centuries as well as a base for smugglers of some notoriety during the 18th Century.

Fortunately not heavily developed, the harbour has some curious man made additions such as this causeway leading away from the tide mill at Emsworth. It's clear from the remaining wooden stakes that some form of structure or walkway existed during the past 100 years or maybe more recently.

The causeway leads out half a mile of so across the harbour at low water, clearly walking needs to be done with some caution to avoid being caught out on a rising tide.

Winter - Will we miss it?

Although I hate to say it we might actually miss these winter days in a few months. The low sun reflecting on the water, the town quay all to ourselves. A couple of hours on the water wrapped up in thermals to grab a short sail or go rowing, all too soon the river will be bustling with the weekend scramble.

Down by Warsash this boat has the look of a Smack with the high bows and low short counter stern. Clearly the cabin is a later addition, but with the coal stove keeping out the cold and glorious views from those windows it would be a great place to pass a winter weekend, and just a short dinghy ride from the pub!

Morning Low Water

Although we've come off the big spring tide from last week, low water was around about 1meter just after 8.00am yesterday.

With the tide out and the grey winter sky reflected in the still wet mud the river takes on a sculptural quality with the mud banks and contours exposed.

All the boats crowed into the deep water channel, it seems more congested than ever.