|
|
|
CONSULTANCY
As
knowledgable east coast maritime historians and authors,
Michael Emmett & Kevin Murphy are consultants to researchers for film and television,
authors, students and journalists. Please contact them for assistance with any
project by email or telephone:-
Michael 07811 469505 Kevin 07784
770996
or write to the address at the bottom of the page.
NAUTICAL SKILLS TRAINING
Preserving the boats only goes so
far, preserving the skills of the sailors is equally
important as is shown in Michael & Kevin's new book
Working
Traditional Sail featuring
Lore of Weather & Tide.
As historical maritime consultants
we offer nautical skills training, nautical courses,
historical information and advice on the skills
of the shipwrighting, rigging and boathandling - for researchers,
historians, students, and enthusiasts in maritime knowledge
of the past.
We also offer one-to-one courses on
net making, ropework and navigation. Our rates are
£150 per day, group rates on request. Our instructors
are all "time served" tradesmen (see opposite)
with a wealth
of knowledge, that is today, invaluable to the student
who appreciates the worth of a true apprenticeship as
against empirical study.
|
|
|
|
Navigation instruments |
Rigging tools |
LECTURES &
AFTER DINNER SPEAKING
Our speakers have covered, for some
twenty years, the subjects of traditional coasting
sailing craft and fishery matters. These talks give an
insight into the life style and humour of the old
waterfront which they experienced first hand.
For either serious education lectures or entertaining
after dinner speaking the subject matter will be
delivered in the spirit of the evening you are planning.
Some supporting film footage and photographs are
available to further capture the mood of a bygone
era. For further details email us at the address at
the bottom of the page.
"Thus passing
on the handed down knowledge, old masteries, techniques
and traditions, the accumulation of two thousand years
endeavours. This before the glory of a workboat under
sail becomes nothing more than an empirical study for
an academic."1
Notes:
1 Sentiment of Hervey Benham, Last Stronghold of sail
1948.
|
Michael
Emmett comes from a family whose ties with
commercial sailing on the River Blackwater can be
traced back seven generations. He was introduced to
sailing on his fathers' boat Topsy and later shipped
aboard the Claydon family's fishing smacks. One of
these he bought from them when just fifteen years of
age. In 1980 he had Ostrea Rose built for his
business- the Maldon Oyster Fishery. 1999 saw the sale
of Ostrea Rose and the building of her replacement
Black Rose. Michael has been instrumental in
preserving the traditional skills of sailing and has
been a consultant on the re-rigging of many vessels.
Michael has published two books- Blackwater Men and
Living in the Backwaters as well as the new book
Working
Traditional Sail
featuring Lore of
Weather & Tide
with Kevin Murphy.
 |
 |
|
Kevin's
Bargemaster's
ticket |
Michael's
Boatmaster's
ticket |
Click on images to view
Kevin Murphy’s maritime heritage comes via his
uncle, a fisherman on the west coast of
Ireland
and an aunt whose family at one time owned and worked
the
Galway
hooker American Mor. In the early 1980’s Kevin
became interested in Thames sailing barges and in 1986
quit his job in a London bank to become mate on the
sailing barge Reminder. After two seasons he passed
his sailing barge masters exam and spent the next
thirteen years as master of Reminder as well as being
relief master to over 50% of the fleet. He also spent
three winters working for James Lawrence Sailmakers of
Brightlingsea which included working on the complete
overhaul of the sails of H.M.S. Warrior.
Cadets learning to splice.
The masters at work
|
