At Saltash

After a wet trip form Cotehele Shamrock's soggy crew finally left Shamrock berthed at Saltash Sailing Club's pontoon ready for this weekends regatta. Nancy Belle, with her new engine, was used to push her and proved to be up to the job with Shaun's boat 'Arab' standing by just in case.

A new coat of paint.

Advantage was taken of the time between Shamrock being moored mid river and departing for Saltash to paint her hull above the water line. She is now looking a lot smarter.

Half a paint job!

Neap Tides

As Shamrock is due to depart for Saltash on Friday 26th and there is some doubt if there will be enough water to get her out of her dock at high tide, due to the tide hight's falling off towards neap tides, Shamrock has now been moved to her mooring in the middle of the river. This means that she will not be open for visitors until the weekend at Saltash Regatta. On her return to Cotehele Quay on Monday 29th she may also need to be left on her mooring until the tides build sufficiently to get her into her dock. Shamrock's crew will also be ferrying equipment to her throughout the week.

Slipway track

After the third washing down of Shamrock's slipway the final peaces of the old slipway track have been removed. Now the decision is do we renew the track or fit wheels with solid rubber tyres to the existing cradle.

Shamrock's Saltash Regatta Snippets

While deserting her Cotehele dock Shamrock had a very successful weekend at Saltash Regatta with plenty of generous visitors donating a total of £200 towards her upkeep and with the bonus of a good soak in saltwater.

Shamrock's missing!

Shamrock dressed ready for visitors.

Wreckers

First she was boarded by Cornish wreckers, well the Wreckers Border Morris from the Tamar Valley. They first sang a sea shanty on-board followed by the Morris dancers strutting their stuff on the pontoon while accompanied by their musicians still on-board Shamrock.

Two New Volunteers 

Later on two young brothers tried their hand at swabbing her deck and instead of, as was intended, just swabbing a small section of the after deck they would not stop until they had completed the whole deck. It certainly saved the crew a job.

Is the crew getting younger?

New Guides

Shamrock obviously left an impression on some of the Saltash school children who recently visited her at Cotehele as quite often you would hear one of them telling their parents that she was built in 1899 at Stonehouse Plymouth with a few other facts while showing them around.

Back to Cotehele

Mondays return trip was another sunny uneventful cruise with Little Charly smoothly taking the tow straight off the pontoon at Saltash and releasing it on the last bend before Cotehele Quay. Shamrock then slowly drifted alongside the quay with just a small nudge from Nancy Belle. After a quick cup of tea while waiting for high water she was then slowly warped (roped) into her dock ready to resume her duty as one of Cotehele's visitor attractions.

Awaiting the tow.

Nearly home. Photo by John Hartland

Photo by John Hartland

At Saltash

Thanks to a tow from Little Charly Shamrock had a quiet trip down the river Tamar and is now berthed at Saltash Sailing Club. She is ready to be one of Saltash Regattas star attractions.

Negotiating lines of moored yachts.

Arriving under tow. Photo by Colin Burt

Being spun into place.  Photo by Colin Burt

Alongside.

The motley crew. Photo by Colin Burt

Shamrock's First Trip Of 2014

Preparations for Shamrock's first trip of the year to Saltash Regatta are well under way. The weather forecast is good and Shamrock is due to depart from Cotehele Quay at around 11:30am on Friday 20th June for the approximately two hour trip. She is due to berth alongside Saltash Sailing Clubs pontoon for the weekend ready to receive visitors during the regatta (21st and 22nd June).
Shamrock's departure from Saltash is scheduled for around midday on Monday 23rd June allowing plenty of time to arrive back at Cotehele Quay before the afternoons 2:50pm high tide.

River Trips

Nancy Belle has now completed her first river trip since the fitting of her new engine. Rumor has it that you can now communicate between the bow and stern without having to shout or use sign language.

Shamrock Diary Dates 2014

Hot off the press here are Shamrock's planned event dates for 2014.

Trips to Royal William Yard Plymouth.

Friday 2nd  to Monday 5th May.
Friday 4th  to Monday 7th July.
Friday 1st  to Monday 4th August.
Friday 5th  to Monday 8th September.

Trip to Saltash sailing regatta.

Friday 20th  to Monday 23rd June.


The normal format for all weekend trips is to depart from Cotehele Quay on the rising tide once there is sufficient water to float her out of the dock. The return trips departures will be timed to give Shamrock sufficient time to arrive back at Cotehele Quay on or before the high tide. Times will be published here when they are known.

The Weather Effect

As Shamrock is the last of the Tamar sailing barges and is irreplaceable a bad weekend weather forecast can result in any trip being cancelled at short notice.

40 Years at Cotehele

The 22nd July 2014 is the 40th anniversary of Shamrock arriving at Cotehele for the start of her restoration and a day of celebration is in the planning stage for Saturday 26th July. This will include activities on the Shamrock, quay and possible boat shed.