January 22, 2012 – 1:36 pm
Our 14′ sailing dinghy has been taken on two trial sails in very different conditions. One sail in very light airs in Plymouth Sound with the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Cornubia and tow naval ships in the background and a second sail up the River Tamar in more vigorous conditions with three reefs down. She proved a stable and responsive boat.
In January she travelled to the London Boat Show by invitation of Classic Boat magazine where she spent ten days on their stand. The photo below shows Will and Sara with explorer Jock Wishart, who launched his Row to the Pole book during the show.
December 23, 2011 – 8:20 pm
The 22 Square Metre Caritana has arrived at the yard for repairs. She is owned and operated by Cremyll Keel Boats. CKB are organising a regatta in June 2012 to be held in Plymouth Sound. Their website has information about the boats and regatta; http://www.cremyll-keelboats.org.uk/
December 11, 2011 – 2:33 pm
In early December Belle Poule, a 46′ Alfred Mylne arrived at the yard. She was built shortly after the First World War and shows every feature of a fine Mylne yacht. Her owner had shipped her back from America where she had been saved by Gannon and Benjamin and stored in their yard at Martha’s Vineyard. She is due for an extensive rebuild which will include centre line, some framing and some planking. The work will begin in March 2012.
December 11, 2011 – 2:13 pm
In November we built a pilot’s punt for the 1912 pilot cutter Kindly Light, recently relaunched after a rebuild to a very high standard of authenticity over the last twenty years. As no plans were available we designed the punt to the owner’s researched requirements: she is 12′ long with a little hollow in the forefoot, a full and stable midship section carried well aft and terminating in a pretty transom. Whilst there is no tumble home forward or at the transom the sheer has a little tumble home midships to ensure the rubbing strake takes the impact when going alongside. She has double knees on each thwart specially selected for the grain of the grown oak.
November 5, 2011 – 8:51 pm
In October we built and installed a lock gate and cantilever bridge for South West Water and the AONB. Both gate and bridge were made of oak. As access to the site was restricted and without power we made the gate and bridge at the workshop. Both were then dismantled and transported to the canal before being installed. Installation took three days. The gate and bridge were assembled in place because we were unable to get any mechanised lifting gear to the site.
September 27, 2011 – 8:00 pm
In early September Will was invited to sail on the Spanish Team’s AC45 America’s Cup catamaran for speed trials in Plymouth Sound. A film crew visited the boat building shed to see the yacht and dinghies, took Will to the America’s Cup base in Plymouth to meet the China team catamaran designer and then took him out to sail. The footage, which was televised on Channel 4 and Sky, can be seen at the following link:
http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/Artemis-Racing/Latest/Videos/2011/9/Americas-Cup-Uncovered-Episode-8/
Photos courtesy of Pierre Contin
September 27, 2011 – 7:38 pm
The 14′ sailing dinghy was completed a fortnight ago in time for the Southampton Boat Show. She is built of Mahogany on Oak, Copper and Bronze fastened with Bronze and Yellow Metal fittings (including the centre plate). She is bright varnished with gold leaf inlaid cove line and carving scroll work.
The sail is clipper canvas with three strand buff polyester rope rove through Ash and Bronze blocks. The rig is a balanced lug which has a single halyard and sheet and is self tacking.
August 13, 2011 – 7:22 pm
Row to the Pole
Loose Pack Ice in Barrow Straight
In late July explorer Jock Wishart set off from Resolute, Canada, with a crew of six to row to the Magnetic North Pole 1996. The expedition seeks to highlight the extent of polar pack ice melt. Will skippered the BBC camera boat in order to film the first leg of the expedition. To learn more about the expedition and to follow the crew as they row amongst pack ice visit www.rowtothepole.com
Preparing for departure
Filming from Devon Island
Wellington Channel near Cornwallis Island
August 13, 2011 – 7:02 pm
Planking Widths
Spiling the next plank
Integrity’s planking is now complete. The planks were fitted in groups of four so that they could be sash clamped together to give a very tight fit. Eight shutter planks were then driven home to close the gaps. The next job is to fair in the hull planking before caulking and then splining the topside seams. This will give an absolutely uniform finish to the yacht above the waterline. Below the waterline she will be faired and caulked, the seams payed with red lead putty and copper sheathed.
Hundreds of Silicon Bronze screws to fasten the hull planking
Driving home the final shutter plank
Planking has now begun in earnest on the new yacht Integrity. The planking stock is well seasoned after lying in stick for a year. The bottom four planks are full length and have all been fitted. The remaining planks are longer than 40′ and have to be fitted in two sections. In the photograph Ted is cleaning out the back rabbet with his adze before fitting another plank, which will have to be steamed so that it can be bent to the shape of the hull. The planking is then fastened with bronze screws and rivets in the butts.
