Maritime Group talks and visits
Is it a floating bridge or a chain ferry?
Despite the best efforts of the computer to thwart his presentation, Roger Smith gave us a
fascinating talk entitled ‘Is it a floating bridge or a chain ferry?’. Confusion even existed in
Southampton where their chain-controlled ferryboat was always referred to as ‘The Floating
Bridge’ and where Roger, arriving slightly late, once surprised the passengers as he flung
his suitcase on board and took a flying leap onto the raised gangway! The first such device
was invented and installed in Devon in 1831, but the one at Woolston, Southampton which
ran from 1833 to 1977 is the one dear to Roger’s heart. They have their special
characteristics, so have been installed all around the world and many are still in use today.
Exploring the Thames
Our October meeting produced a fruitful discussion of possible topics and visits for our
coming year, with several members volunteering to contribute to future sessions.
We then enjoyed a DVD featuring an exploration of the River Thames, beginning in the
mouth of the estuary, travelling on a selection of ships and boats as far as the QE2 bridge.
Prompted by reference to the Port of Tilbury in the DVD, and drawing on the experience of
several members, there followed an interesting discussion about Tilbury, the docks, and the
characters who made it such an individual place.
Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
Founded in 1872, the RCYC is one of the oldest and most famous of the hundreds of
yachting and sailing clubs scattered around the coasts and rivers of England. First located in
Erith, Kent, it moved to Burnham-on-Crouch in the 1890s. Its founding members wanted to
helm their own yachts, rather than merely own them and watch professional crews race
them – hence the name Corinthian, as always associated with amateur, rather than
professional activity. On our visit we learned that, far from being a club for rich sailors with
large boats requiring many crew, the club is now best known for its ‘one class’ classic racing
yachts such as Dragons, Squibs and of course, Corinthians, all of which are either singlehanded or two-handed open deck yachts – far from the expensive cruisers one might
imagine! It is a family club now, though still regarded by many as at the ‘posh’ end of
yachting! The fact that former Prime Minister Edward Heath was an annual visitor to the
RCYC in ‘Morning Cloud’ for Burnham Week, and that HRH the Princess Royal is their
patron, probably helps continue this image.
We were shown around by Wendy Eaglin, the first (and currently only) female Commodore,
and she proved to be very knowledgeable and welcoming. We toured the famous
Clubhouse, built in 1930 and designed by Joseph Emberton in the Art Deco style, which won
a prestigious architectural prize in 1931, but received much criticism from the locals, being
referred to as a ‘shoe box’! It is now a Grade II* listed building. We learned about the
history of the club and its various clubhouses, as well as the racing, past and present, as
evidenced by an impressive array of trophies. A visit to the top floor Race Box provided
some wonderful views over the river and surrounding countryside. Tea on the club terrace
in the beautiful weather rounded off a most interesting visit.
Blackwater Rose
For the May gathering of the Maritime Group, several members enjoyed a most relaxing two
hour journey on the historic tug style canal boat ‘Blackwater Rose’. In glorious warmth and
sunshine, we gently cruised along the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation, from Sandford
Lock to Stoneham Lock and back, pausing only to let members assist the skipper with lock
opening. For some there was even the chance to steer the boat along the Navigation!
Thanks to Brenda and Sheila, our trip was even more civilised, as they provided a cream tea
for all to enjoy en route.
History of navigation
Malcolm Case and John Robson, both very experienced mariners and members of Maldon
U3A, gave a talk on the history of navigation. They managed to compress two millennia of
technical developments into a two hour illustrated talk, no mean feat, and even included a
fascinating ‘virtual’ tour of the bridge of a modern supertanker. The talk also illustrated the
key role of the human navigator, drawing on the accident on the Great Barrier Reef this
month which was apparently caused by a catalogue of simple errors.
Marine Archaeology
At our January meeting, Robin and Janet Witheridge gave an interesting and wide ranging
talk on marine archaeology. As trained amateurs, they have dived on various wrecks off the
UK coast. These included a most unusual steam driven submarine, off North Wales, the
eighteenth century warship HMS Colossus, sunk off the Isles of Scilly in 1798, (together with
much of Lord Hamilton’s historic collection of ancient treasures), and HMS Stirling Castle,
lost on the Goodwin Sands in 1703.
