‘Ladybird’ in Hibernation

 

In hibernation

 

At Exmouth 2010

 

At Torquay 2010

Of the boats I have owned, ‘Ladybird’, a Seawych 19, was perhaps the most endearing. On checking my blog I note that I have written many things about her and of our ‘relationship’. Only a few days ago I bumped into her again. She was not talking to me because she was in a deep sleep of hibernation. Since she is no longer mine I respected her privacy and left her alone to sit out the dark, cold months of winter. Hopefully she will be awakened in spring by her current ‘master’, dusted off and made Bristol Fashion for launching at the beginning of another season.

By clicking links below which are set out in chronological order, you will learn of ‘our’ wholesome relationship which sadly came to end, but then all my relationships with vessels of fancy have been short-lived. I am still in a relationship with ‘Minnow’, but a parting may not be far away.*

* http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/minnow-for-sale.html

Links   

‘Just Right’ for Sailing

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/just-right-for-sailing.html

Rudder

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/rudder.html

Regular Subscribers - Thank You

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/regular-subscribers-thank-you.html

Antifouling ‘Ladybird’, My Seawych Sloop

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/antifouling-ladybird-my-seawych-sloop.html

‘Ladybird’s’ Cruise – Day 1 on 3^rd June, 2010 (Follow date links to right for rest of cruise)

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/thursday-3rd-june.html

‘Ladybird’ for Sale

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/ladybird-for-sale.html

‘Ladybirds’ Summer Cruise Review

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/ladybirds-summer-cruise-review.html

Selling ‘Ladybird’

 http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/selling-ladybird.html

End of an Extraordinarily Brilliant Sailing Season

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/end-of-extraordinarily-brilliant.html

Check on ‘Ladybird’

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/check-on-ladybird.html

Crewing on ‘Ladybird’

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/crewing-on-ladybird.html  

Checking ‘Ladybird’

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/checking-ladybird.html

‘Ladybird’s’ 2010 Cruise Photo Selection – Part 1

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/ladybirds-2010-cruise-photo-selection.html

‘Ladybird’s’ Cruise – 2010

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/ladybirds-cruise-2010.html

Ladybird has been sold – My tribute to her

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/ladybird-has-been-sold-my-tribute-to.html

My Old Mistress ‘Ladybird’

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/my-old-mistress-ladybird.html

  ‘Ladybird’ on the Crouch

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/on-crouch.html

Photos of Boats I Have Owned – Part 6

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/photos-of-boats-i-have-owned-part-6.html

Sailing Again Aboard ‘Ladybird’

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/sailing-again-aboard-ladybird.html    

Rekindling the Fire of Passion for Small Sailing Boats

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/rekindling-fire-of-passion-for-small.html

Day Sail with ‘Ladybird’

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/day-sail-with-ladybird.html

Melonseed Sailing Video

If you like dinghy sailing you’ll enjoy this 8 minute video* ‘starring’ Midwest Melonheads at Crystal Lake, Michigan. It was put together by Doc Musekamp with background music ‘Prayer’ by Michael Jones.

This comes as a postscript to Melonseed Skiff, 2014**and thanks to Roger Rodibaugh for the link.

Links

*MSMR 2013 by Doc Musekamp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvZLZoKEf_Q

**Melonseed Skiff, 2014

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/melonseed-skiff-2014.html

Leisure Yachts

 

Leisure 17

 

Leisure 17SL

Bills-Log is heavily subscribed to by sailors, who in the main are men of little means. On the whole they do not own large and expensive yachts, but they are a resourceful lot who have bags of fun sailing small boats and sometimes building or repairing them. They find great satisfaction from making the most of what they have and appreciate how fortunate they are to be able to get out on the water.

By comparison there are very few women who are attracted to this hobby of impecunious and adventurous mariners who get a thrill from sailing their tiny craft. Some are more adventurous than others.

Very unusually, a lady has joined our ranks, and a big welcome she has too. She sails a ‘battered Leisure 17’ (her own words). In a recent comment to the blog she informs us that she recently took the little boat for a short sail where she lives on the Isle of Lewis. This lady’s name is Andrea Ingram and she has two entertaining and informative blogs which give insights to island life. I highly recommend viewing them.

