Another project that has been keeping us burning the candle at both end are some oars for an Italian Menswear flagship store in Milan. More details will follow, but in essence we have been commissioned to supply over 50 hand crafted spoon oars to be used as display items in the store. With each one having to be aged and polished to look half a century old, mixing stains and shellac and plenty of beeswax has become a feature in our varnish room. With the first crate of oars all leathered up and send last week, we now onto the next wave for delivery in two weeks – and with 4 of the oars over 30′ in length (!) it’s certainly a unique project.

More details will follow on this one….

And not forgetting the masts – With consignments shipped to Crabbers, Honnor Marine and Churchouse Boats the production chaps have been busy; and on Friday 6 XOD masts – and a Victory masts as well….

A peaceful but cold morning at Collars

We’ve had cold starts in the past – but on Thursday morning the temperature dropped to minus 17 degrees. At least inside the workshops it was only minus 8 degrees. The heaters went on – and just when we managed to get the temperature up to nearly 10 degrees, Capricorn timber turned up with a lorry load of wood that needed to go inside the workshop, so the large doors needed to be opened….

A beautiful setting – but roll on the summer….

With Easter early April this year we have a number of sizable spars to ship out prior; including the complete rig for the 65′ ‘Blazing Star’ currently being restored at Gweek Quay. We’re most of the way there, just need to finalise some of the fitting design and the main mast that had been lying on the bench as a long blank can finally be shaped and finished.

Also going down to Gweek is the rig for the Camper’s yawl ‘Patna’. If we play our cards right we may even be able to share the trailer down. Not always easy to get right.

Added to this are the more unusual jobs including supplying oars to a high end menswear clothing shop in Milan for display purposes – but with possibly over 50 spoon oars it will keep the shapers busy. Also a little project to get out by late Jan are 9 large Maple tables for a successful multimedia company that want some bespoke office furniture unlike anything that can be brought. All this keeps it interesting.

My appologies for letting our blog slip a little – but with the New Year; a new approach.

Happy New Year -Jeremy-

The trusty Collar truck needed a little bit of routine attention following the last delivery trip to the  Manchester area. So armed with a socket set Luke set about today to remove the seized rear diff and with a replacement brought off ebay for £100, hopefully we will be back on the road very soon. With a full load of spars destined for Crabbers next week the pressure is on to get it back on the road asap.

Note to oneself – must check the oil levels every 100,000 miles……

Early morning on the final day

The final day’s racing was graced by light airs and warm sunshine resulting in the start of all classes being delayed by over an hour until the breeze started to develop. After a poor position at the start aboard Cometa, the decision was made to break South of the pack of yachts on the long beat upto the first mark. This proved to be a wise move and put us in the middle of the pack as we approached the first turning mark.

With all classes on the same course, there was a fair amount of congestion while rounding and unfortunately the mark was just touch our stern while rounding and as a penalty we has a second and more successful shot at it.  With a glorious downwind leg and a number of well controlled gybes the finish line was crossed and the regatta was over for another year.

With a pleasing 6th position on the final day, Cometa’s overall standing in her class settled for a respectable 9th position. However as always aboard Cometa, the true spirit of the regatta was felt by all and the perfect way to bring another season to a close.

Currently lying a respectable 7th overall in her class, todays race was shortened as the wind fell away late afternoon. With the final race of the series tomorrow, we are hoping for a top five finish to end the season on a high.

Having now been sailing aboard for the last 5 years she is performing better than ever and still such a pleasure to sail.

This particular flag pole had an oil finish applied, allowing the natural grain of the Oregon pine to be clearly seen and looked perfect against the 2-1/2 yard St George’s cross flag flown for the first time.

Hopefully a lovely surprise for the owners when they return home – but just hope we got it in the right position in the front garden.

With a good selection of our spars on display, including Crabbers, Honnor Marine, and Salterns Boatbuildres, all full of enthusiasm for the months ahead.

The aim for next year is to have one of our masts on the Folkboat, and already Tony Smee from Folkboat UK is working out a way to make it happen…..

TheFalmouth Working Boat ‘Helen Mary’ received her new mast today – replacing he previous one that failed earlier in the season. Delivered to Freshwater Boatyard in St. Mawes by Tony Ainsworth she will be rigged before the end of the season and will be all ready when the class starts racing again early next year.