London Boat Show 2017: Waterfront at Dusk

The waterfront outside the ExCel Exhibition Centre during the London Boat Show sometimes is packed with boats too large to be within even its cavernous halls.

But not this time, where the quayside was empty and the water looked grey and cold.

On the far side was the derelict building, the soon to be developed Millennium Mills (see inside with this Londonist video). In front there was the familiar sight of the SS Robin, which still seems to be about to be ready, but not quite.

The waters were still and the clouds spat rain down in the dusk:

It was time to go home.

London Boat Show 2017: Foils, 3D Printers and a Robot

This fancy cat caught my eye as its one of the new breed of foilers aimed at general sailors.

This is the foiling Whisper built here in the UK using the latest carbon fibre and 3D printing technology:

It looked very cool and wouldn't mind a trial sail on it.

Less authentic was this "robot" which roamed the ailes of the Boat Show. A little googling confirmed my suspicion that inside was an actor:

London Boat Show 2017: Recreation of Bounty Voyage

The London Boat Show contains an indoor pool where they demonstrate small boats like canoes and kayaks.

It was also the location where you could see a replica of the long boat used by Captain Bligh after the mutiny on the HMS Bounty on his 4,000 mile voyage to land and safety.

This was used in a recreation of that voyage commissioned by Channel 4 television as announced here. The plan was for 9 men to sail this boat from Tonga to Timur, filming their experiences and comparing against the voyage back in 1789.

One to look out for in 2017.

London Boat Show 2017: Putney to Calais Race

Also spotted at the London Boat Show was this racing powerboat, Easy Rider (above).

Apparently Putney isn't just the start of various rowing races (in particular, the Oxford vs Cambridge bash), it was also the start of a race to Calais and back by powerboat.

You can see a video of the original race back in 1971 in this YouTube clip:

Easy Rider has been restored and is planning a re-run of the race for charity, as described on this web page.

It won't be quite the same as the current PLA rules mean that there is a strict speed limit on the Thames.

Just as well I did my powerboat course a few years ago before the rules changed!

London Boat Show 2017: the age of the vlogger

Its times like this that I feel too old to try out vlogging.

I was watching the end of the fashion show at the London Boat Show (waiting for Dee Caffari and Sam Davies) when up popped young Alissa (above, centre).

She is a vlogger with her own YouTube channel TRAVEL around LONDON with ALISSA and was visiting the boat show with press pass and all.

You can watch her report here:

I think I'll go and count my grey hairs now...

London Boat Show 2017: Dee Caffari and Sam Davies

Also up at the London Boat Show was Sailing Uncovered's Alec Wilkinson talking to Dee Caffari and Sam Davies (above).

It was a really interesting chat, with of course lots about their experiences in offshore races like the Vendee Globe (as blogged many years ago) and the Volvo Ocean Race:

They covered familiar topics of food and toilets at sea but without much apparent enthusiasm.  What did seemed to enthuse them was talking about Alex Thomson in the Vendee Globe (then about 125 NM behind Armel le Cleach) and whether he could grab first place:

It felt in line with one of their main messages: that what interests them is not so much women sailing but just sailing and how it should be for everyone 'cos its great and exciting.

Alas no chance for a post interview meet and greet but interesting to hear them talk live:

London Boat Show 2017: Emma Bamford & Casting Off

The next author I chatted too was Emma Bamford (above), author of Casting Off and Untie the Lines.

She used to be a journalist writing for The Independent then in her 30s, faced with friends settling down to start families plus feeling there must be more to life than this, she changed direction for crewing yachts sailing in exotic places.

With a number of different boats she sailed from Borneo to Sri Lanka and then on to Oman (in the first book) and later sailed in places like the Caribbean and Texas (second book). She also did some superyacht work. In most cases she found places using resources like Crew Seekers.

It wasn't as huge a switch in lifestyle as that introduction implies - I learnt that she sailed a couple of legs on the Clipper race as journalist including across the Atlantic so had a good grounding.

