Niagara under construction at Hoo. Picture by David Rye.
As well as the Dave Brooks stuff on the newly restored barge Niagara, I received some nice picture of her under construction in Hoo Marina. As David says, “My cousin took me to Hoo (and other places of barge interest) last summer.
As you may know the ‘Marina’ is interesting to say the least including the rather rickety structures.
After insisting to speak to the owner personally he eventually allowed us in ‘at own risk.’
I managed to get the attached photos of Niagara (and others) and thought you might be interested?
Amazing what we saw is now sailing again – wonderful.”
Yes, David, we know Hoo well. My best visit was to go and see a Galway Hooker (Traditional gaff rigged sailing vessel from the West coast of Ireland) being restored by barge expert and friend of Cambria, Ray Rush. Unfortunately I left for Ireland before Ray had managed to get the boat surveyed and back into the water, but I understand she (The Wren or “An Dreoilín”) is now back afloat. She is actually a 1980’s copy of an 1899 (or so) boat taken from the lines of a hulk and then built (says Ray) on a farm “Half way up Bray Head”. If any of you have been watching the olympics, the homecoming for Irish boxer gold medalist, Katie Taylor happened in Bray, her home town. It’s just south of Dublin on the East coast, so about as far from Galway Hooker territory as you can get!