Ghosts of London Boat Show's Past

This year there isn't going to be any London Boat Show, neither in December (in Earl's Court) or January (in Excel). Apparently visitor numbers dropped too low, something I feared a few years ago when Thursday night (above) was quieter than normal.

Its a shame as I have enjoyed wandering the halls, listening to talks, visiting a wide range of boats. In particular have met all sorts of interesting sailors, including:

• Conrad Humphreys, offshore sailor
• Emma Bamford, author of Casting Off books
• Chris Eakin, author of A Race Too Far
• Monty Halls, explorer and TV presenter
• Saskia Clark, Olympic Gold Medallist
• John Blake, author of The Sea Chart
• Bob Shepton, author of Addicted to Adventure
• Elaine Bunting, editor Yachting World
• Tom Cunliffe, author 
• Will Stirling, boat builder
• Sam Llewellyn, editor Maritime Quarterly
• Stokey Woodall, sailor and author
• Roger Taylor, sailor of Mingming up to 80N
• Paul and Rachel Chandler, who were captured by pirates
• Geoff Holt, paraplegic sailor
• Peter Webb, sailed round Spiztbergen in an open boat
• Liza Copeland, author of the Just Cruising books 
• Sally Kettle, author of Sally's Odd as Sea rowing the Atlantic
• Hector Macdonald, author of The Storm Prophet
• Jo Rogers, one of the Sisterhood
• Jock Wishart, Arctic veteran

Ah well, there's always Southampton Boat Show later in the year.


Updated: or, alternatively, something called the London Yacht Show has been announced for May in St. Katharine Dock. Its focus: "elite individuals visit London Yacht Show in order to seek out the extraordinary in luxury yachting and living". Hmm..... sounds like a different focus than the list above.

No t-shirts at the Classic Boat Festival 2018

Last weekend was the Classic Boat Festival 2018 at St. Katharine Docks, London.

I'd been there before not just once but a couple of times - as blogged from 2014, 2015 and 2017 (not sure what happened in 2016). So there was a certain sense of deja-vu when went round, ticking off the things had seen in previous years, almost a been-there-got-the-t-shirt attitude.

However one thing I couldn't see were any t-shirts for sale - surely a gap in the market. "Mine's a Classic" must be a logo that would sell.

For some reason was taking video not stills - maybe in an effort to do something different this time round - and the results are above: 20 things spotted at the Classic Boat Festival 2018.

Spoiler alert: none of them are a t-shirt.

Circumnavigating Spitsbergen: Getting there and going round

So how did I end up going round Spitsbergen?

Well to a degree it was down to a chance meeting at the Southampton Boat Show. I'd gone to hear a talk by Skip Novak about sailing at high latitudes which was jolly interesting. Afterwards I got chatting to Emil and Henry who'd also come to hear the talk and then we walked around the boat show.

They were planning a trip to northern islands and after my trips to the Arctic Circle and Greenland I was interesting in joining them. The idea was to sail from Svalbard via Jan Mayen to Greenland, then Iceland, in a Challenge 72, but alas that fell through (insurance issues). But we kept in touch, for example saying hi at various events, including the London Boat Show and London OnWater.

Since then Emil set up Sail Norway (sailing trips in high latitudes, Norway, Svalbard, Jan Mayen, Greenland, Iceland etc.) and Henry Kraken Travel (web site with lots of really interesting sailing adventures on it. Updated: as mentioned in this month's Yachting World) and both were on my browser favourite list.

So when on Henry's web site I saw a trip via Emil's sailing company to circumnavigate the wild and wonderful Spitsbergen (just the name is fantastic) it rose quickly to the point where bank transfers were made and kit piled high on my bedroom floor.

But to get there was a long journey, taking many days, stopping over at Oslo and Tromso (which deserve blog posts on their own as both were great) before flying into Longyearbyen, the main town of the Svalbard archipelago.

Here I joined the Valiente, a 70 foot steel hulled lifting keel yacht to do the circumnavigation in the Google Earth map above.

