Elver 1936 Part One [Netherlands trip]

Travels of the Yacht 'Elver' on the Essex and Suffolk coast and a trip to the Netherlands

One of a series of films recording the travels of the schooner Elver, her owner V.B. Harrison, crew and guests. Scenes are shot from the Elver including adjustment of sails, sea, waves, buoys, coastline and passing boats, sometimes close enough to see crew in detail. Scenes include: Fitting out work on Elver at Robinson’s Yard, Oulton Broad and test sail for new rig; dinghy sailing; catching eels with a line; Elver winning the Sunk Race 1936 filmed by T.C. Tapp from another boat. On a trip to the Netherlands arriving at Ijmuiden, laundry drying on a line aboard a barge, trains crossing the railway bridge near the prison at Haarlem and street scenes including the Grote Kerk and trams, tour of the sights from the Amsterdam canals by water-taxi. The trip continues towards Rotterdam, past windmills and raised bridges.

Keywords

Boats; Sailing; Yacht racing; Sea; English Channel; Ferries; Travel abroad;

Intertitles

Spelling as it appears on the intertitles Elver fitting out at Oulton April 1936 The new wishbone Elver trials in new rig on Oulton Broad Blewitt and Jackie leaving after a visit Getting up sail in the dinghey (dinghy) Off at last Alastair Easton in a Sprite Whitsuntide at Mersea Col. Sworder and Geoff Lucky we cannot hear what the Colonel says about his wet cap Catching eels Start of the Sunk race. Jockying [jockeying] for position The start. Photographs by Mr T.C. Tapp “Elver” won on handicap Elver’s first winning flag Sunk Race 1936 The Dutch trip July 1936 Sun-rise on the North Sea The first coastal steamer sighted off the Dutch coast The entrance to Ymuiden [IJmuiden] in the mist Entering the harbour Along side a barge in the Northsea Canal The barge etc. Haarlem. the railway bridge The domed building is the prison The party with de Kempenaer (left) The main square in the town A trip on a water-taxi through the canals of Amsterdam The Weeping Tower The Central Station The Old Watch Tower The Mint Tower Prinzen Graacht [Prinsengraacht] Amstel Hotel on the Amstel New part of Amsterdam Prison on right and surroundings The Lido Restaurant In the Leidsche-Graacht [Leidsegracht] Builing Sloot Singelgraacht [Singlegracht] Rokin View from the Lido On the canal to Rotterdam. Brassemer [Braassememeer] Maubrugge [Woubrugge?] Alphen Chasing a barge and tug near Boskoop Tug and barge get through the Boskoop bridge first

Other Places

Lowestoft, Suffolk Oulton Broad, Suffolk IJmuiden, Netherlands Haarlem, Netherlands Amsterdam, Netherlands Braassememeer, Netherlands Woubrugge, Netherlands Alphen, Netherlands Boskoop, Netherlands

Background Information

Elver - “V.B. Harrison’s wishbone-rigged schooner Elver was built at Lymington in 1923 and was a familiar sight in the Blackwater, with moorings at West Mersea until the 1940s.” John Leather, The Salty Shore, Seafarer Books 2003. A published photograph of the yacht refers to Skipper Ron Pullen.