Her mention of a Leisure 17 reminded me that I had written a couple of pages on the Leisure 17 and the Leisure 20 which I had not listed on my links page to Small Sailboats: http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/p/small-sailboats-here-are-links-to.html

Links

Andrea Ingram’s ‘Boxes & Bellows’

http://boxesbellows.blogspot.co.uk/

Andrea Ingram’s ‘Island Crofters’

 http://islandcrofters.blogspot.co.uk/

Isle of Lewis

http://isle-of-lewis.com/

Leisure 17 and Leisure 17SL

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/leisure-17-and-leisure-17sl.html

Leisure 20 – Part 1

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/leisure-20.html

Leisure 20 - Part 2

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/leisure-20-part-2.html

Melonseed Skiff, 2014

Once again Roger Rodibaugh has sent me seasonal greetings in the form of one of his own designed cards. This is my sixth annual salutation from Roger on the theme of Melonseed dinghies. Each card is artistically and uniquely fashioned and ascribed with a few pertinent poetical words relating to the pictorial element. I believe the original design for 2014 card was painted with acrylics, or possibly oils.

Words for this year’s theme featuring the bow of a Melonseed skiff are as follows:

“There’s a voice in the bow wave of a little skiff on the wind – a gurgling murmur, a happy chuckle, a clamorous exclamation in the puffs – intimate conversation between the rush of water and the run of curves.”

For those who sail such dinghies in delightful conditions there are moments of pure poetry and beautiful music. Those who experience these delights are entranced and charmed, and cannot wait for more. We are blessed and renewed by them.

Roger is the owner of Melonseed ‘Three Cheers’, #463, which he features along with other Melonseed skiffs on his YouTube Channel, ‘Indianamelonhead’.* (I note that there are 30 subscribers to the Channel, and to date there have been a total of 27,669 viewings!)

Links

*Indianamelonhead – YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/user/Indianamelonhead

Melonseed Skiff

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2009/12/melonseed-skiff.html

Melonseed Video

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/melonseed-video.html

Melonseed, a Classic Modern Dinghy

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/melonseed-classic-modern-dinghy.html

Melonseed Skiff Again

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/melonseed-skiff-again.html

Roger Crawford’s Melonseed

http://www.melonseed.com/

Nancy Lee Sailing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoEndV_NJ54&feature=related

Melonseed at Cedar Key

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz4DgN5TvZo&feature=related

Melonseed Skiff on Maxinkuckee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6ZEm09uWQ0&feature=related

Melonseed Sailing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsM7BF4iGcQ&feature=player_embedded#

Melonseed Skiff2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8FYtr7rADM&feature=related

Midwest Melonseed Rendezvous 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEsW5J90KT4&feature=related

2013MSMR (part 2) Rompin' and Stompin'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdEnHc1vagU

Wooden Melon Seed
http://www.windfallwoodworks.com/wooden-boats/melonseed_skiff.htm

‘Phillida’, a Torbay J Class 2 Yacht

 

My wife aboard 'Phillida'

 

'Phillida' under sail

 

Sailing herself off Torquay

 

Prout folding dinghy stowage

 

Sheeting arrangement to a horse (see 3rd photo)

My memory has been stirred by an article* at Gavin Atkin’s ‘In the Boatshed’ weblog. It refers to the acquisition and restoration of two Torbay J Class 2 yachts by Ingo Werner who lives in North East Germany.

I owned ‘Phillida’, a Torbay J Class 2 racer. She was number 4 of possibly 26** built, and she was my first ‘real’ yacht. At the time of acquiring her I recorded a few details of her measurements.

LOA                        19’ 6”

LWL                        18’ 0”

Beam                    6’ 5”

Draught                1’ 8”/4’ 6”

I sold ‘Phillida’ to the well-known boatbuilder, Harold Kimber of Highbridge. He wanted her for recreational sailing during his retirement years.  I felt happy about it, because I knew she would be in good hands.

Here are photos of her, and below you can find links to various references to her at my blog and other relevant websites.

Thanks Gavin for your article, and well done Ingo for your enthusiasm and commitment to preserving and racing Torbay J Class 2 yachts.