Full review of the first book to come (its on that stack) but the prologue flew by so looking forward to that one.

London Boat Show 2017: Chris Eakin & A Race Too Far

One of my favourite haunts of the London Boat Show is the book shop where there opportunities to meet the authors, and this year was no exception.

First up was author and journalist Chris Eakin who's written a book called A Race Too Far about the 1968 Golden Globe Race which has also been made into a film, The Mercy, due to be released later this year.

Its a dramatic - and tragic - story and Chris's book tells the story not just of the race but what happened next to each competitor and their families. Full review to come once I've read it.

We had a brief chat about sailing - he sails a 34-foot Hallberg-Rassy and we ended up discussing high latitude sailing, where he has considerable experience, having done the NW passage with none other than Jimmy Cornell.

I mentioned the talk by Cornell I went to at the Cruising Association and how he mentioned he'd become a sterner skipper, saying he can't "afford to be nice all the time". At this Chris gave a wry smile - from what I gather it was a difficult voyage.

We also had a good chat about writing in general and life as a author.

I have quite a stack of books post-Christmas but this one must be high up the pile.

London Boat Show 2017: Monty Halls

As mentioned in the previous post, Monty Halls was on Saskia Clark's team of the Question of Sailing event.

I first saw Monty on TV in a series of programs about him leaving the city for life on a Hebridean croft, with a large focus on the wildlife of that beautiful part of the world. The scene stealing star was his dog Reuben.

Since then he's done a number of similar shows plus travel to more exotic locations for marine wildlife and diving explorations and TV programs.

I had a brief chat (above) about what's next and he's off to the Pyrenees and Alps for a TV program about the escape routes used by Allied airmen in the war.

Then he got distracted by his kids playing on the RIB in the background of this photo and I wandered off myself in the direction of the book store...

London Boat Show 2017: A Question of Sailing

Saskia Clark and Mark Covell were back later on the first Saturday of the London Boat Show in a Question of Sailing hosted by Alec Wilkinson. They were joined by Monty Halls (more on him in the next post) and three attendees of the boat show.

I rather liked Saskia's name card:

There were sailing related questions, such as identification of flags, and tasks, such as racing to get into life jackets including inflating them (fun).

There was also a "what happened next" round with series of clips, and anyone that follows Sailing La Vagabonde might recognise this one:

The scores entering the final round were remarkably even - suspiciously so, as Monty Halls pointed out - with tie breaker a hornpipe dance off task:

After those high kicks it was clear who the winner would be: Saskia's team!


Updated: another high kicking photo -  pretty impressive angle!

Sleaford Mods going down like B.H.S on the Thames

Just spotted this video recorded at Chelsea Harbour here on the Thames by the band Sleaford Mods in which they sing about going down like B.H.S.

For those wondering what this TLA (three letter acronym) means, its a reference to British Home Stores which went into administration in a way that become a bit of a national scandal here in Blighty-land.

The previous owner, Philip Green, took hundreds of millions out of the company, ladening it with debts and leaving a huge hole in the pension fund, and then sold it for £1 just before it crashed to retire to the Med on this £100 million yacht:

I don't think the Sleaford Mods approve.

More background from the Guardian here (which is also where the photo came from).

10 reasons why sailing is SAD

Our new top correspondent Boris Staysail has been interviewing the topest persons and has come up with this Top Trump list of 10 reasons why sailing is sad.

1. Water sports are sad. I know nothing about water sports so don't know what they are but know they are really sad

2. Colour. I've seen those Aeros that some sad sailors go on and on about but you can't get them in gold, and gold is the only not sad colour

4. All good things can be done in one of my hotels, if you can't do it in a hotel then that is SAD. And you can't sail in a hotel so that is just sad

5. One sailor I have heard of is John Kerry and he is a Democrat and they are sad so sailors are sad

6. I am the smartestish of all but haven't won the America's Cup, so it must be sad, so sad. I feel sorry for it!

7. I was told that the Vendee Globe was a big sailing race but when I went on to the web site to watch the virtual regatta I noticed they were all fake, not real - FAKE - that's sad

