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The summer has been a tapestry of unforgettable moments, from spending time with my children and grandchildren and leisurely cruising lakes and rivers to exciting boating events.
The highlight of our summer from a boating point of view was putting on a spectacular show at the Thames Traditional Boat Festival and having the right weather to attract the crowds.
Our stand was a magnet for classic boat lovers, and as always, it was a huge pleasure to meet new customers and people we have known for years, watching them appreciate the classic boats and express interest in entering that market.
At last year's TTBF we sold a Bates Starcraft called 'Talisman IV'. It was a true delight to see the new owners on board this year and to behold the additional love they had lavished on their purchase (and on their costumes 😊).
Another one of our customers, unbeknown to us, had entered his saloon launch 'Arabella' for a couple of awards and proudly carried off the trophies. Congratulations to our yard team for their hard work on the boat this winter. It clearly paid off!
However the "belle of the ball" was a vessel we sold some six years ago and which frankly stole the show.
'Llanthony' is a 1930s Camper and Nicholson and a member of the prestigious fleet of Dunkirk Little Ships. Her new owners have reimagined the interior and the deck space with the help of Heather Dennett and this historic beauty is worthy now to grace the pages of any superyacht digest.
We had a small boat on the stand, 'Crystal', which we affectionately call the 'Bat Boat', and which attracted an enormous amount of attention. It is believed to have been built at one of the Thames film studios, probably for a Batman film and we were informed by a visitor to the stand that there is a sister boat in New Zealand which belongs to Peter Jackson (producer of Lord of the Rings). How's that for an interesting snippet!
More fascinating still was the encounter mid-way through Sunday afternoon when the vendor of the boat was preparing to tow 'Crystal' away, and a man shouted out, "That's my dad's boat!". And yes, it was! He revealed to us something of his distant childhood memories long buried which added some spice to the boat's previous history. I then verified this extraordinary story by rooting through the old Phillips auction catalogues of which I have a whole collection, and there she was (in the 1989 edition), as he had said, selling under the name of 'Simo'.
Thanks are due to the smiling and efficient committee who made this fabulous event possible.
If you didn't come this year, and whether or not you own a classic boat, you should put next year's dates, July 18th - 20th 2025, in your diary immediately! If you don't have a boat by then just come and eat, dance, make merry, and admire this eccentric, quintessentially British event.
Regine and I went on a busman's holiday the day after the festival, in glorious sunshine, for afternoon tea on board an electric Frolic 31 in Oxford with an appreciative colleague from the Swan at Streatley.
We were supposed to be discussing the merits of adding a similar experience to the Pure Boating offering at the Swan and the Boathouse in Wallingford, but quite honestly the charm of the occasion took over and we returned to shore well-fed and thoroughly relaxed.
Check out Oxford River Cruises' offering on their website.
This enchanting event promises a magical evening for Henley residents and visitors to admire a stunning array of boats, both large and small, adorned with creative lights and decorations.
Last year, around 50 boats captivated over 3,000 spectators, with themes ranging from an Abba-inspired "Mamma Mia" boat to a 15-foot illuminated octopus for an "Under the Sea" theme. Attendees were delighted by a variety of characters including penguins, pirates, butterflies, and even a giant polar bear! Many boat owners were so inspired by the event that they are eager to elevate their displays this year.
Clearly an event not to be missed, so pencil Saturday, September 14th in your diary!
Earlier in the summer I wandered downriver all the way to Docklands to accompany some of my fellow Shipwrights on a fascinating tour of West India Docks and the adjacent London museum Docklands.
The historical aspects of the outing, led by our honorary historian, were particularly striking as he described the lives of working dockers in the days preceding the closure of the merchant shipping base there and the inexorable rise of the skyscraper city we now associate with the term Docklands.
Within the museum the gallery I found most interesting was the one focused on global trade. Through the exhibits, including a full-scale recreation of a street, you can truly experience how different life was for both the rich and the poor at that time. More and more ships were coming into the city, necessitating the development of smaller wharves such as St. Katharine Docks.
