Hayling Island circumnavigation

Boating right round islands seems to be an atavistic urge, and I've long wanted to circumnavigate Hayling Island.
Hayling is only a small island, four miles across at the most, set between Chichester and Langstone harbours and facing the English Channel on the south.
It took a while to wind myself up to do it, because the Channel is a big place for a small boat like Snarleyow. And I would have to row and through two harbour entrances with fast-flowing tidal currents.
So I formed a cunning plan, which was to start on the sea front at about two hours before high tide, head for Langstone Harbour mouth and take the tide up to the north of the island. At that point, the tide would turn and I would be wafted down to Chichester Harbour mouth on the ebb. Then back to the start point.
But the weather had to be very calm to risk a launch off the beach, so when Saturday dawned with a lovely clear sky, practically no wind and a nice patch of high pressure promising more of the same all day, plus high tide at 11 o'clock, it was now or never.
Getting in the boat was the first problem. I have never boarded the boat in surf before, even though it was only a foot or so high. The first attempt was a disaster, taking in a good few gallons of water. I had to lift the boat bodily and tip her out. And I got water in my boots, something I really, really hate.
Second time was better and I started off westward. To the east, a huge dredger had rammed itself up the beach and was pumping an arc of water and pebbles onto an area of the beach, an operation I had never witnessed before.Approaching Langstone Harbour, the bar had a nasty chop on it that Snarleyow simply bobbed over, remarkable boat that she is. The channel itself was easy peasy and once inside the harbour the wind dropped to nothing and the water became glassy smooth. I got this shot of a cormorant from hundreds of yards away courtesy of my new telephoto.
At the top of the harbour I spotted Steve in his Virus boat, and Langstone Cutters out again. A brief rest stop was accidentally next to some huge blackberry bushes covered in luscious ripe fruit. Just the thing for a little lift as I set off down Emsworth Channel.Oddly, although I was already rowing against the tide through the bridge that links Hayling to civilization, all the boats in Emsworth seemed to be pointing down channel indicating the tide was still flowing. Possibly the tide was slack and the southerly wind was keeping the boats pointing in the 'wrong' direction.Chichester Harbour mouth was no problem either, but again the bar to the side of the channel was very choppy and rather alarming, and had just been stirred up by a whacking great motor yacht flying the Royal Yacht Squadron's ensign that had just swanned in looking superior.
I got out just under three hours after I had got in. No drama this time. I just felt completely, utterly knackered. And I had a blister the size of a tuppenny bit on my little finger. Ow.

More from Life in the Slow Lane

Newly-qualified as a naval architect just before WWII, Arthur Martin spent the summer at his family's holiday home on the island of Appledore on the coast of Maine. Of an evening he would row across to the next island, Star, and go to dances at the Oceanic Hotel:

"The only activity other than dancing was known as rocking. To participate, a young man would go to a wood building known as 'the shack' to the south of the hotel and whistle. By prearrangement, one of the waitresses, who all lived there, would appear at the head of the outside stairs, carrying a blanket. It was very romantic on a high rocky ledge, looking at the shimmering path of the moonlight on the dark water below.
Despite the pleasures of the evening, I always enjoyed the row back to Appledore in the peapod, all by myself. I am constantly surprised to hear of a rowing enthusiast who has never rowed at night. There is nothing in this world quite like it. The boat seems to go much faster, with less effort. The phosphorescence is like a string of pearls, far more brilliant than anything one could buy, suspended from each side of a well-designed bow. The oar blades make swirls of fire, and a chain of platinum streams from the sharp stern. It is very peaceful and quiet, and I often pity all those who choose instead a noisy, smoky nightclub."

I have never rowed by night. Will soon.
Photo from Kate and Jeroen's photostream on Flickr

Lego Technics rowing boat

Very nice, but the oars need to be longer.

