Boatographic

That moon guy

garethfudge — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:36:08 +0000

The Guy

garethfudge — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:35:22 +0000

The bonfire at Ottery St Mary is huge, the guy dominates the skyline

November 5th – Flaming Tar Barrels

garethfudge — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:34:25 +0000

Looking for something to do for Bonfire Night, I went to Ottery St Mary to see a Devonian tradition. It involves running up and down a crowded street with a flaming tar barrel. The event becomes more and more popular every year and the sleepy little village is over run with visitors intent on a little excitement.

I took my camera and tried to get close to the action to get some photos. I can tell you there was no time for chimping (looking at the LCD) If you don’t keep your wits about you you could get burned.

The tradition has been going since the Gunpowder plot of 1605 but may stem from rituals designed to fumigate buildings and scare away evil spirits. Doesn’t seem to work with onlookers though.

Check out the video on British Pathe of it taking place in the 1960’s http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=41127

Here are some of the photographs. I’m just waiting for my eyebrows to grow back.

The first of the larger barrels is paraded round outside the Volunteer Inn in the square

A carrier dives out of the way to put out his flaming glove

The carrier finds some space

The Carriers find it hard to run with the crowd hemming them in

Finally finding some space a carrier runs through the crowd

someone else risking their camera

The barrel is handed over in the air

I'm just nipping down the Co-Op for a burning barrel dear.

It seems all that protects the carrier is a couple of layers of clothing and some sack gloves

Here that bloke has a flaming barrel on his head.

Photographer dives for safety

As the time progresses the barrel burns down and eventualy collapses.

A crowd gathers for the bonfire, probably waiting for the flames to die so they can put jacket potatoes on

Children’s Barrels

garethfudge — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:34:14 +0000

The America’s Cup is in Town

garethfudge — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:27:54 +0000

Went to watch the AC45s in action in Plymouth Sound hoping for some action. We weren’t disappointed! It was blowing really hard and the cats were flying round the Sound. It was a shame I couldn’t get much closer to get some photos but the actual sailing was breathtaking. I usually find watching sailing akin to watching paint dry. Loads of people turned up to watch. Plymouth Sound makes a great amphitheatre and there were people everywhere. The game seemed all about the spectators with races being 20 minutes each and finishing right in front of the crowd. The only fly in the ointment was caused by the staff at Smeaton Tower who shut just as the last race was finishing so I didn’t get to watch the end. Still it was like being in a helicopter!

Last Thursday Night Sail

garethfudge — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:26:08 +0000

Racing on Thursday Nights in Brixham has finished for the season. Winter is on the way. Still we were seen off with a lovely sunset as we were putting the boats away. I am a bit disappointed, last year we had dolphins too.

In fact, this year has been a bit of a year for sunsets. I think the bright pinks may have had something to do with ash from volcanoes.

Motoring the boat home after the last Thursday night in Brixham. The last of the fleet finished as the sun went down

Sonata Southern Championships

garethfudge — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:17:39 +0000

This weekend Brixham Yacht Club hosted the Sonata Southern Area Championships. I managed to get a ride on one of the support boats and get some pictures. Thanks go to Jerry for putting up with a cranky photographer.

Sonatas head fight for clear air off the start lineThe fleet running in very light airs."A Sharp Exit" rounds the leeward mark on the way to the finish

"A Sharp Exit" rounds the leeward mark on the way to the finish

The fleet running in very light airs.

Also putting in an appearance was the sailing Trawler Vigilance. With the aid of the RiB driver, we got very close in. So close I banged my head on the bowsprit.

Vigilance from an unusual angle

Brixham Heritage Regatta 2011

garethfudge — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:25:07 +0000

A couple of weekends ago in May (ok a month ago) I managed to borrow a RIB from Brixham Yacht Club and get some photographs of the Brixham Heritage Festival sailing. The weather was rough and overcast. Conditions in the RIB were difficult. Sky covered the event as part of their series they are doing on Brixham. This created some interesting opportunities when a helicopter turned up to film the event. The helicopter flew really low to get film of the boats. I think I managed to get in the way. Well I got a free haircut!

Helicopter flies low over yachts whilst filmingThe Heritage Fleet sail upwind with help from a helicopter

Leader reaches towards Berry Head

Michelmores Challenge Cup

garethfudge — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:46:00 +0000

It’s amazing how you can look at a photograph on your camera and be unimpressed and then get it home and look at it on a large scale an be impressed with it.

Michelmores Cup 2010

garethfudge — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:11:39 +0000

Really looking forward to photographing the Michelmores Cup yacht racing event hosted by Brixham Yacht Club in the morning. It’s a really fun race. Hopefully I will get some images the sailors like.