Boats

There is nothing new about the idea of a folding boat. Some of the Titanic’s lifeboats were folding boats and were successfully launched before the ship sank, but any lifeboat associated with the Titanic probably would not have received rave reviews so not many were built. Folding boats present all sorts of challenges to their…

Albatross Marine was founded by two ex– Fleet Air Arm pilots, one of whom was the son of the managing director of Rolls Royce. The Albatross was the first class of speedboat to be produced in quantity, in this country, after World War II. They were used for a variety of leisure activities including water-skiing…

Daisy Belle began life racing and fishing around Falmouth before retiring to more leisurely use. Built by William Brabyn at his Calenick Creek, Truro Yard c.1885, her name was inspired by the 1890s popular song ‘A bicycle built for two’. She remained in the ownership of the Nicholls family until the Museum acquired her in…

Sailing this Finn dinghy in Weymouth, local hero Ben Ainslie won his fourth successive Olympic Gold Medal at the 2012 London Games. Ben owns several Finns, but used the same boat in the Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012 games. Following his win in 2008 he commented, “I suppose most people like newer boats…

The early 20th century was a time when the need for speed was constantly being challenged, whether on land, in the air or on water. Motorboats were getting faster, and sedate chugging about on the water was becoming boring. Hulls became narrower to minimise drag, then came a new type of craft. This type of…

In 1961 the entire population of a tiny island was evacuated after its dormant volcano erupted. Situated in the South Atlantic 1500 miles west of Cape Town and 1800 miles east of Argentina the island – almost unknown in this country – was Tristan da Cunha. Claimed by the British in 1816, the island was…

The Challenger Class Association is a charity that represents the interests of sailors with disabilities – people who want an outdoor life coupled with an adventure sport that is demanding and can be played on equal terms with able-bodied competitors. Sailing is one of the few sports to provide that equality: the wind and the…

Little more than 100 years ago, herrings were so plentiful that, for a few months of the year, they were big business on the North Devon coast. The herring fishing season lasted through the autumn and winter, when the weather could be at its worst. Little boats no more than 16ft long, known as picarooners,…

At first glance a coracle seems a rather unlikely water craft, with no discernible bow or stern, and a strangely shaped paddle for propulsion. But they have stood the test of time as working boats: made from locally sourced materials, cheap to build, light weight for ease of carrying, and a draft of only a…