Links

*Gavin Atkin’s Article

http://intheboatshed.net/2014/12/03/torbay-j-class-yachts/ 

**74-year-old-racer is as good as new

 http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/74-year-old-racer-good-new/story-16803862-detail/story.html

‘Philliada’ a Torbay Class 2 Racer

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/phillida-torbay-class-2-racer.html

Photos of Boats I have owned

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/photos-of-boats-i-have-owned-part-1.html

‘Phillida’ Cruise to Alderney – Part 1

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/cruise-to-alderney.html

‘Phillida’ Cruise to Alderney – Part 2

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/cruise-to-alderney-continued.html

‘Phillida’ Cruise to Alderney – Part 3

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/cruise-to-alderney-part-3.html

‘Phillida’ Cruise to Alderney – Part 4

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/cruise-to-alderney-part-4.html

‘Phillida’ Cruise to Alderney – Part 5

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/cruise-to-alderney-part-5.html

Torbay J-Class Centreboard Yawl – Sold

http://www.woodenships.co.uk/small-craft/torbay-j-class-centre-board-yawl/

1920 Torbay J Class

http://www.luxuryatch.com/1920-torbay-j-class/

Images of Torbay J Class

 http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=torbay+j+class&qpvt=torbay+j+class&FORM=IGRE

There’s a mention here of Harold Kimber’s Boat Yard

https://capturehighbridge.wordpress.com/industry/highbridge-wharf/

Moody 333 Bilge Keel Yacht

There’s a wide range of Moody yachts. Over 4,500 have come off the production line. In more recent years the brand* is associated with the manufacture and sale of luxury yachts by Hanse Yachts. The 333 was designed by Angus Primrose, and she was manufactured by A. H. Moody and Son in the early 1980s. She is similar to the Mk 1 and Mk 2 yachts at 33ft LOA, except she has an aft cabin. All three models were available with fin or twin keels.

‘Elaine’, shown in the photos that were taken at Burnham Yacht Harbour, has an in-mast furling system for ease of reefing the mainsail and a furling Genoa.

Links

*Moody Boats

http://www.moodyboats.com/gb/#/gb/nc/modelmenu/decksaloon/54/welcome.html?cHash=cb4a86f597&type=666

Moody Yachts

http://moody-yachts.co.uk/

Moody 333 – details by Sailboat Data

 http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=4081

Moody 333

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAbrqMUdp5Y

Angus Primrose

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angus_Primrose

Angus Primrose

http://foreshoreboats.com/angus-primrose/  

Sailboat Designs of Angus Primrose

http://sailboatdata.com/view_designer.asp?DESIGNER_ID=141

1983 Moody 333 for Sale £32,500

http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/advert/moody-333-roscoff/42002467

1982 Moody 333 for Sale £24,950

http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/advert/moody-333-dublin/42018417

1984 Moody 333 for Sale US$ 42,277

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1984/Moody-333-2699029/Caernarfon/United-Kingdom

Minehead Harbour, Somerset

 

The Old Minehead Harbour

 

Minehead Harbour today

 

One of the 7 plaques designed by Sue Webber

 

Harbour regulations

 

At the start of  the South West Coastal Parth 

When I was a youngster I sometimes cycled from Taunton, where I lived, to Minehead and back in a day. I usually did this with a friend. Our purpose was to enjoy the ride, and do some sunbathing, if the sun cooperated. In those days, sunbathing was not the dangerous activity it is now, on account of a weakening of the Ozone Layer.

Minehead brings back other memories for me, especially one when I arrived there in a small sharpie after sailing with a friend from Highbridge. We set out on a day sail with that purpose in mind, but the wind headed us and the only way we could make progress was by walking the boat through the surf. Needless to say, we both became very cold and exhausted. After securing the boat in the harbour we returned home late that night to find our parents in a state of panic. They thought we had been lost at sea. There was no way we could have communicated with them to inform them of our safe arrival at Minehead, because they had no telephone, nor did any of our immediate neighbours.

One thing I noticed on my recent visit was that nature of the beach had changed. In my teenage years there was a gorgeous sandy cove; now it is mostly rocks, pebbles and weeds. Apparently a severe storm in 1990 washed away the sand, and badly flooded parts of the town. The importation of 320,000 tons of sand in 1999 seems to have made little difference, neither has the expenditure of £12.6 million on building sea defences, although the new sea wall will undoubtedly help minimize the threat of flooding.

