This Week’s Flotsam
JAMES CRAIG Spectacular!
Did you catch the Youtube Video by Gstyleproject, showing scenes from the return voyage aboard the JAMES CRAIG from the Hobart to Sydney following the AWBF earlier this year?
If not… CHECK IT OUT!
AWANDRA for Auction
There’s an interesting looking 1957 Watts and Wright 43ft Bay Cruiser called AWANDRA is going under the hammer with Marine Auctions in Queensland. The Auction closes on on 26th June & I don’t have much history but there lots of specs and details of upgrades HERE. Definitely worth a look!
Royal Thames Yacht Club 250th Anniversary ‘Thames Pageant’ visit
For anyone on their summer holidays in England at the moment, this sounds like it could be fun?
1896-built Cariad will be part of the Pageant.
London’s Royal Thames Yacht Club will mark a very special anniversary at St Katharine Docks this month. Celebrating its 250th anniversary, 24 RTYC member vessels are set to converge on the tidal Thames and form a flotilla through London, concluding and assembling at St Katharine Docks this weekend.
The Royal Thames Yacht Club ‘Thames Pageant’ will see a variety of member vessels meet at London’s West India Dock, and on 28th June, the flotilla will proceed upstream, towards Tower Bridge where they will take a salute off the Royal Navy’s HMS President. The highlight of the pageant will see 6 vessels transit the open spans of Tower Bridge, parading through the Upper Pool to London Bridge before rejoining the other vessels entering St Katharine Docks.
Set to be a spectacle, all except one of the pageant flotilla will transit the lock on free flow, which will be a rare and historic moment for the 200-year-old St Katharine Docks. The fleet arrival will conclude with the pageant’s flagship, 129-year-old, 36-metre gaff ketch sailing yacht ‘Cariad’ locking in. The fleet will be arriving between 3-5pm on 28th.
Power and sail, the pageant will showcase an array of vessels, including several large modern sail racing yachts, and vintage motor vessels, including two war hero Dunkirk Little Ships, Naiad Errant and Tahilla. Cutting edge black-hulled TP52 racing yacht ‘Gladiator’ will be amongt the fleet, as will be Sir Francis Chichester’s solo record breaking 53ft ketch, Gipsy Moth IV.
The fleet will be assembling in the St Katharine Docks prized centre basin where it will overnight and depart in the proceeding days.
More infomation contact Claire Frew
Jaws Is Still (And Will Always Be) My Favorite Movie
Fifty years later, my memories of Steven Spielberg's masterpiece are as permanently etched as the sound of Quint singing, “Farewell and Adieu to You Fair Spanish Ladies.”
I’ll never forget June 20, 1975. The date is permanently tattooed on my brain for two reasons. First, it was the day that I turned six. If I shut my eyes, I can still picture my birthday haul from that year: A brand-new three-speed and a factory-sealed box of Topps baseball cards. The bike is memorable mainly for being purple—a color I would have never chosen. The cards, however, were an absolute gold mine. I still remember that the last card in the last pack I ripped open was a holy-grail rookie card of my favorite player, Fred Lynn, who would go on to win 1975’s Rookie of the Year honors as well as being named the AL’s MVP. The second reason why I’ll never forget that day is what my family did after we polished off the last melting slices of my Carvel ice cream cake. We went to see a new movie called Jaws on opening day.
Read on HERE
Mediteranean Varnish
If you like your Classic Yachts big and shiney you might be interested in the wrap up report from Argentario Sailing Week 2025 held at Porto Santo Stefano.
For the past four days, sailing history has come to life before crowds of enthusiasts, with yachts and sailors who have written its pages battling to claim first place at the Argentario Sailing Week, organised by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano with the support Municipality of Monte Argentario. Four days of fierce competition, yet without ever straying from a keen sense of sportsmanship, shared throughout the event between the over thirty crews and nine countries taking part.
Day 4 offered light winds but after an hour's postponement, the Racing Committee correctly spotted the perfect window and had all races set sail with 8 knots of wind from 295 degrees and calm sea. State-of-the-art manoeuvres and tactical choices made for an intense and compelling challenge for all to enjoy. Knowing how to read the wind while remaining focused and collected was key as the last victories came down to a matter of seconds.
Read in full: here or see more on this event