8. My friend Putin doesn't sail, so it must be sad

9. America is the topest nation, greatest at everything - so why didn't America get the most sailing gold medals in the Olympics - it must be that its FIXED against America. Its FIXED! We should build a wall otherwise against these SAD sailors

10. The main stream media reports about sailing and they are just garbage, so biaised, its SAD. So SAD!

Olympic Gold Medallist Saskia Clark at the London Boat Show

After Sailing Uncovered's Alec Wilkinson had a chat with Mark Covell it was time to meet Olympic Gold Medallist Saskia Clark who came complete with her medal.

It's fair to say the home crowd were pretty tickled pink to see one of the heroes of Rio in person and it was enjoyable and interesting to hear her stories.

There was a short video clip in which she and Hannah Mills tested their knowledge of each other, asking crucial questions like who like chocolate the most (I think that was a draw) and who was most likely to forget their passport (alas that was Saskia).

Saskia received an MBE in the new year along with the other sailing golds, namely Hannah and Giles Scott (in the Finns). There was a great story about how they weren't allowed to talk about it (seriously, you are NOT to say anything to anyone) and yet they needed to as Hannah forget to reply saying yes and Giles lost the letter so Saskia had to do a bit of very off the record prompting.

Afterwards there was a chance to say hi, get a selfi and feel the gold medal, which was indeed very heavy and apparently mostly silver with gold plating.  She was very open about others holding it - suspect I'd go a bit Gollum and start talking about my "precious".

I had a chance for a brief chat and found her really nice:

I asked her whether she might switch to offshore sailing as some sailors do switch, such as Mark Covell in the Volvo, but she seemed to prefer remain inshore, maybe large yachts. She was also interested in increasing awareness of sailing in the UK which sounds like an excellent idea.

It must be tough for someone to be top of their game, genuinely the best in the world, and then be faced with starting again, but if anyone can I'd say she could.

Sailing Uncovered and Mark Covell at the London Boat Show

I've mentioned before that for me the high point of the London Boat Show is almost always the people you meet or hear from and this one was no exception.

The organisers seemed to be recognising this with a series of talks across the 9 or so days that the show is open.

The one I went to was hosted by Sailing Uncovered's Alec Wilkinson (above left) and first up was Mark Covell (above right).

Mark Covell won a silver at the Sydney Olympics in the Star class along with Ian Walker. The photo above is of their sail back to the beach knowing they'd won a medal. The Union Jack is actually upside down but the waves were so bad that Ian Walker refused to return to the foredeck to flip it over.

Since then Mark has gone on to build a career in sailing on and off the water. He was part of an America's Cup team (as grinder), was a on-board reporter on the Volvo Ocean race, managed the Boat Project (blogged here) and commented at races such as the America's Cup and Olympics.

He was full of interesting stories from those many years including how he ended up towing a Volvo Ocean Race yacht the hard way across the equator:

Up next was Olympic Gold Medal winner Saskia Clark...

London Boat Show pics for Tillerman

 

Happy New Year!

Last night went into central London for a sideways look at the fireworks, joining the crowds on the Thames mud-banks by MI6.

Initially I had this great clear line of sight then spotted the tide was coming in so moved to higher ground, deciding it was better to be dry than worry about having the odd head in the way.

Merry Christmas

My boat is bigger than yours

There were a lot of very big boats on display in the marinas of Barcelona.

It might indeed give some inferiority complexes, sailing in front of such a line-up of mega plastic- fantastics; gin-palaces rising like a layer cake.

But worry not, for the owners of these up-market caravans were dwarfed by this:

This was Abramovich's super-duper, mega-hyper floating HQ, Eclipse, all of 163m long, making all the others look like toys.

But even he has to accept its no longer the longest in the world, a prize taken by the 180m long Azzam.

According to Wikipedia, both yachts are official available for charter (though maybe not), noting that this is because they aim "avoid European taxation (charter yachts are exempt from property tax)".

