Traditional Boats & Tall Ships Magazine

It's a 'flook' at the Maritime Museum Cornwall

The National Maritime Museum Cornwall continues to deliver an ever-changing experience to its visitors with the new installation of a rare historic boat.  Flook, the very first Heron dinghy, designed by the world-renowned and highly respected Jack Holt, has recently been suspended from the Museum’s ceiling, adding to the collection of flying boats already sailing through the attraction’s vast Flotilla gallery. 

Designed in 1950, this 58-year old was, and is, a popular DIY starter boat.  In the years following WWII, people began taking to the water in greater numbers than they ever had before, and by utilising wartime technology, when superior plywood and glues were developed, designers were able to provide a new range of affordable boats.  Enormously practical, the Heron can be rowed, sailed or even driven by a small outboard motor.  Like the later Mirror Dinghy, it is capable of being carried on the roof of a family car.  The Heron remains tremendously popular, with international ownership in excess of 10,000.

In addition to the Heron other Jack Holt designs include the Mirror dinghy (No.1 is in on display in the Museum’s Set Sail Gallery), International Enterprise, British Moth, Solo, Hornet, Flying Ten, Lazy E, Merlin, Prelude, Streaker and many more.  See Heron No.1 for yourself and admire Jack Holt’s legacy at National Maritime Museum Cornwall. 

Chandleries Receive Top Award

The Marinestore Group has been awarded the prestigious title of Marine Retailer of the Year 2008 - exactly 15 years since the first store, the Maldon Chandlery in Essex, was opened by John Lodge and he took £8.50 on his first day. 

Pictured left, the trophy was presented to the owners John Lodge and his wife Lynn by David Lewin, Chairman of the MTA (Marine Trades Association).  On receiving the award John commented, "This is fantastic, we have had a brilliant start to the year - opening the new store in Lanzarote - and it's great to know that our industry recognises this."

The thriving business, which introduced an online mail ordering service ten years ago, sells a broad range of chandlery, clothing and footwear to meet local requirements at its four stores across Essex.  The Maldon shop is geared towards the classic market, supplying unusual but traditional items such as lanolin, red lead powder, bronze fittings and just about anything for the older craft.  Modern equipment sits happily alongside all of the traditional gear.  The Maldon yard also features some of the best shipwrights around and has berthing and cranage available.

The Burnham shop has a racing flavour, and the stock reflects this.  Titchmarsh Marina at Walton-on-the-Naze is the largest and most prestigious store, with over 5000 sq ft of space dedicated to chandlery.  This site caters for cruising craft and larger motor boats.  The West Mersea outlet leans towards dinghy and clothing supplies and has a large range of 'hard-to-find' spares for racing boats.

Earlier this year, Marinestore embarked on their first overseas venture, opening a shop in the prestigious Marina Rubicon in Lanzarote.  The 2200 sq ft store sells the full range of products and equipment that are found in the UK, but with a tax rate of only 5% it's a place worth visiting.  Customers are invited to order online in the UK and collect from the Lanzarote chandlery. 

Ondeck signs partnership with Dubarry

Ondeck, the UK's fastest growing sail charter company and power and sailing school, has secured a strategic partnership with leading marine footwear specialist Dubarry of Ireland.  As part of the deal, Dubarry of Ireland will become the official technical supplier to Ondeck, providing both skippers and crew with deck shoes and sailing boots. 

The deal will also see Dubarry providing support for a number of Ondeck's sailing regattas, offering up a number of its shoes and boots for prizes.  In return, Ondeck will provide Dubarry with branding across its fleet of boats in the UK, Antigua and Portugal. 

Commenting on the partnership, Sam Sainsbury, Commercial Manager at Ondeck said: "We are delighted to have signed this partnership agreement with Dubarry.  Their range of marine footwear is extremely well regarded in the industry, providing exceptional technical performance and comfort." 

James Pound, UK Sales Manager for Marine at Dubarry of Ireland added: "We have been following Ondeck since its launch in 2004 and have been impressed by its rapid growth to-date.  We are very much looking forward to working with Ondeck and developing a mutually beneficial, long-term partnership." 

Support the Electric Sailing Project

Looking at the concept drawings for the E.S.P. catamaran (www.designnobis.com) you could be forgiven for thinking you were looking at sketches for a new jet fighter in Star Wars. It is state of the art and so it should be - after all it is planned to be the first 100% emission free vessel to be built.

The Electric Sailing Project is looking for the support, participation and help of manufacturers, organizations, and individuals. They will design and build a revolutionary 70 feet ocean going catamaran which will become a floating exhibition of modern day enviro pro technologies "working together". Once afloat, the E.S.P. Catamaran will be 100% emissions free.

It will use Electric Motors for propulsion. Hydrogen on demand will be made from salt water to feed Fuel Cells creating electricity. Hulls, decks and sails will be designed to function as solar collectors. also wind and tow generators will be generating electricity from air and water. No fossil fuel for propulsion or generating electricity will ever be needed.

It is great to see a project that not only pushes the boundaries in yacht design but also could be creating the vessel of the future. We wish them the very best of luck and keep you posted on how things develop.

To register your support or for more information visit www.theelectricsailingproject.org