Category: Sailing in General
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South Dock towards Ullapool 2019
I had decided, after a wobbly moment, that it was time that Sumara had a refit. I had become increasingly nervous about the engine after an engineer told me it was on its last legs and my teak decks were beginning to look a bit shabby. Even the varnish was now rather patchy. For convenience,…
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South Dock Marina Boat Yard Update October 2016
On 19th September we were invited to another “consultation” regarding the proposed development on the South Dock Marina Boat Yard site. The proposal has once again changed and now the height of the tallest tower has increased to 28 floors and the percentage of “affordable” housing has dropped even further. They are clearly getting tight…
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Southwark Council Plan to Destroy More of our Marine Heritage
The Red Scotch Derrick Crane in Odessa Street is now under threat from developers seemingly working with Southwark Council’s support. This old docklands crane is the last one remaining in Rotherhithe and was left standing as part of the London Docklands Development Corperation’s commitment to preserving some of the dockland heritage of the area. Rotherhithe was…
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New Vertue Spotted – Mea V89
During my rather too short summer holiday whilst in West Mersea I spotted this fine Cheoy Lee built Vertue called Mea. Andrew, the friendly driver of the club launch, also pointed to another Vertue moored a few cables away but I can’t recall the name. Mea was built in 1959 of teak on ipol frames with…
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South Dock Boatyard Update – Destroying London’s Industry
July 2016 – South Dock Yesterday morning a “Headline Report” about South Dock Boat Yard landed on our doormat. It shows how after “consultation” with the local people Southwark Council have decided to make the tower blocks even taller. They are still claiming an increased boat yard space despite plonking 213 flats on top of it! As Southwark…
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New Vertue Spotted Cilix V210
23rd May 2016 Just after we arrived in Troon Harbour a nice varnished boat arrived. It was a Vertue called Cilix. She was built in Holland in 1993 from green oak frames and iroko planking. Alan was the owner and he had sailed from her base on the River Fal in Cornwall. Alan will be…
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Scottish Islands Peaks Race
Spring 2016 Oban – Troon This is no normal race and it is well to remember that! For sailors it is a demanding race which takes in some tricky tidal areas. Unusually for a race, picking up the crew or dropping the anchor, has to take place under sail. Equally it is a demanding race for…
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Scottish Islands Peaks Race
Oh dear, here we go again. This time I am joining the crew of the Good Ship Brimble, a 27ft Twister. There will be more space onboard than Sumara but still pretty cosy with five runners and all the kit. I’ve been a bit disorganised this year struggling to find the time to sort out…
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Help to save London’s last working boatyard
It looks like Southwark Council are going to submit a planning application to build two tower blocks on top of South Dock Marina’s Boat Yard any minute now. Being fully aware that they would not gain planning consent if it meant the boat yard would need to close down they have come up with a…
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Getting Sumara ready for the sailing season
The Arthur Beale project has been zapping up all my spare time so some things are being neglected. Most of all I’m not getting to see all my buddies so that certainly needs to be rectified soon! But I realised the Good Ship wasn’t going to get all the love that she would normally get…