The WaterCraft Amateur Boatbuilding Competition was hugely improved this year by the introduction of categories for award. This meant that rather than just concentrating on the poshest and shiniest boat the judges had to consider other aspects such as innovation and builds that would encourage the veriest tyro. This must be a good thing because for the first time that I can recall (and that gets ever shorter) the judges agreed with my entirely biased subjective opinion – or was it the other way round!
A record entry produced a great variety of boats representing most aspects of the game. In my ‘umble opinion everybody was a winner in having their entry accepted – It was a relief to see the attempted swamping by the HBBR group didn’t quite come off – although since I am led to believe that all non HBBR entries are going to sign up to the group perhaps it did.
As usual click on the thumbnail for the bigger picture and any commentary – although really the boats speak for themselves.
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- View of the WCABBC area from the loos
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- WCABBC area from the rear
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- Ben Fowler entered this skiff in three parts, ‘Gekko’
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- Phil Oxborrow’s Prospector ‘Tonawanda’
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- Graham Neil’s Ranger 16 Polyethene Pam
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- Chris Waite’s three sheet skiff ‘Octavia’
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- Hazy Days, a suberbly finished Steve Killing’s Prospector Canadian canoe by Nick Paull
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- Hazy Days propulsion unit
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- Tim O’Connor’s Acorn Skiff ‘Ardilla’
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- Tim O’Connors Oughtred Acorn ‘Ardilla’
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- Amy, an 18′ pulling boat to a Ken bassett design by Francis Belcher
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- Chris Adney’s Woods Linnett Skiff ‘Pelley’
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- John Lockwood’s modified Moby Dinghy
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- Mike Wooldridge’s Drake Sharpie ‘Puddle Duck’
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- Puddle Duck from the pointy end
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- Neil Mitchel’s 10′6″ Coble ‘Oarsome’
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- Oarsome, Neil Mitchel’s 10′6″ Coble
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- Highlander 7′6″ by Father and son Nick and Sam Canfield
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- Sam & Nick Canfield bravely brought along this part built Highlander 7′6″
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- Oh the anticipation
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- Mrs Watercraft taking up a strategic position before the announcement
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- Fanfare brigade and official photographer waiting on the announcement
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- The Editor making what appears to be a very emotive announcement
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- Mike Wooldridge offering encouragement to beginners
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- Chris Waite – Most Innovative Boat
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- Nick Paull who produced the most professional homebuilt boat
