While in Chatham maritime Marina I took the opportunity to seek out the Snark.
I could hear that blasting was taking place – a reminder harking back to my ship life, once known, never forgotten. So as my Mate and I were also wanting to visit the new exhibition of the Nemur, or at least, the 10% found under the floor of the Wheelwrights Shed some years ago. At long last after some protracted investigations and preparation for display, it is now housed where found…
Anyway, after that I went to the Turks Boatyard doorway again and went in calling out, ‘Hello’ loudly for it had all gone quiet… A man, grinning and friendly, came towards me from the far distance. He turned out t be the owner of the Snark, Paul Jenkins.
The Snark began life as the barge used for filming of Atonement. A film largely about Dunkirk. The beach scenes were filmed on Redcar beach on the NE Coast. She was built by past owners of the British King… This vessel spent many years in a the yard of an industrial estate at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex. It was a strange sight when sailing up the Walton Channel for sure…
The bow of the Snark… Note the ‘snout’, this is for the anchor required for yacht classification.
The owner chatted keenly about the vessel. His enthusiasm is infectious! I was invited aboard.
View looking down deck towards aft. The hatches are closed to comply with yacht regs…
A view looking forward…
The steering gear and associated parts are original from the British King … so clearly this is a rebuild!
The transom.
The rudder has been designed to be lifting in that it swivels down for sea work. In the raised position it is the same shape as a traditional barge rudder…
The rudder blade sitting upon one of the part completed leeboards.
View showing the barge’s fine runs.
The Snark is actually a Fay design from 1898(?) I believe Fay barges were built in Southampton. Incidentally the destination and base for the barge.
I’m told that the barge will be used as a cruising home as well as possible film work. The vessel will be fully coded. Launch date is close. She will have had her first coats of paint today. Once afloat after being lifted into the River Medway by a huge crane she’ll go back into the Turks yard’s dock…
The spars are all ready for fitting – these are all wooden. The sprit is a length of Scots Pine sourced from Finland…
Paul, Snark’s owner, welcomed me to return for her launching, in around two weeks…
I shall do my utmost to be there, probably out on the river, or I’ll pop by again from the marina…