More Wood

The planks cut from three European larch trees have arrived from Scotland and have joined the oak planks stacked and drying out in the now congested boat shed. The majority of the larch will be used for her hull planks. Shamrock's temporary working cover has been raised allowing for easer access and less cramped working conditions.

Congested Boat Shed

Raised cover

Under the cover looking forward.

Looking aft.

Starboard side.

Tidy Boat Shed

With the half term 'freak week at Cotehele' from 24 - 28 October approaching the boat shed is having its annual tidy up with all items not required for the winter working period removed and stowed elsewhere. Thereby leaving plenty of space for the 'hands-on’ activities of the “on the quay” part of freak week. Once that is over and the boat shed swept out there will be plenty of space for storing and working on items removed from Shamrock during the winter de rigging process which is due to commence in November.

Shamrock's Engine Update

A Yanmar 75hp turbocharged marine diesel engine along with most of the ancillary items required for fitting it into Shamrock have been ordered. It looks like the crew is in for a busy winter.

Quiet Boat Shed

With skipper Shaune away recovering from his successful hand operation, the visitor season is at its peak and with “Shamrock” being open for visitors most days the only work being carried out on the boat is the occasional pumping out and salting of her bilges. Plus, of course, keeping her shipshape for the visitors. The crew has noted that the boat shed seems remarkable quiet except for the couple of occasions that Shaune has managed to get a chauffeur and made an appearance. Nevertheless, many other little jobs are getting done in and around the shed.

Storm Preparation

During last winter a number of Shamrock's mooring lines snapped during the various storms, luckily not all in the same storm. As a result of this the old natural fibre mooring ropes are gradually being replaced with man made nylon rope which will last a lot longer, have a bit of stretch and shouldn't get fungus growing on them. Shamrock purists need not get alarmed as her rigging ropes are still hemp and these are renewed with hemp ropes when required (quite regularly).

Temporary winter covers are being prepared for the openings left when the after deckhouse and forward companionway hatch are removed to the boat shed. These covers will also need to allow for the ventilation of the forward and after cabins.

It's All Go

Preparations for the weekends celebrations to mark the 40 years since the start of Shamrock's restoration, are well under way with; the washing down of Shamrock's dock slipway, the production of new information notices boards, sorting the signal flags and yet, as the crew try to keep the boat shed clear more and more gear seems to be arriving all the time. Saturday morning is going to be a bit hectic!

One of the new notices.

Clean slipway.

There has also been an interloper on Shamrock's slipway with the arrival of Peter's 22ft (6.7 meters) clinker built gunter rig sloop "Shanti" in readiness for her to be floated off. This is what has been taking up Peter's time and part of his garden, since he retired in 2010.

Shanti built in 1962.

Cotehele Quay Flood

Thanks to Shaune getting up at some unearthly hour we have a few dark photos of the boat shed taken during last week's flooding at Cotehele Quay.

Bonus one of the quay car park.

Luckily the car park was empty.