The Small Craft Committee

The Society's Small Craft Committee encourages the restoration, preservation and use of historic small craft and the recording of interesting craft around the British coast. It organises the regular use of H.M.S. Victory's 1805 cutter, one of two provided by the Society, and represents both the ship and the Society at international events for small craft.

 

SNR Small Craft Group - Objectives

• Encourage the restoration, construction, documentation and use of historic small craft.
• Carry on the work of recording existing small craft before they disappear.
• Co-operate with other organisations engaged in the restoration of historic craft.
• Make maximum use of HMS Victory's 1805 Cutter to publicise the Ship and the work of the SNR and encourage the younger generation to participate. *
• Encourage participation in the work of the SNR by keeping alive the old seamanship skills.
• Encourage the use of historic small craft at Portsmouth.

Note: The Small Craft Group welcomes volunteers to assist with Victory's Cutter and other historic craft.

Contact : David Page, Chairman Small Craft Committee, Tel. : 01444 232405,  E-mail : prentpage@onetel.com

HMS Victory’s 1805 Cutter 2006 Programme

                                            Sunday 19 February           Shore-based training RN Museum 1030

                                            Sunday  12 March              Shore-based training RN Museum 1030

                                            Friday   12 May                 Cutter Crew Dinner at Shoreham

                                            2/3/4 June                           Yarmouth IOW.  Regatta

                                            Sunday 25 June                  Afloat Portsmouth  HW 1158

                                            Sunday 9  July                    Afloat Portsmouth  HW 1043

                                            Sunday 23 July                   Afloat Portsmouth  HW 1102

                                            Sunday 6 August                Afloat Portsmouth  HW 0924

                                            24-27 August                      Dartmouth Royal Regatta

                                            Sunday 24 September        Afloat Portsmouth  HW 1316

                                            Sunday  8 October             Afloat Portsmouth   HW 1248

                                            21/22 October                    Trafalgar Dinner?

                                             Sunday 5 November           Afloat Portsmouth  HW 1038

                                           Sunday 3 December           Afloat Portsmouth  HW 0929

              

                                      Note: Beaulieu Festival and Thames River Race to be considered. 

Further details from: Keith Chittenden (Sailing Master): 01273-557921

or  David Page (Chairman Small Craft Committee): 01444 232405

 

The Institute of Seamanship

 

In  2000  a  group  centred   around  the  Small  Craft  Committee of  the Society  for Nautical   Research   and   the   Department   of   Maritime  Heritage  and   Study   at Portsmouth University identified a need for an association to be concerned with the practice of  seamanship to complement the existing associations for maritime Navigators and Engineers.

To explore the feasibility of such an association, an inaugural meting was held at Portsmouth University in November 2000, hosted by Portsmouth University  and chaired by the Society for Nautical Research. The papers presented at this meeting were split almost equally between historic seamanship and current practice with contributions from the MN, RN and leisure sailors.

From these it became apparent that of the many persons employed on or above the weather deck relatively few of today's 'professionals' are now specialist seamen whilst many 'amateurs' nowadays must exercise a high degree of professionalism about the deck. The meeting concluded that an Institute of Seamanship (IOS) was needed and co-opted a Steering Committee to consider its shape and form.

The Steering Committee's recommendations were discussed and the Institute formally established at a meeting at Portsmouth Naval Base on Saturday 15th September 2001.

The IOS is now a  small  but  influential  body,  with  a  growing  record  of  maritime activities, and is currently involved in projects with both Portsmouth University and the National Maritime Museum. The current state of these activities is reported on the Institute's Website: www.institute-seamanship.org.

In addition to the Website, the Institute issues a twice-yearly newsletter, its Committee meets every three months and an AGM is held in Portsmouth in the autumn.

Membership is open to all who have an interest in either practising or preserving seamanship skills, no matter what their age or experience.

The Institute Website can now be found at: www.institute-seamanship.org  and  for further information please contact the Chairman,  Tom Peppitt,  6 Miller Close, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5PS,

                                                             Tel: 01983 529105,  Mobile 07971 427595,

                                                              Email:tompeppitt@aol.com