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June 2021 Boating News

Gillian Nahum
June 27, 2021

Early June showed much promise in the South East, lulling us into a false sense of summer with clear skies, long lazy evenings, and warm water in which to wallow or simply cruise, depending on your preference. 

"Wait a mo" said the weather report on the TV and "Lo" the heavens opened - great for the grass (oh happy husband) but not for the frustrated boaters with damp bookings at PureBoating and those eager to enjoy their lockdown boat purchases. 

However, the solstice appears to have normalised temperatures, and we can relax again for a while as June creeps inexorably into July and high summer.

Our Suffolk staycation

Harry King & Sons boatyard at Pin Mill on the river Orwell in Suffolk
Harry King & Sons boatyard at Pin Mill on the river Orwell in Suffolk

Our original plan had been to accompany the ADLS fleet of Dunkirk Little Ships on their return to the beaches of Normandy in late May. Inevitably plans were thwarted by COVID, and we headed east 'en famille' rather than south, to a charming cottage close to the wharf at Pin Mill on the river Orwell in Suffolk.

Thames sailing barges permanently moored by the Butt & Oyster Pub at Pin Mill.
Thames sailing barges permanently moored by the Butt & Oyster Pub at Pin Mill.

While the 1892 Thames sailing barge ‘Greta’, a proud member of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, was miles away in Whitstable, whence you can embark for a day’s sailing, we were able to take a very close look at other Thames sailing barges which are permanently moored by the excellent Butt & Oyster Pub at Pin Mill. 

'Regardless' - a 1991 clinker launch that carried our family on an outing to Orford Ness.
'Regardless' - a 1991 clinker launch that carried our family on an outing to Orford Ness.

We may not have managed to get afloat at Pin Mill on one of these graceful Thames sailing barges, but the good ship ‘Regardless’ carried the family on a bird-watching outing around Orford Ness

‘Regardless’ is a 25ft clinker launch with a reassuringly traditional diesel motor at its heart. She was built in 1991 by Frank Knights of Woodbridge in Suffolk. 

We were all enchanted by the simple pleasures of an hour with skipper Oliver pointing out the sightings of avocets, marsh harriers, and the red billed oystercatchers.

The Orford Ness lighthouse
The Orford Ness lighthouse (Photo by Ashley Dace / Orfordness Lighthouse)

Orford Ness may be a bird sanctuary now in the 21st century but it has a mysterious, some might say murky, past. The site was the birth place of radar, where ground breaking research was carried out in the 1930s. Subsequently, the island became home to a group of boffins whose job it was to test bombs.  

There is an eerie atmosphere on this now deserted island. If you are visiting Suffolk, I would highly recommend a visit.

Owned by the Cambria Trust, 'SB Cambria' is a preserved 1906 spritsail Thames sailing barge.
Owned by the Cambria Trust, 'SB Cambria' is a preserved 1906 spritsail Thames sailing barge.

During our visit it became clear that wooden boats are alive and well in Suffolk. 'Cambria's' restoration was completed in 2010, and she is a splendid example of enthusiasts keeping historic vessels alive.

'Transcur' - an 1889 oyster smack
'Transcur' - an 1889 oyster smack

While playing in the stream at low tide, I got talking to the owner of an 1889 oyster smack by the name of ‘Transcur’. He was rerigging his fishing vessel in anticipation of relaunch at Harry King’s boatyard, prior to setting sail for his summer activities. He told me that he has owned the boat for many years. He races it, and he also goes annually across the North Sea to the Netherlands.

My grandson, Leon, towing away his vessel of choice during our most recent Suffolk visit.
My grandson, Leon, towing away his vessel of choice during our most recent Suffolk visit.

Waterbird - Wings over Windermere

Another Nahum of a scientific bent, and rather senior to Leon, is my cousin Andrew Nahum who has been playing with 'floating planes' or should that be 'flying boats', on Windermere, with an historic replica known as 'Waterbird'. 

He and a group of enthusiasts, known as The Lakes Flying Company Limited, have been collaborating with our old friend Hamish Patterson in the recreation of this hybrid flying machine, which originally took off for the first time from Windermere in 1911.

The replica Waterbird
The replica Waterbird

It was thanks to some of the innovations related to Waterbird that the Sunderland Flying Boats were developed on Windermere during the war years, and in less bellicose times Saunders-Roe had great success building record-breaking powerboats. 


All this has completely side-lined Hamish from boatbuilding. However, he tells me that there is a Windermere 27 nearing completion.

'Swift' (a Hamish Windermere electric launch) goes home for the summer
'Swift' (a Hamish Windermere electric launch) goes home for the summer.

Another Scoop delivery

Just before taking our holiday, I drove in the opposite direction with  HSC's resident viking Andrew, heading west to deliver a Scoop to the river Avon. We came upon a lovely old boatyard sign, which spoke of years of devoted boatyard activity by the Scarrott family. 

