I have posted before, back when I was in the UK about the Galway Hooker being restored by friend of the Cambria, expert in barges and owner of “about 10,000” photo’s of barges in trade, Ray Rush. This boat’s restoration is now complete, she has passed survey and she is back in the water, in Kentish water for the first time. Named An Dreoilín (The Wren) because a wren nested in her while she was derelict (I am sure I recall, but Ray or Dave Brooks, please feel free to dive in and correct my memory), she is actually a ‘repro’ having been built new half way up Bray Head (a small mountain just South of Dublin) on a farm to the lines of a genuine old hull from the 1890’s. She is now in Hoo Marina where I hope I can go see her for real when I am back over in UK briefly at the end of this month. Nice one Ray and thanks for the picture, Dave B.
An Dreoilín (The Wren), Galway Hooker restored by Ray Rush at Hoo Marina, photo by Dave Brooks.
Meanwhile Cambria Watch approaches the end of its 2012 ‘transmissions’ with “Our YSS extended training is completed for another year. Cambria is now lying at Maldon for a few days before we race her in the Colne Match next weekend. After that we head to Gravesend to say goodbye to her for now. The following day we will be back aboard Reminder out of Maldon with a new group of young people.” Thanks for that and all the previous Cambria Watch reports. It’s been fascinating to get a window into her working life through the summer.
