Tag: Ed Gransden

Small World (even in Ireland)

Edith May Year video

Edith May Year video; screen-grab from Ed Gransden’s Facebook time line, grabbed by Matt Care

Edith May’s Ed Gransden has posted a nice video on Facebook reviewing their year. It’s in 2 parts, the first being http://www.facebook.com/ed.gransden?fref=ts . I will publish details on Part 2 when I have them. I think I’m right in saying these are within FB rather than being available on You Tube as a whole (is that right, Ed?) so you may need to be a registered FB user to get at them. They are very good – short video clips inter-leaved with ‘slide-show’ stills taking you through what has been a very good year for them. Not only were they nominated as National Register of Historic Ships flag-ship, but they have also had a host of different bands playing aboard and there is stuff too from some fine dining events and even a crab-winch winding competition. It’s well worth a look.

 

Meanwhile I had a nice barge-y coincidence happen to me just pre Christmas. Buying this house in Ireland, we were excited to learn that the seller had Whitstable connections, having lived in Kent for a while and her partner having family there. We went through all the house-move trying to keep on friendly terms with the vendor and have since become quite good friends. The couple have actually been here visiting a few times to see what we’ve done to bring their family’s derelict farmhouse back to life. Just pre Christmas they dropped by en route to Knock airport (which is only 20 minutes away) and the partner, Paul, noticing my barge pictures, commented that I might know his 2nd cousin, none other than Roger Newlyn!

 

Once they’d departed, I emailed Roger just to tell him of this and was delighted to receive back the following detail. “Paul’s Dad, Don”, said Roger, “was a shipwright and cabinet maker working for Anderson Rigden & Perkins in Whitstable.  A perfectionist. If it wasn’t right, he smashed it up. He built several boats of which I had one. It was an over-sized Mirror. If I didn’t have it the hammer would have come down on it. He improved the handling by making it that little bigger. Always after perfection. He is coming up to being 91 and still rides his pushbike down into town”

Small world, indeed.

 

Provisionally 6th

The results for the Colne Match, and therefore the entire Championship are now up on the Sailing Barge Association website at http://www.sailingbargeassociation.co.uk/championship2012.html

 

Masts

Masts; Picture by Matt Care (July 2011)

I am warned by Ed Gransden that these may yet be ‘provisional’ and that some ducking and diving may occur to change things (so, nervous times for Ed and Edith May who are provisionally the winners!) but as they stand the Championship was won by Edith May with 34 points, closely followed by Lady of the Lea (33) and Edme (31) with Repertor 4th (30), Marjorie 5th (26) and (Tadaaaaa!) Cambria coming in a creditable 6th with 17 points, first of the “Didn’t enter many races” group. The big scores above us were gained by barges who scored in 5, 6 or 7 races. We and those below us scored in only 5 or fewer. Cambria’s races went as follows; 3rd on the Medway (6 points), 2nd= on the Thames with Edith May and Edme, all on 6 points and finally equal (points scoring) winners on the Colne with Edith May and Edme, all with 5 points. As I said, these may be provisional and I have also not yet seen any kind of full report on what made up our 5 points. I will let you know when I have more information. Thank you to David Renouf for this link.

Not a Lot of Wind

Still windless start to Colne 2012

Still windless start to Colne 2012; Picture by Ed Gransden.

Oh Dear. Not a lot of wind for the Colne Match then, judging by this picture taken at the start from Edith May and posted onto Facebook from the deck by Ed Gransden. Also in the picture, Tim Goldsack’s SB Decima and the Sea Change Barge, Reminder.

Colne Match readiness.

Slack Sails

Slack Sails, Cambria in light airs; Picture by Dave Brooks.

The excitement is building towards this weekend’s final race of the season, the Colne Match.  There has been a flurry of comment flying back and forth within Facebook, starting with Ed Gransden’s ridiculously early start this morning sailing to get there. Ed now comments, “What a fantastic sail over to the Colne!” and predicts, “It’s going to be the most competitive Staysail Class ever. Repertor, Niagara, Melissa, Reminder and Decima will all be vying with us for honours, coupled with Edme and Marjorie in bowsprit and Cambria and Lady of the Lea in Coasting”. Let’s hope so, Ed!

Martin Phillips adds that “Cambria’s crew are out practising today. Hilary was drilling them on setting all manner of sails, chasing them into their allocated duty positions armed with a glowing ciggie and a rope whip. And that was yesterday before the barge was afloat at the quay, they just arrived, stepped across me and put their bags down and there she she was training them. Richard was making the tea! That’s how the Team Titchener win so many races – training and tea!”

And if you’re still interested in taking a sail, SB Greta has decided not to hang up 2012 just yet and has added some dates to her chartering calendar in Whitstable. Steve has posted the following.

 

SCHEDULED SAILING DATES SEPTEMBER 2012,

Saturday 8th – Full
Sunday 9th – Full
Monday 10th – Full
Tuesday 11th – 11.30am till 5.30pm
Wednesday 12th – Please call Steve 07711657919
Thursday 13th – 9am till 3pm
Friday 14th – 9am till 3pm
Saturday 15th – Full

Sunday 16th – Full
Monday 17th – 10am til 4pm
Tuesday 18th – 11am till 5pm
Wednesday 19th – Full
Thursday 20th – Please call Steve 07711657919
Friday 21st – 12pm till 6pm
Saturday 22nd – Full
Sunday 23rd – Full
Monday 24th – Full
Tuesday 25th – 11.30am till 5.30pm
Wednesday 26th – 8.30am till 2.30pm
Thursday 27th – 9am till 3pm
Friday 28th – Please call Steve 07711657919
Saturday 29th – Full
Sunday 30th – 10.30am till 4.30pmPlease call Steve on 07711657919 or email steve@greta1892.co.uk

So whether you’re watching the Colne or out sailing, enjoy yourselves.

 

Pin Mill Match

Mark C is off for a sail this weekend with Ian Ruffles and Denis Johnson. I’m guessing that means the old girl will be out and about, and not available for visiting. I will ask around and see if I can find out any more. Meanwhile here is another of Mark’s excellent pictures, this one with all the sails down but not quite squared away at the end of a sail.

I’m hoping Dave B will furnish us with some kind of a report on his weekend of chasing the Passage Match and then the Pin Mill Match, including stopping off at Ipswich. I have a cracking picture of Decima to use with it (Taken by Dave , of course). I have this taster, though, from Ed Grandsen of Edith May via Facebook. “Highly competitive race yesterday,” posts Ed, “With Melissa and Repertor untouchable in the staysail class with very fresh breeze. We had a grand tussle with Reminder before hunting down Decima at the finish, although needed a bit more time to get by. Won 3rd prize, and 1st over start line, beating Victor by 2seconds! on Edith May Trading Company‘s timeline.”  Exciting Stuff, Ed!

 

Sails Furled. Picture by Mark Chapman

Sails Furled. Picture by Mark Chapman

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