They also shared with us their work on monitoring the degeneration of some Thames
Barges, most notably the Mistley, hulked on Northey Island. We learned that a wreck results
from an accident: a hulk from a deliberate grounding! Given our national maritime heritage,
there is much work to do, but almost no funding for measuring and recording the details of a
wide variety of vessels sunk or hulked around our shores. Members were encouraged to
consider training, in conjunction with the Nautical Archaeological Society, and volunteering
to support local land based projects led by the Essex County Council Archaeology Unit.
Sailing the Atlantic
John Rogers, one of our own members, gave a fascinating account of his voyage this
summer from the Caribbean to the Azores, as one of a crew of three aboard a 37 foot yacht.
We learned about the meticulous preparation needed, hard work – and at times boredom –
of the crew as they sailed 2200 miles in 22 days, through every variety of good and bad
weather. Without the benefit of automatic steering, someone had to be at the wheel 24
hours a day, itself a considerable feat in a small boat in big seas! Johns’ range of
photographs, both of the starting point in Antigua, with the beautifully restored English
Harbour and Nelson’s dockyard, and of the voyage itself, added to our understanding of the
scope of this adventure. We realised why most of us had not undertaken such a voyage,
and had great admiration for John and his colleagues.
“The Vasa”
On 10 August 1628, the “Vasa”,the newly launched pride of the Swedish Royal Navy, set
sail on her maiden voyage, only to capsize after 1200 yards, just outside Stockholm
harbour. Saved from the ravages of time beneath the Baltic waters, she was successfully
raised in 1961. After years of preservation, she is now the centrepiece of a museum
dedicated to her, the men who sailed her, and all the paraphernalia of naval life and warfare
of the time. A stunning and elaborately-decorated ship, (though evidently totally unstable in
design!) she is now far more visible and complete than Henry VIII’s “Mary Rose”. When you
are in Stockholm, even if you see nothing else, visit the Vasa museum and see for yourself
this wonderfully-preserved ship. Thanks to John Wallace for reliving the short life of the
Vasa, his talk was accompanied with photographs which illustrated very clearly the
wonderful decorations and preservation of the Vasa.
Maldon Maritime Walk
The September meeting saw 23 members walking around historic maritime sites in Maldon.
Stephen Nunn proved to be a most knowledgeable and entertaining guide to the parts of
Maldon that many of us thought we knew well, only to find that there were all manner of
aspects we had yet to discover!
Starting at Fullbridge, we explored various centres of boat building, brewing and other
maritime commerce and life around The Hythe, assisted by Stephen’s expert commentary.
Maldon’s place in history was made clear, be it as a main location for a lighthouse (hence
the rebuilt tower of St.Mary’s), the place where Mary Tudor planned her escape, or of
course, for the Battle of Maldon, which our guide insisted was not fought where most think,
but nearer Fullbridge itself.
As ever, our experience showed that exploration on foot is most rewarding.
Wivenhoe & Nottage Maritime Institute
The River Colne traditionally had several shipyards from Colchester Hythe through
Rowledge and Wivenhoe to Brightlingsea. The Nottage was founded in 1896 by a Victorian
army officer, traveller, and yacht racer called Captain Charles Nottage.
His yachts, like many others, were skippered and crewed by professional seamen from the
Colne and Blackwater rivers. Sadly, he died at the age of 42 but he set up a trust fund due
to his concern for the training and careers of the seamen. The Institute has run courses on
maritime education since, such as navigation, boat building, wood carving and has a large
library with records of the shipyards and photos, plus wooden models and memorabilia.
After refreshing ourselves in the local pubs near the waterfront, we entered the small
building which used to be a sail loft. On the ground floor we saw the construction in various
stages of 10ft. clinker dinghies. On the course, it can take 3-4 years to build one, beautifully
finished, some students not willing to put the boat in the water and use them when finished.
Upstairs we were shown round by the archivist John Collins. There were excellent
collections of black and white photos by Den Phillips and Crispin Thomas some showing
ethereal moods of boats their sails and reflections. Striking one’s attention was a muzzle
loading punt gun 9' 8" long (pity any birds near that one). One interesting model was of a
small electric submarine built in Wivenhoe as early as 1904 carrying two torpedoes and with
a range of 40 miles. In the last war, Vospers made Motor Torpedo Boats here .There was
an interesting painting of a schooner, “The Essex Lass of Colchester”, showing it sailing
both in and out of the port of Malta. It brought fresh fruit back from the Mediteranean so it
had to sail fast. Even to a non-sailor the visit was a fascinating insight into our maritime
heritage, and local history. It finished as we sat on the riverfront with our cups of tea
admiring the view.