BTW, the KML of this route was based on the log with a bit of tweaking as:
1)  Mostly the log just kept the degrees and minutes at each hour, and this wasn't really enough to avoid the dreaded path-on-land problem. It really needs at least one decimal minute to get sufficient accuracy (which a few did, those initialled "JP")
2) Even with accurate logs it is likely that tracks will go across land if logged once an hour as you can go round a cape in half an hour and it will look like you've gone through it.

It took 10 days to get round including several stops at anchor for half days, about 800 NM.

And in every single day between leaving Oslo and returning two weeks later there was 24 hours of sunshine, endless midnight sun.

Must admit I really missed the sunsets and nighttime and found the first sunset rather exciting:

Distant Shores at London on Water

Also at London on Water I met up with Paul and Sheryl Shard who are the Canadian couple behind the TV / Vimeo / YouTube show Distant Shores.

If you haven't caught Distant Shores here is their trailer:



They were both super nice and photo at the top shows their new yacht which they're about to sail off in for their next adventures. Distant Shores III is a Southerly 480 with lifting keel and below deck had that lovely new yacht smell with everything looking immaculate.

They also have a YouTube channel (of course) and you can get a flavour of their voyages through Scotland to Norway here:



They've even managed to put together a video of their visit to London:

Henry from Kraken & sailing to Svalbard

Also at London on Water and much more enjoyable and running a lot smoother was the talk by Henry from Kraken Travel about a trip to Norway and up to Svalbard.

If you don't know about them its worth checking out their web site to discover some of the most interesting sailing trips around, including some to those arctic destinations I do so love visiting.

I have actually booked one of their trips but won't say which as don't want to jinx it after last year's bad luck in getting sick at the wrong time.

Anyhow, lots of good stories from Henry about sailing and skiing including a hot tub at the top of a mountain which sounds just brilliant plus great photos (alas the one above has nasty reflection) but you can get an idea from this blog post.

Had fun just chatting about sailing to the far north and people we both either knew or had heard of.

Jimmy Cornell talks about the North West Passage, again

The first of the talks at London on Water turned out to be one that I'd already seen and heard before at the Cruising Association 18 months ago, so check out the post for more details.

Two things stuck in my mind from that earlier presentation. Firstly, Cornell came across as a bit fussy, worrying about things not being right, from the lighting to the microphone to people eating away, and secondly that as skipper he said he couldn't "afford to be nice all the time" which sounded a bit ominous for the crew.

This talk didn't really add to this, though it wasn't helped by technical issues with the laptop and microphone, background noise from the bar of people chatting, the sound of rain on the tent and people eating too close to the table where Cornell had his books.

There was something appropriate about hearing this talk at St. Katharine Docks as Cornell's voyage started and ended by going through the nearby Tower Bridge.

London on Water gets wet

Over the weekend there was a boat show called London on Water in St. Katharine Docks. I'd been to the one last year and been slightly underwhelmed, apart from some rather nice cars, though it had been a nice sunny day.

Alas the one this year was rather bucketing down though there was a bit more to see:

There was a floating pontoon area with stands, a bar (which of course Buff went straight to), an area for talks and more boats including one of those long distance offshore rowing boats (above) which I can never quite see why people sign up for.

Technically it was ticketed but in practice there was no one checking at the door onto the pontoon (and anyhow I had a guest ticket aka reason to get my email).

But I went to two interesting talks and met another of those sailing round the world making videos couples which will post about next.

With the cancellation of the London Boat Show 2019, if there is another London On Water next year it could end up being London's only boat show.

London Boat Show: On The Waterfront

There comes a time when you've heard all the talks, checked out the interesting new boats, browsed the boat show and had a bite to eat when the day seems to have been rather long and the exit beckons.

Outside was the magic twilight in which docklands glowed, reflecting in the hotel-yacht nearby.

A quick peak out at the quay-side by the ExCel exhibition centre and it was clear there were no boats on display:

It was rather cold: time to take the DLR and head west.

