A fine colour edition of DB Notes achieved by a lot of hard work by Kath and Bob Davis. Click here to view it.
Content includes colourful accounts of the Open Meetings at Poole and Gravesend together with Sally Hewitt’s account of DB Week at Castle Cove, Weymouth.
Having been kindly sent a copy of George O’Brien Kennedy’s autobiography – Not All at Sea published by Morrigan – by his son, Shane, I was intrigued to read the following on page 120: -
“Perhaps the most interesting boat I designed and built in 1939 was ‘Fuss. The origin of the design was her commissioning by an architect, a member of the Parkstone Yacht Club. He had the idea of starting a smaller and cheaper class of dinghy than the Dolphins, the sixteen footers which were already a strong class in the harbour.
The suggestion was greeted with considerable antagonism, particularly in the Parkstone Yacht Club, and caused such a kefuffle that my client named her ‘FUSS’ on launch. Fuss quickly proved herself in handicap racing but the world situation was such that she was the only boat built to the design before the war. Post-war boats to the ‘Fuss’ design became one design classes in several places under different names. Principally the IDRA 14′s in Ireland, Waldringfield Dragonflies in Essex and REB 14 footers in Durban in Natal
Her near relation, the Yachting World Day Boat is in many places. Basically Fuss was a clench built International 14 but much heavier and with reduced sail area.”
I wonder what became of Fuss?
Fred Brookes writes on his work to restore this boat built by H H Benson of Caerleon: -
“Just to update, I am well on with refurbishing 362 Playbuoy. The stem, apron and stem knee are very twisted and/or split, and the hood ends at the bow are springing as a consequence, so I have taken out those three members and am fashioning replacements with a slightly wider area for the planks to fasten on to. There’s a long split along one side of the hog, and the centreplate case has been reinforced where it seats on the hog. Apart from that, it is a longish cosmetic job, and no doubt some sealing of leaky plank seams (the boat is very dry and quite gappy. at present.)
So far as I can tell there’s no glue anywhere in my boat, all fastenings are copper rivets, saving a few bronze woodscrews here and there, which have mostly let go. I am guessing that all the oak was green. In researching for any information about Bensons of Caerleon, I can find nothing, but I notice that your boat Avocet 565 was built there. Do you know anything, Tim, about the builders? A bit rough-and-ready perhaps?”
In July 2010 Jane Trowell and James Marriott sailed their smooth hulled DB 588 (with borrowed sails), Isis, from the Crouch and Roach rivers through the Havengore Gap into the uncertain waters of the Thames.
Their descriptive account can be read by clicking here
I brought out LizzyAnne DB199 to Croatia a few years ago and although I’ve had some good sailing she now needs to be re-decked before I launch her.
I am not looking for a pristine finish, I just want her to be OK and get her in the water so I can sail. The problem is she is stored outside and each winter has suffered from the weather, losing another layer of ply. The hull is fine for this year, just another coat of paint.
Although I’m fairly handy with tools I’m a novice when it comes to boat renovation so any advice/pointers to good books would be appreciated.
Thanks
Ben
Locky McKenzie with the help of instructors and fellow pupils built a fine new wooden DB at the Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy over the Winter of 2009/2010. This link shows the different stages of build.
A 16 page full colour edition with plenty to enjoy here although be aware it is over 3 MgB in size
Our week at Fishguard was very well served by photographers to whom we owe a considerable debt of gratitude.
A large number of photos taken by Pete Bresser of Bresser Photography & Digital Media on the Monday of the second points race of Dayboat Week, mostly from the Committee boat.
Gallery by Pete Bresser on the GSC web site
Pete will be pleased to provide prints – he can be contacted at pete@bresserphotos.com
The gallery below was uploaded to the GSC web site by Steve Davies and consist of photos taken during the week by GSC members notably Deb Struthers, Hugh and Miriam Taylor, David Struthers and Steve Davies
And Ellie Maher has provided us with a magnificent collection as below: -
Second Points Race( 10th August)
Third Points Race( 11th August)
Fourth Points Race( 13th August)
Fifth Points Race( 14th August)
Message from Penny Davies of Gravesend SC
Hi all,
lunatics from Gravesend SC led by Penny, are planning a DB cruise along the Caledonian canal, starting aprox 22nd July 2011. We are intending to tow the boats to the western end of the canal to the start. (aprox 500 miles ) Other club members, friends family etc, might be camping, bed and breakfasting or bare boat chartering along the route.
The canal is large and has no mast lowering to contend with.
Please let any DB enthusiasts know and ask them to let me have their email so that I can keep them informed of our plans.
This cruise is in its infancy and the dates have been planned to allow plenty of time to return south for DB Nationals.
I hope that lots of people will be interestd, and if all goes to plan we should get some good publicity.
At the Committee meeting held on 13th November at Bosham it was decided that the fine silver trophy donated to the Association by Sheila Anderson, 1st secretary of the Association, would be used for the following competition at DB weeks: -
Teams of two boats would be drawn at the start of Dayboat Week, consisting of a boat from the top half of the fleet (as ranked in a previous Dayboat Week points series or as assessed by the Committee ) and one from the bottom half. Although these boats would not race as a team, the faster boat would be allowed to mentor the slower boat. A trophy would be awarded to the team with best combined score in all the points series races and the helm and crew of the slower boat of the winning crew would take the trophy home.
No specific names were proposed but for now I am suggesting that the trophy should be known as the Anderson Trophy and the competition as the Opportunity Series. Other ideas welcome.
The Ladies race will continue in its existing format.
