Authors Electric

PD annual return to the river. (these photos from 2016) I was standing on the river wall in Woodbridge, watching at a little distance while Geoff, Steve and Tim from the boatyard concentrated on their annual task of lifting Peter Duck back into the river. There’d been a bitter northerly the day before, driving rain and gusts predicted to reach 40mph. We’d all been relieved to Abort Mission. They said they were worried about my boat: I said I was bothered about their backs. Probably the truth was that none of us fancied getting soaked and frozen that Monday morning. Suddenly a day spent catching up on office chores had seemed an attractive option. Today the weather was bright but chilly, the breeze stiff-ish, threatening to buffet PD 's precious hull sideways as Geoff and Tim hung onto the warps and turned her precisely while Steve drove the crane. In calm conditions only one person is required, guiding both of the warps – on those days I almost feel  I’d have a go mysel...

Boat-building at the Nottage Institute The Nottage Maritime Institute, beside the River Colne in Essex, is an unexpected and delightful place. It was founded in 1896 from a legacy left by a keen amateur yachtsman, Captain Charles Nottage, who wanted to offer “Colnesiders [..] the opportunity to improve themselves in navigation primarily or make up their skills generally.” The Nottage is housed in a former sail loft on the quay at Wivenhoe and  runs a range of RYA and other courses. It's also a museum, a library and a boat-building centre. What I loved about the Nottage as soon as I met it last month, was the sense in which it's an embodiment of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm and skill and pride in craftsmanship. First there's the overwhelming atmosphere of the volunteer ethos. When I was doing an internet search before my visit I happened upon some oral history accounts by former users and committee members. Rank off the page came the time and effort they'd expended:...