London Boat Show: Random Photos

London Boat Show: Ladders

There're always some off topic stands at the London Boat Show.

For some reason many are basically the sort of thing you'd see at an Ideal Home Show, in particular kitchen and bedroom focused, with knive and pans sets or new beds. I did wonder if they never left but the stands stay there all the time.

This one make me immediately think of one of the Greendale courses on the TV show Community, namely Ladders:



Though they didn't describe itself as ladders but instead something about "Access Solutions".

London Boat Show: Two Cars and a Helicopter

At a boat show you expect to see... well... boats, though for some reason other vehicles seem to creep in.

The amphibious car (above) did sort of make sense but this one less so:

Though maybe if you're buying a massive white gin palace you might as well colour coordinate the Bentley while you're at it.

But then what happens if your helicopter is charcoal grey???

That's done it! Cancel those orders!!

London Boat Show: Rowing the Indian Ocean

At the London Boat show saw another of those cross-ocean rowing team expeditions things. I know its all for a good cause (*) and terribly hard work but really can't get that enthusiastic - sorry guys!

I just can't see why you'd row when you could sail. Maybe I've seen too many SV Delos videos but they seem to be having a lot of fun while this just seems like making life hard for yourself.

Also, wasn't that the route that the debris from that the Malaysia flight 370 aircraft crash followed, washing up at Mauritius too?

Anyhow, there's a web site about there voyage here.



(*) raising money for to support those with Parkinson's Disease which really is horrid so worth funding

London Boat Show: Kraken Travel

A couple of years ago I went to a talk by Skip Novak at the Southampton Boat Show (as blogged here).

Afterwards wandered around looking at boats with two chaps I'd met at the talk called Henry and Emil. It turned out there were planning to charter a Challenge 72 to sail to high latitude destinations such as Jan Mayen island, home of the mighty Beerenberg.

Alas that sailing trip didn't work out due to complicated reasons and it was to set a pattern for the next few years where I'd get all excited about an adventure sail only to get sick and not go.

Anyhow, I met Henry again at the London Boat Show where he and his company Kraken Travel had a stand. They do just the sort of exciting sailing to interesting places that I'd like to be doing - see the video above (gold stars for those that spot Henry in it) - so had a good chat and catch-up.

Here's hoping at some point will be able go on voyages like these again.

London Boat Show: Golden Globe Race Anniversary & Susie Goodall Racing

I used to go round the boat show visiting the yachts on display and imagining sailing away in them. But now there aren't that many boat builders at the show and those that are on display are usually either plastic gin palaces or the potter round the Med types with fat beams.

However this one did catch my eye: a tough, go-anywhere Rustler 36 and it really is going on an adventure as Susie Goodall is racing it around the world as part of the 50th anniversary of the Sunday Times 1968 Golden Globe Race.

The new Golden Globe Race will leave on the 30th June 2018 from Portsmouth and re-create the classic race, avoiding modern designs and technology. As this web site puts it "iPhone, no mod cons, just solo with the sun stars and horizon".

Sounds fascinating!

London Boat Show: Emma Bamford

I'd met Emma Bamford at last year's boat show and bought her two books about her cruising life, Casting Off & Untie the Lines, which I'd read, enjoyed and reviewed (see this post).

But they left me with the inevitable question about what happened next, so went along hoping to hear there was a third book out that would give answers.

Alas it was just the two books I'd already read available but I had a quick chat afterwards as to what she was planning.

Apparently she is working in sailing journalism in the UK and is writing a novel about yachties in the Indian Ocean arriving at Chagos Islands where there's a baddy and the plot thickens (so to speak). One to look out for ... whenever. Not sure when as it sounded like it might not be available for next year's boat show.

So I left the Boat Show without picking up another book.... ah well, I have a good stack at home.

London Boat Show: Sam Davies and Tracy Edwards

I arrived particularly early for the Legends sailing talk with Tracy Edwards and Sam Davies (above) and that was just as well as it was really popular - with good reason.