Why not visit the museum and take in St Kats on the same weekend when it will be full of classic boats for the annual St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival?
This year the event will take place on September 7th, and many of our customers will be present with their boats, including a number of Dunkirk Little Ships.
It's not too late to buy your own piece of history as we have 'Rajdhani' and 'Hunter' on brokerage on our website. Both are in exceptional condition.
Just in front of the London Museum I spotted a company called Skuna renting out a choice of boats with electric outboards enabling you and your friends to float around within the confines of West India Dock on either a hot tub boat or a bbq boat. For an extra few quid, you could have a bit of both.
If you would like to experience the heart of London from the water and pass under the iconic Tower Bridge in style, you could take out this traditional Thames barge, named 'Will,' from St Katharine Docks for the day, as did one of our regular readers this summer.
Our own boat hire business upstream from London in Wallingford, Moulsford and Streatley (Pure Boating) has been flourishing this season thanks to the recent few weeks of proper summer weather. Frankly there is nowhere I'd rather be in August than the UK.
We managed to escape the Thames for a few days with friends who had rented a house on the North Norfolk coast. The walking and the wildlife there were a revelation. We happened upon seals basking with their pups and an astonishing array of interesting birds and wildfowl. (Visit Barefoot Retreats to find out where to see seals in the North Norfolk area.)
Note to self: in order to fit in with the twitcher vibe, one should be armed with an extremely large telephoto lens, precision binoculars and a special vest full of pockets. I have never felt so out of place in flip-flops and a t-shirt. 😅
If you're planning a trip to North Norfolk or you are already a regular visitor, don't miss the chance to sail aboard a Dunkirk Little Ship.
'Lucy Lavers' is a former lifeboat from Wells-next-the-Sea and is now operated by Curlew Coastal Charters, offering boat tours along Wells and the North Norfolk coast. It's definitely on my list-of-things-to-do for a future visit to Norfolk!
We were too early to enjoy the Maritime Heritage Festival in Wells which took place at the beginning of August. Looking at the event's photo gallery, I see that it could be one for the future.
Part of this summer's rich tapestry included a quick trip to Windermere on a typical northern weekend, refreshed by drizzle. But nothing could dampen my spirits on seeing 'Albatros' in her new home on Lake Windermere.
This was the culmination of several months of work on logistics, alterations, surveys, etc. All parties collaborated smoothly and harmoniously to bring this international deal to a very satisfactory conclusion.
Some folk from the Thames Traditional Boat Society, who eschew all forms of propulsion other than muscle, also made the trip to Cumbria this summer and found themselves on Ullswater.
This image just about sums up the awe one feels when gazing up at the magnificent scenery from the surface of one of the Lake District's spectacular lakes.
Some of our customers/friends ended up on the Italian lakes one having towed their Thames slipper launch all the way, and a couple of others enjoying their Riva in situ.
What could be easier than showing up at the yard as your pride and joy is launched at the press of a button, looking immaculate, fuelled up and ready for action?
Earlier this month while visiting 'Neptune' with a potential buyer, I had the pleasure of also viewing the Swedish classic 'Milja' in Lechlade.
Another Scandi classic is 'Marand of Kip', which took its owners across the Channel for months of enjoyable Gallic cruising and is now looking for a new owner on this side of the Manche.
In the same vein I have also taken on 'Amber Dawn' which has a GRP hull with lots of woody touches. She is available on a Windsor Marina mooring and could provide many years of cruising pleasure for a family of four or a sociable couple.
In addition, we've welcomed to the brokerage listings 'Tiddley Pom Pom', an early thirties Gibbs with lots of space on board. She is a charming saloon launch with a Henley town centre mooring on an annual licence, a full cover and a trailer.
Furthermore, we have several decent slipper launches looking for a new owner, including the rather unusual 'Family' and 'Cygnet II', both very original in their own unique way.
If you are interested in any of the above or indeed any of the boats on our website please give the office a call. Late summer is always a good time to buy and I am available for viewings over the next few weeks.
Don't hesitate to send us any good boaty photos of your summer adventures; we would love to see them.