The Harbour, if you can call it a harbour, is much the same as I remember it 60 years ago, but of more recent origin are seven plaques attached to the wall by the walkway. They were designed by Sue Webber, and they represent the rich maritime history of Minehead which can be explored by surfing the NET.

Not far from the Harbour there is a large sculpture symbolizing the South West Coastal Path that follows the coastline from there for 630 miles to Poole, on the South Coast. 

Links

Minehead

http://www.minehead.co.uk/en/pages/default.aspx

Minehead – Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minehead

South West Coast Path

http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/

South West Coast Path Association

http://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/  

Sue Webber – The Minehead Harbour Plaques

 http://www.creativesomerset.com/sue-webber/the-minehead-harbour-plaques/

Sue Webber – Profile

 http://www.creativesomerset.com/sue-webber/?network%5B0%5D=5

Minehead Lifeboat Station

http://www.mineheadlifeboat.org.uk/

Archive Photos of Minehead Lifeboat

 http://www.mineheadlifeboat.org.uk/archive.htm

Minehead Maritime Legacy Sets Sail

http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/11024170.Minehead_maritime_legacy_sets_sail/

Ozone Layer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_layer

Highbridge, Somerset

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highbridge,_Somerset

Bridport, West Bay, Dorset

 

Carbuncle

 

Outer Harbour

 

Cliffs to east

 

Gig 'Bucky-Doo'

 

'Bucky-Doo' again

Back from shore leave, I was never far from the coast. In fact, I was at Bridport in Dorset, which has a small harbour, the inner part of which mostly dries at low water. A new pier has much improved facilities for visiting yachtsmen on account of providing space for a floating pontoon which is deployed during the summer months.

When crossing Lyme Bay with various yachts I was never keen to visit the harbour because of its narrow and shallow entrance. Now that it has been improved by the building of a substantial west pier, and dredging for removing silt, I would certainly consider going there.

I was not enamoured with a new building overlooking the Harbour, as it appears to stick out like a ‘monstrous carbuncle’, to use a euphemism coined by Prince Charles in 1974 regarding a proposed extension to the National Gallery.* To my mind, this ugly building does not fit in with the magnificent cliff and beach scenery, and by its very size and structure it destroys the beauty of the place.

Links

Bridport Gig Rowing Club

http://www.bridportgigclub.org/

Bridport Rowing Gig Blog

http://www.bridport.co.uk/bridport-rowing-gig/

Jurassic Heritage Coast

 http://www.heritagecoast.org/Content/default.asp

Welcome to West Bay

http://www.westbay.co.uk/

Bridport Harbour

http://www.westbay.co.uk/harbour/

Bridport (West Bay) Harbour

 https://www.dorsetforyou.com/westbayharbour

Geology of the Wessex Coast

http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~imw/West-Bay-Harbour-Beach.htm

*Prince Charles: When I said monstrous carbuncle …

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/prince-charles-when-i-said-monstrous-carbuncle-6774545.html

Sailboat Links for You While I’m on Shore Leave

The essential function of the Internet is the transference of information between computers, and much of the information takes the form of stored knowledge by means of digital systems. Knowledge empowers those who posses it. An essential characteristic of the human is his ‘frontal lobe’ which is the part of his brain that processes knowledge, and accordingly he can determine actions and responses to it. Our curiosity and quest for more knowledge is almost universal for those who have cognitive ability.

 In recent days, anyone with a TV, radio, computer or smartphone will have heard of Philea, the spacecraft that landed on Comet 67P after 3,907 days getting there from the surface of the earth. This is one example of man’s quest for knowledge, and of man’s desire to tell others of his discoveries.

Now, it’s no secret that all of us have particular interests, and we are motivated by them. We delight in learning more of them and applying our newfound knowledge for our satisfaction. Many who read these pages are avid consumers of facts relating to small sailing craft. That is one reason why you return time and again. I happen to enjoy researching the subject which thrills me, and I get a kick out of communicating my enthusiasm.

This business of communication is another facet of human activity. We are not contented with assimilating knowledge; we want to share it with others. For this reason I want to publicize links leading to web pages containing information about many small sailboats and activities associated with them. Here they are:

 Sailboat Links Pages

‘Photos of Boats I Have Owned – Part 1’ (The first of eight pages)

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/photos-of-boats-i-have-owned-part-1.html

‘Cruising Logs’ This gives access to articles I have written about my various sailboat adventures.