Extremely rich people avoiding tax.... to misquote Casablanca:

"I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling tax avoidance is going on here"

Tall Ships, Barcelona

While waiting at Gatwick for the flight to Barcelona I spent a long time reading up in the Lonely Planet guide as to what to look out for.

My eye was caught by the description of the chance to sail on the three-masted schooner Santa Eulalia, restored by the Maritime Museum. So I pinged off an email and was a bit surprised to get it returned with address not found.

A bit of searching and translating later found the following message: "for maintenance and repair work, the schooner Santa Eulalia suspended all sailings and tours to the public until the end of the year".

Bother.

It was not to be the first time that I was to find that the Lonely Planet had got things wrong, such as:

• Park Guell: free, just turn up - wrong! Timed tickets required
• La Sagrada Familia: "once inside € 4.50 will get you into lifts that rise up to the towers" - wrong! Timed tickets also required, pre-booked online.

But at least the harbour had lots of other nice boats to look at, such as the one above.

Maritime Museum Barcelona

Barcelona quickly became one of my favourite places for a weekend away from London.

There's lots to see and eat, and I just loved walking around the old quarter listening the buskers and soaking up the atmosphere before finding a good place for some tapas.

One afternoon was spent in the Maritime Museum and I'd certainly recommend it to any boaties visiting that city. For one thing, the city was crazy packed but the museum was an oasis of calm.

They have a number of interesting boats on display including this full sized replica of Don Juan of Austria's 16th century galley (above).

There were lots of other boats, both working and leisure, on display, plus exhibitions on specific topics (photography and toy boats when I was there).

The recently restored building itself is lovely, the Barcelona Royal Shipyards, where boats were built for hundreds of years.

Boats! Boats! Boats! .... in Barcelona

Recently I was in Barcelona and had a chance to head down to the beach and go for a swim and of course take some boaty pictures....

Videos from Land Rover BAR and Alex Thomson

Its a a good time of year to be an armchair sailor, when its cold and grey outside, to keep in the warm making shopping lists doing their sailing via the interweb thing.

First up there's the video above from Land Rover BAR showing lots of lovely clips of their America's Cup foiling cats zooming across the Solent. What fun!

Santa - how about a ride on one of those for Christmas?

Then there was a cool video of Alex Thomson waving the flag while neck and neck with Armel Le Cléac'h somewhere way down south in the Vendee Globe:


Oh la la!! C'est superb!!

Lieutenant-Commander Thomas Woodrooffe is "All lit up" for Public Service Broadcasting

Last week I went to see the band Public Service Broadcasting play at the Islington Assembly Halls and it was of course brilliant.

If you don't know them, their approach is to take an old news reel and commentary and use that as the basis of an electronica track. This means that lead, J. Willgoose, Esq, doesn't have to sing and he also manages to avoid speaking, using pre-prepared phrases triggered by keyboard (apart, famously, from that Brixton gig).

Topics are often geek-friendly, including trains (Night Mail), planes (Spitfire) and spaceships (The Race for Space). It's all great stuff, and I've seen them three times.

In their Inform-Educate-Entertain album one track is called Lit up and the video (above) include various clips from life at sea overlaid by the commentary for the 1937 review of the fleet at Spithead.

This commentary was given by Lieutenant-Commander Thomas Woodrooffe, broadcast live over the BBC.

Alas the Lieutenant-Commander was more than a little "lit up" himself, having been entertained by Royal Navy colleagues with "charged glasses of Seasickness Simulator" and as the rambling became incoherent the BBC had to pull the plug.

You can hear the original here.

They didn't play this track at Islington, though we did enjoy many others, including the singalong favourite, Go:

Given there are basically just the two words to remember you'd have to be pretty lit up to get this one wrong.

Updated: apparently the opening notes to "Lit Up" are B-B-C, which is appropriate given this was an outside broadcast for, you guessed it, the BBC.

Two years of Land Rover BAR

Fab!

Sailors brighten Blighty's November skies

Its been a grim couple of weeks.

