Shamrock Camping

With the winter derigging, decluttering of Shamrock almost complete and a start made to the erection of temporary winter covers, it looks as though Shamrock is ready to receive campers. The crew is glad to report that the forward cabin is almost completely dry as the painting out of this cabin is one of the tasks that is hoped to be completed over the winter months.

Advantage was taken of Fridays high tide to drive Nancy Belle half way up the boat shed slipway before being roped approximately 3.5 meters (12 ft) to its winter storage position. The boat shed is starting to get crowded with the addition of Shamrock's skylight/companionway (commonly known as the "deckhouse") ready to be dried out before being painted/varnished.

Derigging Shamrock

After the crowds of the last week of the visitor season the quay has gone quiet and the crew has started removing Shamrock's rigging ready for the winter. Both gaffs and booms have been removed using their respective throat halyards to swing them onto the waiting trolley and subsequently towed into the boat shed. After removing the bowsprit any ropes that could be removed were cleared from the mizzen mast blocks. Using the deck winch the mizzen mast with blocks still in place was lowered over the stern then after removing the blocks manoeuvred onto the cargo hold hatch and left overnight. On the next morning’s high tide it was swung over the bulwark, balanced on the trolley and, using the dropping tide, lifted clear of Shamrock and taken into the boat shed. Now the boat shed is not quite so empty.

The view the crew has to endure!

Good Fishing Spot

Over the last few weeks a cormorant seems to have chosen Cotehele Quay as his favourite fishing spot and has been entertaining visitors and Shamrock's crew alike by regularly catching small flounders in the river Tamar just off the quay. Sometimes these are not so small and he has great difficulty in swallowing them even occasionally letting one go. After particularly heavy meals he can be spotted spreading his wings and resting on a fallen tree on the opposite river bank.

One that didn't get away. 

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.

An Engine For Shamrock

After a successful year of fundraising and a couple of delays the go ahead has been given to purchase an engine for Shamrock. Once the engine is sourced it's planned to fabricate a metal engine bed which in turn will be bolted to Shamrock's frames on the starboard side of the aft cabin replacing the existing bunk. The idea of a metal engine bed is that it will be easy to remove if the engine is ever removed. Once in place the line of the propeller shaft and the position of the stern gland can be determined. Fitting of the stern gland and propellor shaft will be undertaken on a low tide while Shamrock is grounded. The shaft will need to be of sufficient length to enable the propellor to clear the hull, also to support the combined weight of the shaft and propeller a P bracket will need to be fitted to the after hull. This is plan 'A' but as with all of Shamrock's plans this can change.

After cabin starboard bunk.

Late Season Update

With the end of season approaching the crew made use of the unseasonable hot and sunny weather by setting Shamrock's main, mizzen and stay sails allowing them to get an airing before being dropped onto the quay, folded and finally stored in the boat shed for the winter. Her sail covers have been refitted to the spars and will remain there until Shamrock is de rigged sometime in November. The year’s final Nancy Belle river trip has been completed and planning has started with tide tables consulted in readiness for next year’s trips. Shamrock's workboat 'Edgcumbe' along with the mud buggy have been used to keep the crews feet out of the mud while they paint Shamrock's chain plates.

Setting Shamrock's sails.

Edgcumbe alongside.

Mud buggy ready for action.

River Tamar from Nancy Belle.

Finally with Shamrock's Skipper Shaune back after his operation the quay shall we say is not so quiet as it has been of late! Welcome back Shaune.

Shamrock's Pump

During Shamrock's restoration a tra­ditional cast iron sluice or diaphragm pump of a size suitable for Shamrock was located on a barge in a Southampton shipyard, but as it was buried under scrapped steel plates, and other gear from broken up vessels, there was no way of getting it off the vessel. However, the yard foreman promised that as soon as the plates and scrap were shipped out he would break the pump out of its seating and put it aside for Shamrock. Once the pump had been recovered, refurbished and restored to full working order it was fitted aft of the cargo hold hatch coaming, taking it's suction from the forward end of the after cabins bilges, in the autumn of 1979. Recently one eagle eyed visitor noticed that it was manufactured by George White & Sons, London, Ontario, Canada and wondered why a pump of British manufacture was not fitted? After some research a local connection was found in that George White who founded the company was born in Shute, Devon and he learned the blacksmith trade at his father's wagon-building shop. He emigrated to Canada with his young bride and eventually formed the company. The only thing the crew hopes is that it never needs to be used in earnest.

Shamrock's pump.

Ready for action.

Handle stowed.

Suction pipe.