News

Well Full

Apart from the returning Stromboli (Saltram 36) and Cream Cracker (Island Packet 35) we also welcome some new arrivals for the 2007 season:

 
Mallard  Peter -  Duck Ketch
Harvey Moon - Westerly Merlin
Charisma - Westerly Fulmar
Pugwash  - Cornish Shrimper
Jack Snipe - Cornish Shrimper
Freya - Cornish Shrimper
Dolcibella - Cornish Crabber Mk1
Genevieve - Drascombe Driver
Windcheater - Hawk 20
Pallas  - Hawk 20
The Hustler - Hustler 30
Gilda - Etap 21A
Super G - Catalina 250
Arroyo - Trapper 500
Mollymauk - Sabre 27
Rainbow - Sadler Seawych
Old Peculiar - Halcyon 23
Lady Tiki - Parker 335
Ocean’s Dream  - Bavaria 31
NoraAnne - Bavaria 33
Stella - Fairline Fury
Avocet Too - Norman 20
Gerty  - Dutch motor launch
Red Finn - Red Finn

We now have a fleet of 5 little Cornish Shrimpers, which are so well suited to the estuarine and coastal waters accessible from Weir Quay. And perhaps we are starting a small fleet of the Hawk 20 day boat, which provides excellent and safe sailing by keeping its lead ballast between the twin hulls.

The thriving Tamar & Tavy Gig Club which operates from Weir Quay is busy raising funds to buy a new boat which is urgently needed to meet local demand. Ginette, their first gig, is oversubscribed and was out with 5 or 6 different crews every day last week. 

Local shipwright, Brian Nobbs, has come to the rescue. Brian built Ginette for the Club 3 years ago and was then commissioned to build Iron Maid for St Martins in the Scilly Isles, home of gig racing. To the great good fortune of the local club, Brian has been able to arrange the loan of Iron Maid from St Martins for the rest of the year. 

WQB has supported and sponsored the Tamar & Tavy Gig Club since its inception and it is most rewarding to see a local initiative have such a positive impact on the Bere peninsula community. Iron Maid will be stored on the Yard for the season.

Almost 2 years since she left, Stromboli returned, like a homing pigeon, to WQB after 9,500 miles including a British circum-navigation and a double Atlantic Crossing.

In the dim dusk of Tuesday 19^th July John and Sue and Robert hove into view from Horta in the Azores and picked up Stromboli’s old mooring opposite the slipway. Damp after meeting interesting seas in Biscay and the Western Approaches, it was quick showers and straight down to the Olde Plough Inn for steak and chips all round. Returning from the pub and overjoyed to be back, Sue plunged into the Tamar from the pontoon just for the sheer hell of it.

For more information and entertainment see Stromboli’s blog on http://blog.mailasail.com/stromboli or read their final blog below.

The Tamar seems to be full of Bass at the moment, with stories of some huge catches. Just last week we heard that someone in Saltash caught a 12 lb Bass – I’ve tried finding pictures, but no luck I’m afraid. Then on our own doorstep Martin catches one over 6 lb and this time we are in luck and do have photos for all to see. We’d all have loved to enjoy a feast on behalf of Martin and his catch, but he chose to place it back in the water. I can’t understand this myself as I believed the fun of fishing to be cooking and eating your catch, but apparently I’m wrong and it’s the catching itself which is the fun part.

I've recently received some emails from Will Taylor, a customer of ours. He attached some great photos that he's taken from around the yard and I really think they'll add to certain sections of the website. I don't always get the opportunity to get out on the river to take photos so I'm always grateful to find some in my inbox. I'm also lacking in photos taken both upstream and downstream of the yard so if anyone else feels they have any that I'd like to see then I'd be really pleased if you could email them to me on ruth@weir-quay.com.

Photos below taken by Will Taylor:-

Customers of WQB, John and Sue Chadwick, are at present returning from the Carribean after 2 years.  They've been kind enough to send us a web link to their blog where we can track their progress and find out exactly what they've been up to.  I enjoyed looking at it and thought it was worth posting on here for all to see.

Stromboli Comes Home

 Clearence of Debris

Some of you may be aware that there has been some concern about debris in the river (mainly in the form of fallen trees) and the problem this may cause, in particular, for the smaller vessel.  However, after reading the recent copy of the newletter from The Tamar Valley Tourism Association I have seen that there is now an agreement in place for some immediate priority clearence work.  Hopefully this will lead to the river being more accessible.

Now is the perfect time of year to own a small boat to picnic on or explore the river.  It also happens that the very pretty clinker built river boat, Lysander has come down in price and is now £2400.  For more information click here

The Directory of Knots by John Shaw £14.99

An easy to read knot directory that examines more than 100 knots covering a wide spectrum of activities. With straightforward diagram and step by step decriptions that are easy to follow, here are knots for everyone and every purpose. 20 practical knots, traditional knots, innovative knots and useful mutations.

Plymouth Sound Nautical Chart Jigsaw £18.99