Great to see these old beasts of the water still in use. I was out there on holiday for a week a couple of weeks ago, and saw a wherry or two coming down the Ant with a load of excited kids on board!
Sailed Albion twice in the 1970’s, the first Skipper/Wherryman was rather ‘commugenly’ but we (12 Ocean Youth Club Mates and friends) made the best of the Trip. the Second time we had a splendid Skipper, younger and he took to us and we to him. We got the Bonnet on the Sail and made her Go, and also SHOT Potter Higham Bridge, (Sail down - Mast down- through the bridge - Mast up - sail up! Wonderful!!)
A young boatbuilder, Don McDermott, has just started raising money to build a new working wherry that will be called Lady Garnet. He has a You Tube channel (Don McDermott).
It must have been a nice day to have a natural waterman Prince Phillip man the tiller. Not everyone has his own personal ensign. It looks like he fit right in with likeminded industrious folks thankful for a pleasant breeze to move the world by you.
Wow, it has no boom! This is an interesting rig. It already had a gaffer, for a sprit is too bulky on this size a sail. A gaf is much safer. This is a rig to remember, for a small sailing boat this will work out fine, too.