Outside it's been grey and wet while inside when you switch on the TV you see climate change deniers and hear that polar ice levels are dropping crazy amounts.

But Blighty's sailors are doing their bit to bring back hope (remember that?)

Ben Ainslie and co of Land Rover BAR just went off and did it!! They won the America's Cup World Series (above), racing against seriously the best of the best. So its not all doom and gloom (well for us here in the old UK anyhow).

Then in the Vendee Globe Alex Thomson is still leading the way south, despite having broken one of his foils.

Fab!

Finally I've been baking and what is better on a cold November day than a nice cuppa with chocolate brownie or slice of ginger cake:

Life afloat: living on a houseboat on the Thames

The Thames is many things to many people, but for some it is home.

The video above tells the story of some of those that live in houseboats on the tidal Thames, including actress Imogen Stubbs.

It was funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and shown as part of the Totally Thames 2016 which also showed some photos in this video:

Those houseboats I've visited (including two in these videos) have been lovely, if sometimes constrained in space by the hull's dimensions. However there are also houseboats, typically very modern, which are much larger, like a four bedroom house that have been made watertight.

It must be lovely to feel that gentle rocking and hear the slap, slap of waves as you go to sleep then to wake to the quaking of ducks and light reflecting off the waters onto the ceiling...

Time loop detected in London!!

Scientists are rushing to explain the time loop which has transported parts of central London back to the 1950s.

Said THE EXPERT "We have observed scenes from 1950s Britain in modern Trafalgar Square, such as the protests against Prime Minister's Eden's Suez adventure" (above).

THE EXPERT continued "However, we have identified a possible prime suspect for this time related incident. None other than THE DOCTOR is involved, having infiltrated the ROYAL FAMILY by posing as PRINCE PHILIP":

"Our latest theories" THE EXPERT continued "involves quantum effects and the noosphere's anxiety in response to modern reality, but who knows?".

"The time loop would also explain how elements of the 1930s seemed to have crept into modern life. It is therefore urgent that the loop is closed as quickly as possible".

Doctors have suggested that the required reduction in anxiety could involve mass "Netflix and chill" sessions.

The Beverley Brook Walk

London is absolutely full of walks - such as the London Loop, Capital Ring, Green Chain, Lee Valley Thames Path, Jubilee Walkways and if you're not sure which is which there's a great Londonist video describing them and tube map style graphic.

But even these resources don't show all of them - such as the less well known Beverly Brook Walk. This follows the river - or rather the brook - of that name from New Malden (*) to the Thames by Putney.

While on the map the brook pops out of the ground around Worcester Park this initial part is not included in the walk. And to be honest the route is a bit DIY in that it appears more of an idea to connect together various other walks rather than an integrated and signed path.

There was a noticeable absence of signs apart from when the walk crossed main roads, and even then the signs pointed directly across busy roads not where there was a pedestrian crossing, as if their numbers had been limited by budget.

So I'd suggest that if you walk you take a few key points and then make your own way alongside the river as you're as likely as not do ok. I wasn't entirely sure if this was right route though it matches this GPS track:

The bit through Wimbledon Common was pretty nice, through the woods with the river on one side:

Sometimes the path would join other of London's walks, such as the Capital Ring:

The rural feel vanished on the crossing of the A3 to get to Richmond Park:

In Richmond Park there's work to improve the river's quality which is apparently not all it should be but apparently Sir David Attenborough no less is one of the patrons of the Beverley Brook Restoration Project.

Then there's the distinctly unglamorous South Circular to cross (and walk along for a bit), a confusion of commons (Barnes, Putney etc.) before the path sort of comes back together for the final push to the Thames and where I found that gun a few years ago.

In terms of wildlife, it is said that there are Kingfishers somewhere but I just saw the usual, such as geese and dogs being taken for walks:

Actually in both cases I heard them first.

So a nice walk though more a collection of existing tracks than (say) the clearly defined and connected Thames Path.




(*) I actually started from Raynes Park as the walk was slightly closer and there was only a tiny look at Beverley Brook before the Coombe Lane Flyover