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/p/cruising-logs.html

‘Small Sailboats’ Here, there is a collection of links to my articles featuring small sailing boats.

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/p/small-sailboats-here-are-links-to.html

‘Web Links - Miscellaneous’ This takes you to a number of small sailboat websites.

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/web-links-miscellaneous-but-relevant-to.html

Other Links

Philae (Spacecraft)

http://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Philae_(spacecraft)  

Frontal Lobe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontal_lobe

Dreaming of Classic Wooden Yachts

 If you are like me, you are a bit of a dreamer. How pleasant it is to leave this world of reality and enter the realm of daydreams.

My fantasy dream world is in Peace Haven, the Harbour of Wooden Ships. Anchored in the sheltered cove there are many beautiful and graceful ladies of the sea. Their etched lines tell of past heroics, hard honest work, times of jubilation, triumph over the odds, and battles with the elements: wind and waves, snow, rain and fog.

The test of years has proven their worth, and they are ready for more adventures. They hunger for open waters, for fine sailing and fair winds - the Trades and palm fringed atolls, sea shanties and the laughter of happy crews. They relish the short sharp, slapping seas of the Channel, the biting, whining wind and the long ocean swells of testing and delight. Gales, and wicked waves, hail and snow; nothing can prevail against them until the sun shines again. Then, all is calm and peace. There is a gentle rolling, and the rhythmic creaking of a mast; silence until the wind returns to take them home.

When it is all done, and back in port they rest. They reflect and are glad. Men work. They repair and renovate, paint and varnish, scrape, pitch and tar; patch and sew, splice and whip, and make ready for the next adventure. They victual ship and dream.

Fine ladies of the sea are beautified again – revitalized; their bones are far from the muddy grave in The Creek of Death. Rejuvenated they live on, cherished by the sons of men of the sea who will die before them, their souls to be reunited on the everlasting Ocean of Peaceful Dreams.

Links

Classic Yacht Brokerage

http://www.classicyachtbrokerage.co.uk/

Wooden Ships

 http://www.woodenships.co.uk/

 Half Price Pilot Cutter ‘Carlotta’.

http://www.woodenships.co.uk/2014/10/half-price-pilot-cutter/  

Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter £145,000

http://www.woodenships.co.uk/sailing-yachts/bristol-channel-pilot-cutter-2/

A Traditional Falmouth Gaff Cutter – ‘Ro-an-mor’

http://www.classicyachtbrokerage.co.uk/index.php?page=ro-an-mor

Hanse 32 C

While I was at Rice and Cole I took a single photo of this Hanse 32 C. I have since discovered she was built in Germany to a high specification, and that her interior is luxuriously fitted out. Designed by Judel/Vrolyjk she is optimised for shorthanded performance sailing with a self-tacking, furling jib, a fully battened mainsail with lazyjacks, and control lines to the cockpit. Her forward accommodation includes a double ‘v’ berth, a hanging locker and bags of shelf space. In the main cabin there is 6’ 2” standing headroom. Long settees and a large table provide ‘home’ comforts. She is light and airy on account of her port lights, both in the coachroof and the hull.

If you have £60,000 to spare and more to keep her, you will be able to get hold of a nice second-hand Hanse 32. The much cheaper option is to hire* one when you have time to sail her and in a location where the weather is better than it is in the UK most of the time.

Stats

LOA                        32’ 00”

LWL                        28’ 6”

Beam                    10’ 8”

Draught                4’ 7”

 

Links

Hanse Yachts UK

http://www.hanseyachts.co.uk/readnews.asp?article=32

Hanse 325 (Newer version)

http://www.windcrafthanse.com/hanse-325.html

*Hanse 32 for Hire in Australia

http://www.sailaustralia.com.au/hanse-32/  

Hanse 320 Bareboat Charter

http://www.a2a-yachting.net/hanse320.htm

Hanse 320 for Sale £59,950

http://www.theyachtmarket.com/boats_for_sale/1001888/

Hanse 320 for Sale £59,950 (Same as above)

 http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/advert.phtml?id=372000

Hanse 320 for Sale £54,134

 http://www.theyachtmarket.com/boats_for_sale/927376/  

Hanse 325 Video (Latest version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1do9qdnH7k

Hanse 320 Forum

http://www.myhanse.com/320_forum24.html