In search of the ideal rowing boat

Committed sailor Brian Pearson of Keyhaven seems to have had something of a road-to-Damascus moment when he tried out my Chippendale Sprite at the HBBR a few weeks back, as pictured above. He writes:

Hi Chris, I will explain. The nice picture you sent of me trying to row your Sprite is currently sitting as the background to my computer screen. My elder son is home this weekend sorting out money to pay for a house he is just buying in France. It's actually on the lake side of Lake Geneva no less. Sounds good yes? So James sees this picture and says that's just what he wants - a recreational sliding seat rower for popping down to Evian and back, not far about 10 minute walk I think. If possible able to carry his fiancé and her little dog as well. My other son also likes rowing at the gym, and he has a girlfriend with a young daughter, so similar requirements when he is staying there. Me, I found it very special when I enjoyed my first go in a sliding seat last weekend. Thus I would love to use it too. So James would like me to sort out a boat which would be kept there for anyone to use. There will be a small boathouse but not sure yet of how long the boat can be to store in it. I am thinking Virus Yole, Merry Wherry II type of boats, that is: single recreational sliding seat rowing with inexperienced water rowers carrying a passenger - guess you have to move the seat/rowing thing to rebalance the boat. Possibly a passenger and a small extra passenger say a small dog or small child? As a sailor I will really value your advice, Brian

I had a bit of a think and replied:

Hi Brian - you lucky chap, having a son with a house on Lake Geneva!
The problem with a lot of sportier boats of the type with sliding seats is that they are long and thin, so passengers are a problem. Not only is the buoyancy a bit low, but passengers feel rather nervous in the tender hull. It's ok for the rower - he's got his hands on the oars and is in control.
The Virus Yole has the facility for a passenger seat. Because the rails the seats slide on extend the entire length of the boat, the rower can move forward simply by using an alternative place for the stretcher (footrest). But there is no backrest on the passenger seat and the cockpit is self-bailing so I suspect the passenger will be uncomfortable and wet.
Take a look at The Rowing Company's Heritage 15, imported from the US. I tried one at Beale and they are good to row, and there are passenger seats fore and aft. I didn't try it with a passenger though.
If passengers are likely to be a frequent occurrence, perhaps a traditional fixed-seat skiff such as Paul Fisher's 15ft Mandarin or Iain Oughtred's Mole would hit the spot.
Francois Vivier does some very nice, mainly fixed seat rowing boats.
Of course, the ideal thing would be to have a Sprite (available as a kit or complete) for an individual workout and a Mandarin or Mole as well, for those 'girl with a parasol' afternoons.
Hope this helps. All best,
Chris

Hi Chris, Thanks for your considered response. In summary then - sliding seat designs best for just the rower. Non sliding seat options are Thames Skiff types. Sliding seats not really used in the slightly wider design needed for a passenger? The other group are the oar and small sail designs we both like. [Iain Oughtred's] Acorn 15, [Paul Gartside's] Bob, and such. I am correct in thinking that the pleasure of sliding seat rowing is the greater pleasure and since the ladies probably will not come along very often, then concentrate on that? I have just remembered the Appledore Pod which can be rowed single, double and single with a passenger. It even has small sail rig and dagger board as extras. Video here. Although GRP is not your thing, it would suit for James, since he is not going to be there often. This video seems to illustrate it is possible to combine single sliding seat with a passenger. Can you think of any home build design with similar features? Perhaps we could go to Andrew Wolstenholme and spec a clinker ply boat, he does draw the most wonderful shear lines and he already has Sprite and Otter in his design history. Brian

Hi Brian,
I almost bought a 19ft version of the Appledore Pod once - the version you can see here. It was much too heavy and expensive. When negotiations had clearly broken down, the guy I was buying from said, 'would you be interested in this then?' and pointed to a small hull slung under his garage roof. It was the Chippendale Sprite. I bought it on the spot and have been using it relentlessly ever since.
I think it depends on whether your son wants to build it himself or buy off the shelf. The Appledore is a lovely shape and not too expensive, but there doesn't seem to be any passenger seat so presumably they would have to squat on the bottom of the boat. Have you seen the Chester Yawl? A drop-in sliding seat unit could be easily fitted and it has a nice big wineglass transom providing lots of extra buoyancy at the back if a passenger is sitting on that nice stern seat.
Ted Bird did a version of the Sprite with a seat at the back (below) that he had at Beale a few years back, but he said he installed it because the customer wanted it - he didn't think it would be very practical. So I am sure he would build you a single rower + passenger + dog version of the Otter with pleasure.
All best,
Chris
Anyone got any better ideas?

