The Grayhound

The Grayhound is a replica of an 18th Century, three masted, customs cutter. She's a wooden boat built using traditional materials and methods.

But her claim to fame is that she is the first British registered vessel to provide a regular, cross Channel, cargo delivery service under sail.

The Grayhound sails two cross Channel routes, "The Muscadet Route" and
 "The Johnny Route"

Visit The Grayhound's website for full details of how she operates

Classic Craft

These two beauties were enjoying the hot sun and the stiff breeze in Plymouth Sound yesterday.

Nao Victoria

This beautiful replica of the first ship to circumnavigate the globe

will be in Sutton Harbour for most of August, and is certainly attracting a lot of attention.

A Dark Spanish Beauty.

This is the Nao Victoria, an exact replica of the first ship to ever sail right around the world.

The original Spanish carrack was one of five vessels in Magellan's 1519 expedition seeking a new westbound route to the "Spice Islands", now Indonesia.

Three years later (1522) the Victoria was the only ship to return to Spain, its surviving eighteen man crew were unaware that they had completed the first ever round the world voyage.

This beautiful vistor was in port for the weekend

Here she is tied up to a buoy in the mouth of the River Plym  on Friday,

while she waited to enter Sutton Harbour.

On Saturday and Sunday she was open to the public during the annual Pirate Weekend.

Sutton Harbour

Amid all the floating, white plastic, gin palaces in the marina,

there is still a vibrant community of working boats of all ages.

A sad time for this this once stately vessel

Gently rotting in mud.

Homecoming

Making for the open sea.

As the submarine, with her escorts, (see yesterday's photo) pass out of the frame, on the right,

this classic wooden yacht passes Drake's Island on her way out to the open sea.

Bunting

Craft of all sizes and shapes took part in the Annual Classic Boat Rally last weekend.

The Plymouth Classic Boat Rally 2015

Last weekend a wonderful group of beautiful old ladies 

assembled in Sutton Harbour for the 2015 Rally

It was just like old times.

 

Notre Dame de Rumengol

When I was in Roscoff some days ago, I came across this beautiful visitor to the historic Breton port,

Our Lady of Rumengol.

Jack Tar working on board The Irene

Jack Tar was a common term used to refer to British seamen.

There are many plausible explanations for "Tar".

The one I like most is that sailors used to plait their long hair into a pigtail, then smear it with light tar to prevent it getting caught in any of the ship's gear.

This beautiful West Country Trading Ketch , IRENE was built in 1907 and now earns her keep as both a sail training vessel and a sustainable cargo business.

She was in Plymouth for a few days last week.

Quayside Sketchbook

The Sailing Vessel Kaskelote,

recently alongside in the Barbican.

Cat's Cradle

This vessel is the Phoenix. 

One of the many beautiful Tall Ships that come into Sutton Harbour during the year.

Walking the plank

A Film Star makes her entrance.

This beautiful, 112 ft long, Tall Ship, The Phoenix, sailed into Plymouth a few days ago. 

Check out her film and TV credits

She is here to take part in celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the return to Plymouth of The Clove, thus concluding the first UK trade mission to Japan.

Without doubt, one of the most popular parts of the commemoration celebrations 

was the Sake Tasting Stall.

Plymouth Classic Boat Rally 2014

Beautiful Classic Boats under sail in Plymouth Sound, last Sunday afternoon.

Passing in front of the Breakwater Lighthouse, with the Eddystone Lighthouse, and its "stump", visible 14 miles out to sea, on the right of the horizon.

Turning for home at Drake's Island.

Plymouth Classic Boat Rally 2014

Each year, Sutton Harbour, in the heart of the historic Barbican area of the city, 

plays host to a large fleet of iconic classic craft. 

Click to visit the event website 

As well as some wonderful sail training vessels, there were also two World War Two veterans

from the fleet of  Dunkirk Little Ships, which played such a heroic part in the evacuation 

of British troops from the beaches at Dunkirk in 1940.

Visit again tomorrow to see many of these beautiful craft under sail in Plymouth Sound.

Ancient and Modern