Pershore Marina & Boatyard
Pershore Marina & Boatyard

Pershore Marina & Boatyard is no more. However, the site is stunning, and the river Avon is clearly a popular boating environment, with Tewkesbury lying some miles downstream of the charmingly named Wyre Piddle at the confluence of the Severn and the Avon. 

There was little evidence of any wooden boat activity on the Worcestershire reaches of the Avon, although our friends further upstream at The Boathouse in Stratford-upon-Avon still proudly operate a number of electrically powered wooden boats.

Check out these beauties!

Talking of wooden boats, we have a broad selection available immediately for new custodians who want to join the exclusive fraternity (and sorority) of boat lovers. 

Like their owners, these vessels come in all shapes and sizes.

'Water Witch' - an elegant and spacious motorised canoe
'Water Witch' - an elegant and spacious motorised canoe
'Lisanne' - a stunning 30ft Andrews slipper stern launch (with optional mooring)
'Lisanne' - a stunning 30ft Andrews slipper stern launch (with optional mooring)
'Natasha' - a very rare and beautiful 'belle epoque' gentleman's launch (with optional mooring)
'Natasha' - a very rare and beautiful 'belle epoque' gentleman's launch (with optional mooring)
'New Venture' - a 1960s 40ft Bates Starcraft
'New Venture' - a 1960s 40ft Bates Starcraft

Love that lasts a lifetime ...

Over the years, many boats have come and gone from our website and indeed have contributed in some way to my own life story. 

I once was the proud owner of ‘New Venture’. She came with us to The Queen’s Jubilee. The weather was inclement, to say the least, but memories were made during the historic event.

Onboard 'New Venture' to celebrate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee back in 2012.
Onboard 'New Venture' to celebrate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee back in 2012.

Many of the participants, and particularly those who spent the day in open boats, may remember this event principally for the appalling weather conditions. 

It is no exaggeration to say that it poured all day long, and we were all in admiration of good Queen Bess, who valiantly waved to every passing boat on that memorable June day.

See you at Cowes Classics Week!

It is always a pleasure to see an array of classic boats grouped together in one place. 

Obviously, we are all excited about the Thames Traditional Boat Festival on August bank holiday, and in the meantime, I am going to jump on the Isle of Wight ferry on July the 6th for a dose of classic wooden boat eye candy at Cowes Classics Week.

Peter de Savary's Fairey Swordsman
Peter de Savary's Fairey Swordsman

This is essentially a sailing boat event, but for the first time this year, they are inviting classic car and motorboat enthusiasts to bring along their pride and joy and join in with the day’s events. 

It would be great to see some of you there, and I intend to report back on my day out in the summer newsletter.

Fun in the sun

In the early days of June day boat hire really took off and there were days at PureBoating when we were fully booked.

'Les' girls enjoying their PureBoating day-hire outing.
'Les' girls enjoying their PureBoating day-hire outing.

Sapphire Rose’ at The Beetle & Wedge is also beginning to gain traction for a preprandial outing, and our classic charter collection has recently added ‘Tarbes II’ and ‘Breda’ to the books.

'Tarbes II' - a luxury saloon launch that seats 12
'Tarbes II' - a luxury saloon launch that seats 12
'Tarbes II's' beautiful varnished mahogany interior
'Tarbes II's' beautiful varnished mahogany interior
'Tarbes II's' cosy aft bench
'Tarbes II's' cosy aft bench

We are truly spoiled for choice and hope to have a busy summer on the Thames.

In the meantime at the boatyard ...

'Golden hind' emerges from the workshop into the sunshine.
'Golden hind' emerges from the workshop into the sunshine.

The boatyard team continues to toil with some interesting projects and has more in the pipeline. 

It feels eerily quiet at the yard now that most of the winter storage customers’ boats have been relaunched; however, I suspect that Andrew and Ellie are enjoying being able to concentrate wholly on their projects without me throwing curveballs in their direction on a daily basis.

'Shirley Temple' spring relaunch
'Shirley Temple' spring relaunch

We never get enough of seeing our customers' happy faces. 

In the photo above, a delighted customer glides away from a Medmenham relaunch of his 'Shirley Temple' after an extensive paint and varnish job courtesy of Ellie and Andrew. 

If you see anything of potential interest as you browse through old photo albums, read interesting books or take photos on your daily walks, please send snippets to me [email protected]

I look forward to hearing from you with your sales enquiries, your photos and your stories.

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Henley Sales and Charter Ltd have gained a reputation over the last 30 years for selling and chartering beautiful, classic boats. Experience of operating and selling boats on the river Thames enables us to offer expert objective advice to prospective owners on all aspects of boat ownership including purchase, surveys, repairs and moorings. We will do our best to find the ideal craft to suit your individual needs - for a day or for a lifetime.

Henley Sales & Charter Ltd

29 Station Road
Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
RG9 1AT

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01491 578 870
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