Emsworth

To Warblington for an afternoon's paddle. Everyone was out on the harbour, taking advantage of what may well be the only decent weather since the wettest August on record and the onset of winter.
Steve was rowing his Virus Yole off Langstone, and stopped for a coffee. It's very handy the way the riggers fold up so you can tie up to a pontoon safely or to someone's yacht without risking the paintwork. No such facility on Snarleyow, so he had to hang on to my blade when I took this snap.Langstone Cutters were out in a Clayton Skiff (the four) and a Salter Skiff (the double) and were clearly having fun. Click on the image above to see the smiles on their faces.If any of you guys want a hi res image, email me and I will send it over.

Soton Boat Show - a pendant

I went to the Southampton Boat Show ten days ago and I wasn't going to report on it because it has no rowing interest whatsoever (except for the Swallow Boats stand, where I had a jolly interesting conversation with Matt Newland that may result in my handing over a substantial amount of cash - more on this later).
Anyway, the highlight for me was Spirit of Mystery, the Mounts Bay Lugger that Pete Goss is planning to sail to Australia. Double-parked alongside her was Ocean Pearl, a restored zulu (or possibly fifie) that is usually on a buoy in Prinsted channel, Chichester Harbour.
Today, I rowed to Prinsted and was rewarded by the sight of Ocean Pearl under sail. My new camera (a Fujifilm Finepix S8100) has a telephoto lens and anti-shake. I swear it is impossible to take a duff shot with this thing unless you point it at your feet.

More on rowing canoes

One of the great things about the internet is you never know who is reading. Jake Millar was surprised to find two of his own creations featured in the recent post on adapting canoes for rowing. He writes with more information:

Hi Chris,

I was checking out your Rowing For Pleasure page earlier. I was surprised to see my friend Rob's rowing canoe included and then as I scrolled a bit further down my own Barnegat Light Skiff, "Flaie".

I'm the builder of both of these boats - Rob's boat was a 12'8" "fisherman's canoe" extra beamy - I had intended to fix it up to use as a fishing skiff on a local pond at our vacation cabin in the Catskill Mts. - then I realized I had (once again) acquired too many boats - so I offered it to Rob and we slapped together a nice little skiff in short order. The seat that you admired (same seat used in my BLS) is called a "tractor seat" available from the Wenonah Canoe Company, they also make a fitted gel pad seat cover that is super comfortable.

My Barnegat Light Skiff is not a canoe - actually a turn of the century Norwegian rowing skiff reproduced in fiberglass. The drop in rig you mentioned was adapted from a set of plans available from Glen-L boat plans. The rig per their plans was intended to be a sliding seat rig but I adapted it to fixed seat rowing. The riggers are not laminated wood but rather hand laid fiberglass. My thought was that it would make them stronger and stiffer (no flex), unfortunately they'd load up and flex a bit. This was solved by installing oarlock sockets on the gunnel directly under the rigger, I drilled a hole through the rigger above the socked and using stainless steel threaded rod and nuts / washers braced the riggers to the hull. Now, five years of steady use later I can say that it has worked perfectly. The fixed seat rig and riggers remain rock solid and a joy to row. I should also mention that my fixed seat rig fits on the same footprint as my Piantedosi Row Wing unit, making them interchangeable as my intended use dictates.

I enjoy your web site very much - keep up the great work you're doing.

Best,

Jake Millar

PS - I agree with you that the rowing rig in the canoe (bottom photo on you rowing canoes piece) is beautiful!

Great to hear from you, Jake. Please keep us up to date with future boatbuilding projects!