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OGA EAST COAST NEWS
Historical Gaff Cutter visits Brightlingsea - Ex River Police Gaff Cutter “Victoria”
George Jago Crosses the Bar (9/6/2010)
We are very sorry to announce the "crossing of the bar" by George Jago.
George was a very active OGA and Eastcoast member and will be greatly missed. He served on the Eastcoast committee for many years became President of our Association and was closely involved with Heritage Afloat.
Our sincere sympathies go to Brenda and the family. Please think of them at this time.
His funeral was held in Maldon on June 28th. Robert Holden, the National Secretary of the OGA gave the address. You can read this on the Obituaries Page.
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One of Britain's greatest yachtsmen Reg White has died. (27/5/2010)
Veteran East Coast Sailor Awarded Royal Cruising Club Medal
There can’t be many East coast sailors, especially Old Gaffers, who haven’t heard of Charles Stock and his diminutive cruiser Shoal Waters. Charles and Shoal Waters have spent every season since 1962 exploring the coast of SE England from Bridlington to Cowes, always under sail and accompanied until fairly recently by his wife Joy.
Shoal Waters’ ability to float in a heavy dew allowed her to venture where few sea-going sailing craft have been since the war – places I had not even heard of, with names you couldn’t make-up; Bedlam’s Bottom, Horrid Hill, Pluck’s Gutter and Hardley Dyke are a few. Never content with just sailing from A to B, Charles took great interest in retracing the trading routes of the old sailing barges and searching out forgotten quays; this curiosity has taken him to places like Little Venice, Limehouse Basin and Bow Creek in London, up the Essex Stour to Flatford Mill and the Kent Stour almost to Canterbury.
Although Charles and Shoal Waters raced in the very early OGA events, competition was not his scene and he was, and still is, happiest in demonstrating that ‘Sailing is Just for Fun’ – the title of his valuable book on east coast cruising – and proving that sailing can be enjoyed at little cost and adventure can be found close to home.
It was for these reasons that Charles was presented in March this year with the Royal Cruising Club Medal for Services to Cruising, probably a first in a boat only sixteen feet long.
Bernard Patrick
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National Historic Ships : Photography Competition 2010
The competition opens on Monday 01 March 2010 and all entries must be received by the closing time of midnight on Saturday 31 July 2010. To enter a photograph in any of the competition categories, you will need to complete an online entry form and upload your images to the National Historic Ships’ competition web-page, available at:
www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk Entrants can submit up to two photographs per category.
Competition Categories:
A. Historic vessels on the National Register of Historic Vessels (NRHV)
– entries by vessel owners or members of associated organisations only
This category is specifically aimed at owners of vessels on the NRHV and is for photos that feature a registered historic vessel, either on static display or in operational use.
Category Prize: an evening on HMS Warrior (or similar historic vessel based locally) for four people, awarded by Lucas Fettes & Partners Ltd.
B. Traditional Maritime Skills in Action – open to all
This category is aimed at highlighting the use of traditional maritime skills and techniques in the UK.
Category Prize: £250 to be spent on maritime-based training, equipment or educational material, awarded by National Historic Ships.
C.1 Your local historic vessel or seascape – entries by primary school children only
This category is for photos with a maritime theme which demonstrate interest and understanding of historic vessels in the local area.
Category Prize: digital camera for your school, sponsored by Olympus and a class visit to an historic vessel near you.
C.2 Your local historic vessel or seascape – entries by secondary school children only
This category is for photos with a maritime theme which demonstrate interest and understanding of historic vessels in the local area.
Category Prize: digital camera for your school, sponsored by Olympus and a class visit to an historic vessel near you.
D. Classic Boat Favourite: the maritime enthusiast – open to all
This is a special category, judged by Classic Boat for the best maritime photograph taken by an enthusiast.
Category Prize: two-year subscription to Classic Boat magazine, plus your photo will be the CB ‘Big Picture’ of the month.
Overall winner: National Historic Ships’ Photographer for 2010
One entrant will be chosen as the overall winner out of the above categories and the winning photograph will be featured on the front cover of National Historic Ships’ 2010 Annual Report.
Overall Prize: a monetary prize of £1,000 to be awarded on a theme or activity involving an historic vessel on the National Register of Historic Vessels.
National Historic Ships will be working with Classic Boat magazine as a media partner for the competition. A judging panel is currently being selected, which will include a well-known TV actor. Further details, rules and guidelines will be available from our website once the competition opens.
www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk
Photo Competition Form for Adults
Photo Competition Form for Kids
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MARINE APPRENTICESHIPS - Harkers Yard in Brightlingsea (5-3-09)
More than 100 people were at the launch of the Essex Marine Apprenticeship Programme on Friday at the grand opening of the Pioneer Sailing Trust's Boatyard in Harkers Yard in Brightlingsea Industrial Estate.
The guests invited by Essex County Council included Rupert Marks and other members of the Pioneer Sailing Trust, many of the men who spent years restoring the Pioneer, the town Mayor Jayne Chapman, the Deputy and Lady Deputy of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea Tony and Berni Spurling and Harbour Commisioners.
PHOTO by JACQUE COLLYER-SMITH (from left) Peter Cook, Rupert Marks, John Jowers, Anthony Trafford.
The Pioneer Sailing Trust was set up ten years ago to restore the 1864 deep sea Essex Smack Pioneer. They had her sailing in 2004 and have been working with groups of young people since 2005 taking them sailing all round the Thames Estuary. Realising that there was no provision for training in Marine Skills in Essex, the county that has the longest coast line in the country the Trust did something about it and on Friday they opened Harkers Yard, named after one of their Founder Trustees.
Rupert Marks said that the Yard will offer apprentiships in Marine Skills working on projects starting with the hull of Volante a special yacht built in Wivenhoe in 1870 which was in the newly completed undercover boat yard. Soon they will have a vessel called John Constable a Stour River Lighter and later in the year they intend to start building rowing giggs. These projects will give the Apprentices an opportunity to develope their skills in a real Marine environment.
He said that the Trustees wish to thank the Haven Gateway Partnership, Essex County Council, and the European Social Fund for their help in funding this project. David Tournay has also worked relentlessly to get the funding and his professional understanding of training has forged the way for our future apprentices. He also thanked the Pioneer Team who have toiled over the past year to get the building finished.
Anthony Trafford from the British Marine Federation spoke about the current business climate of the marine sector and the importance of training and skills developement. The assistant director for skills Peter Cook talked about the Essex Apprenticeship programme and finally councillor John Jowers officially opened the new yard.
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New Base for Pioneer Trust at Brightlingsea
The New Boatyard Training Centre currently being built in Brightlingsea is almost complete. The yard, located in the Shipyard Estate at Brightlingsea, will be a purpose built facility developed to provide apprenticeships for young people who wish to develop a career within the marine industry. The yard will work on 'real' live projects, including restorations and repair work. Apprentices will develop skills in working with wooden craft and with a wider range of materials including GRP.
The project has been developed with financial support provided by Essex County Council.
The building has almost been finished and they have the first project waiting to be started. (see pic)
'Volante', is a 40ft gentleman's yacht designed and built by John Harvey of Wivenhoe in 1870. (see pic)
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(Reprinted from the Sunday Times August 16 2009, with our thanks)
We would be pleased to look at any material you may
have for our new site
Please E-mail ecwebmaster@oldgaffersassociation.org
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