Please select your home edition
Edition
GP Watercraft

Historic Canoes at Royal Canoe Club

by Alan Powell 12 Jun 2001 11:15 BST

The first event organised for restored Sailing Canoes was held at the Royal Canoe Club at Teddington over the weekend of 9/10th June. Highlight of the weekend was the launch of "Pampatha" (No.4),superbly resored by Jeff and Jill Stamps. Andrew Eastwood trailed "Rannoch" (No.37) down from Scotland to celebrate and Alan Powell brought "Conquest" (No 41) down from Oxford.

Pampatha had been wrecked almost beyond repair last year, when some youths had stolen her to make a getaway across the Thames. Fearing for their safety in a boat stored out of use for many years, the Police were called. Fortunately for the lads they made it across without sinking but they abandoned Pampatha and she was swept down the Teddington weir and severely damaged. The restoration was probably more work than building a replica, according to Jeff, but the results are a testament to his craftsmanship and enthusiasm. She is truly immaculate and would put most fine furniture or musical instruments to shame!

"Rannoch" was the last canoe built by Uffa Fox using the double diagonal planking method with a layer of thin canvas between the skins and fitted with steamed ribs and copper fastened throughout. She has now been fitted with a wooden mast complete with winches and Andrew has made a fine suit of narrow panelled sails.

Andrew also restored "Conquest", a Jack Holt designed and built chine canoe dating from 1952. The evolutionary links with the Hornet class are very apparent. He passed her on to Alan last year but this was the first time Alan had sailed her. Unfortunately the first sail coincided with a rather blustery squall on a stretch of river where the wind can be turbulent. However Alan survived the baptism, as did "Conquest", and he returned determined to master the old skills of Canoe sailing with the aft end mainsheet and twin tillers.

Despite the limited opportunities to sail the weekend was considered a great success and it is hoped to run an event next year, perhaps on the Broads, and to locate and encourage other owners of historic canoes. It is hoped that "Brynhild", the twin seat Uffa Fox canoe might also be brought out of storage.

More Information:

Related Articles

Poole International Canoe Open
A relaxed yet interesting start to the season with some new and returning faces Six Canoes including one Asymmetric attended the International Canoes season opener hosted by Poole Yacht Club. With some new and returning faces, it was set to be a relaxed yet interesting start to the season. Posted on 16 Apr
International Canoe 'Not the Nationals'
A wonderful week of racing, tuning and development at West Kirby The UK International Canoe Class had a spare Nationals date set aside at West Kirby, as a backup for their Dale SC Nationals in case their numbers were low, as it was very close to the date of the Worlds in Travemunde. Posted on 10 Sep 2024
21st International Canoe Worlds overall
No racing on final day The forecast for the final day of the International Canoe World Championships at Travemunde Woche, hosted by Lubecker Yacht Club, was always looking tricky. A decision was made to cancel all further races. Posted on 29 Jul 2024
21st International Canoe Worlds day 5
Glen Truswell wins with a day to spare It was another early start for the six competitors from Germany and Great Britain that would sail the deciding race of the New york challenge Cup at 09:30 before regular championship races would resume at 11am. Posted on 27 Jul 2024
21st International Canoe Worlds day 4
The result of the New York Challenge Cup remains in the balance After another long day of delays the result of the New York Challenge Cup remains in the balance. The match was a tense affair the Germans were fielding a team of light air specialists so the minimal 5-6 knots on the course had them as a slight favourite. Posted on 26 Jul 2024
21st International Canoe Worlds day 3
Even the party-goers of the fleet had to take an early night Racing was brought forward for the International Canoes at Travemünder Woche; with a first warning signal scheduled for 09:30 even the party-goers of the fleet took an early night. The forecast was for a north westerly that would be strong. Posted on 24 Jul 2024
21st International Canoe Worlds day 2
Another long frustrating day of waiting on the water for over 6 hours Day 2 of the Championships was another long frustrating day of waiting with only two races sailed despite all boats being on the water for over 6 hours. Posted on 24 Jul 2024
21st International Canoe Worlds day 1
Travemünder Woche hosts on the Baltic shores of Germany The 21st International 20 square meter Canoe World Championships kicked off in boisterous conditions on the first Monday of Travemünder Woche on the Baltic shores of Germany. Posted on 23 Jul 2024
International Canoe May Cup Invitational at Weston
Anticipation was high with the forthcoming World Championships fast approaching Warm Sunshine and a building sea breeze greeted 14 International Canoes as the fleet gathered at Weston Sailing Club on Southampton Water for the May Cup invitational. Posted on 28 May 2024
Oldest videos of International Canoes sailing
A look back into our video archive We delve into the past, and round-up all videos which show sailing in the International Canoe class of dinghy. Posted on 1 Dec 2023