Tracy Edwards, MBE, was of course skipper and driving force behind Maiden, the first female crewed yacht in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht race (now the Volvo), which won 2 of the 5 legs and ended up second overall.

She has inspired many others to follow her footsteps and helped them directly, including Sam Davies, inviting her to join the crew of the multihull Royal SunAlliance.

Both have mega projects they are working on. Edwards has rescued Maiden and is now planning a global voyage to raise funds for charities that support female education. Apparently there will be berths available in return for contributions - worth looking out for that later this year. You could even sail with Edwards, though I get the impression she could be a bit of a tough cookie.

And Davies is off again on another Vende Globe! Must admit to be rather thrilled by this one in particular as she really lit up the 2008-9 circumnavigation. She really seemed to be not just relishing the challenge but actually enjoying it, and you can see why France has taken her to heart with her natural girl-next-door charm:

Her new boat is being upgraded to the latest foils and then she'll have a good long period to get familiar with it before the race. Bon courage, Sam!

London Boat Show: Navigation Tips with Stokey Woodall

My chat with Conrad Humphreys touched on navigation techniques but later there was to be a whole talk about it from Pete "Stokey" Woodall (above).

I'd seen him at a previous London Boat Show when he'd described the star clock (below) for which the answer was not 42 but 41.5. I'd even gone off and done a bit of maths to work out that it was really 41.58 which I guess is close enough.

It was a very entertaining talk, including such gems as rolling up a chart into a cone and using it to locate fog-horn directions to within a few degrees (apparently that really works). Also a metal frying pan can be used to shield an AM radio so that the direction of the transmitter can be identified from the two possible directions 180 degrees apart.

There was also some more celestial navigation tips based upon one of the stars in Orion, Mintaka, that rises or sets due East / West:

Fun and informative!

London Boat Show: Conrad Humphreys and C4's Mutiny

Last year Channel 4 broadcast a programme called "Mutiny" in which they re-created the voyage of Captain Bligh after the Mutiny on the Bounty in which he was cast adrift in the Pacific in small boat.

The programme showed 9 men sailing a 23 foot open wooden boat 4,000 miles from Tonga to Timur and there was plenty of drama on the way. The boat itself was on display at the last boat show (as blogged here).

The channel's notes can be found here and it can be seen that there was only one named crew member, namely "Anthony Middleton, of SAS: Who Dares Wins".

There is a difference between a non-sailing commissioning editor and a sailor, because from my viewpoint the crew was round the world sailor Conrad Humphreys and some bloke from the marines (apologies to Anthony Middleton for that lack of knowledge).

In most cases there was perfect agreement between the two apart from the final leg where a lack of wind and water meant there was a discussion about whether to row towards wind patches.

TBH, if I'd been on that boat I know which of the two I'd have listened to the most carefully, namely the one that had sailed round the world and knew a thing or two about how to keep moving when trapped by a high pressure, but the episode was cut by someone who shared the channel's view that saw first and foremost a TV personality from the SAS.

Anyhow, it was great to meet Conrad Humphreys at the London Boat Show and hear about the voyage first hand and see some of the photos on his iPad. He also showed some of the ship's biscuits they survived on and if they were only eating a couple of those a day its no wonder they lost a lot of weight.

We also had a brief chat about navigation and the techniques they used which was pure old school techniques like dead reckoning and celestial navigation. I asked about whether he'd read Tristan's "How to Read Water" book and he hadn't but knew about Tristan and was wondering if he should reach out, to which I said yes, as that sounds like a great combination.

It was all very interesting and I look forward to hearing what he does next.

More London Boat Show photos for Tillerman

 Spent yesterday wandering around the London Boat Show in between listening to various talks.

More pics and stories to come but of course first up those all important photos for Tillerman...

Classic Boats at St. Katharine Dock - with character

There's something about classic boats that brings out oodles of character, which was on display all around St. Katharine Dock.

Dogs stole the show (above) and boats were dressed to send the quaintometer off the scale (below):

Some waited for the event to open by doing a crossword or two:

Other's made sure those ropes were coiled and chains neatly stored: