WaterCraft

01/12/2025

The original traditional boat festival, Fêtes maritimes de Douarnenez, turns 40 next year when it returns from 23-26 July. As part of the celebrations, the festival team is compiling a commemorative book of memories from participants over the years – and they want to hear from you!

The original traditional boat festival, Les Fêtes Maritimes de Douarnenez, turns 40 next year when it returns from 23-26 July. As part of the celebrations,

29/11/2025

We’re out with the old… restoring Corribee no 1 & Norfolk smack Victorious… and in with the new…. first year boatbuilder Hannah Lovett & free Paul Gartside electric launch plans… in our January/February 2026 issue, on sale from 18 December.

• SAILS OF THE CENTURY – The great festival of sail in Douarnenez, Brittany, Fêtes maritimes de Douarnenez, attracts boats with all kinds of rig. Kathy Mansfield has photographed many of them.

• WORK OUT OR DAY OUT – The best of small workboats can also lend themselves to leisure use, even the modern ones. Nigel Sharp reviews the versatile Nelson 18

• WITH THE BEETLES – Kathy again, this time over in the US, rediscovering the little Beetle Cat which taught so many young Americans to sail – and is doing so still.

• BUILDING YOUR OWN 20’ (6.1m) ELECTRIC LAUNCH – Paul Gartside provides full plans for such a sweet-lined dayboat she’s definitely worth investing in a pod motor.

• HOW WE BECAME WOODEN BOAT BUILDERS – Colin Henwood - Boatbuilder of the Wooden Boatbuilders' Trade Association looks back over 50 years and Hannah Lovett graduates from the Boat Building Academy after 50 weeks.

• RESTORATION DRAMAS – Dr Les Gornall loses Corribee no 1 to rescue her years later and Mat Arney follows the major rebuild of a 100 year old Norfolk fishing smack for The Coastal Explorer.

• THE HEROIC HISTORY OF THE SAILING CANOE – Jean-Yves Poirier describes how John MacGregor’s Rob Roy inspired solo adventurers on both sides of the Atlantic.

PLUS…

Refining traditional rigs, Moray MacPhail updates the old gooseneck • Yacht designer Ian Nicolson lets in some fresh air with his simple home-made Dorade vents • Join The Club takes us with the OGA - The Association for Gaff Rig Sailing to the Broads, with the dinghy cruisers to Loch Sunnart and with the steamers up the Tamar • And in Grand Designs, Paul Fisher of Selway Fisher Design creates the 24’ (7.3m) Oarsome Skiff to get more youngsters afloat.

Cover photograph by Land's Edge Photography: Beetle Cat racing! Bryan Largay came from LA to Massachusetts to take part in the New England Beetle Cat Boat Association’s annual regatta.

25/11/2025

Built by volunteers at Douarnenez’s Association Canot D21 - Treizour, Breton lugger JOSÉPHINE was launched at the Fêtes maritimes de Douarnenez in 2022.

Jacques van Geen and Roger Barnes brought us the full story of her design and build in W165 (May/June 2024).

Back issues £7 or £8 per copy including postage to anywhere in the world: www.watercraft-magazine.com/back-issues/

Photograph: Simon Jourdan

25/11/2025

Boat shows, launch days, open days and yes, still a few intrepid dinghy cruisers heading out on the water in December and January!

Here’s what’s on in the world of boats and boatbuilding for the next couple of months.

If you have an event of interest to WaterCraft readers, let us know at [email protected]

Here’s what’s on in the world of boats and boatbuilding for the next couple of months.

21/11/2025

Lazy summer days like these seem far off, after this week’s cold snap in Cornwall!

This was taken at traditional small boat festival La Fête des Canots de Rolle on Lac Léman (Lake Geneva).

You can read the full story in W163 (January/February 2024).

Back issues £7 or £8 per copy including postage to anywhere in the world: www.watercraft-magazine.com/back-issues/

Photograph: Jean-Yves Poirier

18/11/2025

Start planning for the season ahead with our guide to next year's boat festivals!

Douarnenez is back this year from 23-26 July, together with a couple of other ‘even year’ traditional boat festivals closer to home. In West Cornwall,

16/11/2025

Designing or building your own boat?

Naval architect Moray MacPhail, pictured here helming his 18’ (5.5m) Orwell Corinthian One Design gaffer, takes a good look at booms as he continues his series on refining traditional rigs in our November/December issue.

Plus, yacht designer Ian Nicolson has advice for improving techniques when it comes to working with wooden boat frames.

All in W174, out now. For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Photograph: Kathy Mansfield

13/11/2025

The best kind of birthday party!

Boats gathered on Coniston Water in the Lake District earlier this year to celebrate the 70th season of the Dinghy Cruising Association.

More in our November/December issue, plus news from the OGA - The Association for Gaff Rig Sailing Gaffling Championships and a chance homecoming for a steam launch from the Steam Boat Association of Great Britain - SBA.

All in W174, out now. For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Photograph: John Sharpe

10/11/2025

WaterCraft is a long-established, bi-monthly print magazine about the design, construction and enjoyment of smaller, greener leisure boats around the world: www.watercraft-magazine.com

We will shortly have a new salaried position at our office in the old village shop in Gweek, near Helston, Cornwall, for a part-time Advertising Assistant.

Good written English, office computer skills and a clear and friendly telephone manner for working with small businesses like ours are essential. Hard selling techniques are definitely not. Boating knowledge would be a real advantage.

You will work for 6 hours per week – ideally 2 half-days – for 6 week periods, alternating with 2 weeks leave between issues on a regular salary of £250/m, plus additional sales commission paid on alternate months. After a successful introductory training period in our office, we could facilitate home working via computer and/or school holiday breaks for the right candidate.

If you are interested, please email Pete at [email protected] or call on 01326 221600.

09/11/2025

Sturdy, capable pulling boats like this River Fal punt were built to work in coastal bays and harbours, carrying passengers and freight, towing vessels and fishing.

Jim Tolpin explores the evolution of the versatile waterman’s skiff on both sides of the Atlantic, in our November/December issue, out now.

For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Photograph by Paul Gartside: Ferryman Mervyn Habgood with the Malpas passenger ferry DUCKWEED circa 1980.

07/11/2025

The English Raid returned to its Scottish roots this summer, as a fleet of sail-and-oar boats gathered in Edinburgh for five days of sailing and exploring.

Boatbuilder Colin Henwood - Boatbuilder and designer Andrew Wolstenholme trailed their KITE north to join fellow raiders on the Firth of Forth.

Read the full story in our November/December issue, out now.

For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Photograph by Moray MacPhail: The iconic Forth Bridge provides spectacular scenery for this Swallow Yachts BayCruiser 23

06/11/2025

September’s sunshine may feel far away but we’re still enjoying the buzz of the boat show!

This year’s highlight at the Southampton Boat Show was the inaugural Wooden Boat Stage, a new collaboration between the Wooden Boatbuilders' Trade Association, Women in Boatbuilding and the Boat Building Academy.

Read the full story in our November/December issue, out now.

For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Photograph: Kathy Mansfield