I'm still in two minds about double ender's or canoe stern as it's often called. The pro lobby argue that the pointy stern helps breaks large waves coming up from astern. Against is the lack of storage space compared to a wide transom, and there are a few of us who's head is turned by a shapely transom.
Whatever opinion this is a handsome ketch the designer got the proportions just right and the owner keeps her in very nice condition.
The recent post on Hamble wrecks reminded me of this old cabin/fishing boat seem out in the salting at Noirmoutier-en-I'lle last year.
With a really jaunty almost cartoonist sheer and a well proportioned cabin she looks to have been an attractive boat. Whether she suffered neglect or just old age it's a shame to see such a nice little boat slowly falling apart.
A little closer to home, here's a similar boat that might be heading the same way, could certainly do with a clean and polish and tlc.
The causeway path that runs alongside the Hamble River was breached some time ago, the lagoon alongside Bunny Meadows now fills and empties directly through the breech no doubt making the damage worse with every time and especially so at springs and in strong south-westerlies which push up the HW
For some reason Hampshire County Council Countryside Services have decided not to repair but to erect a temporary bridge. It will be interesting to see how that will fare during the coming winter, plus there are signs of breaches occurring at other places on the pathway, so might we be seeing a proliferation of such bridges or worse still a closure of the path which is a hugely popular recreational route.
For some reason it seems as though our local councils would rather spend money on signs and decorative items rather than than getting on with proper maintenance. No doubt that was a different department, different budget, but it's still our tax money.
A few weeks ago I spotted a new and interesting boat on the river while passing by on a friend's yacht, by coincidence the following day I was rowing Mrs BB down river for a coffee and cake, stopping by the new boat to take some photo's the owner Daniel invited us on board and shared some of the history about the boat.
Built in Western Australia in the 1950's by the Driscoll brothers to a design by Len Randell, the then young Driscolls having finished the yacht to a high quality apparently didn't have the time or funds to fit out below but sailed the boat to South Africa with very spartan comforts, sleeping in hammocks and cooking on an old paraffin stove.
The story continues, a Mike Saunders from Rhodesia found Walkabout abandoned near the small island of Bartholomew Dias in Mozambique. Following a refit, with his wife and four children, he then sailed around the Cape, via South America, the West Indies and the Azores and ended up in Emsworth.
At some stage Walkabout passed onto an accomplished shipwright called Clive, who lived on board and owned Walkabout for some 35 years, before selling to the current owner Daniel.
The quality and construction is evident throughout the boat seen above the solid dodger is a relatively new addition which provides a secure and useful space in the cockpit.
Some photo's sent by Daniel of Walkabout sailing and history
On a very fine evening as the summer draws to a close we spotted this beauty in the marina car park
Metallic Champaign paintwork and beige leather interior looks fabulous and especially with the whitewall tyres. It outshone the much newer Porsche seen partially parked in front
I don't think I've ever had a car that well turned out and clean not even new ones, we were so impressed we took a group photo.
I posted a picture of this Fowey steam launch recently not giving much thought to it's origin or design only to get a call from friend and boatbuilder Greg to say it looks remarkably like the hull of his Tela dayboat
Apparently the Tela has been in production with other boat builders before Greg bought the moulds and he believes at least a couple were sold as motorboat or steamboat hulls
Friend Greg sailed to Ashlett Creek, over on the dark side of Southampton Water recently.
The Flugel seen here at the quay which is only accessible at high water, while the crew made off to the nearby Jolly Sailor pub.
Ashlett is a winding, drying creek and as long as I've been going there not especially well marked. Greg reports a close encounter between center plate and mud, which was a very brief encounter thanks to some assistance from a local passing in a dinghy.
Apparently a great day was had, well worth a visit best to go on a rising tide.
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