Yacht Elver 1937 Part One

Travels of the Yacht 'Elver' on the Suffolk and Essex coast and on 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: Leaving Lowestoft at night, and sailing along the Essex coast. A starling lands on the mast, 30 miles from land. A trip to the Netherlands, crossing to Den Helder with views of the fishing and naval port; hunting for milk; aeroplanes flying low; scenes en route to Alkmaar with Jahrsma at the wheel; a bathing club for women; children gathered round the yacht in its mooring and cars and horse-drawn carts crossing a bridge; bringing beer on board; steam and sail boats on the waterway. The film is in colour between the sections titled “Pontoon bridge at De Kooi” and “Our improvised cone”. A megaphone serves as the improvised cone to indicate that Elver is using both sail and power.

Keywords

Boats; Sailing; Sea; English Channel; Ferries; Travel abroad; Birds; Beer

Intertitles

Spelling as it appears on the intertitles Yacht “Elver” 1937. Part One May 1937. “Elver” leaving Lowestoft at midnight. Sparrow’s Nest lighthouse flashing. The bell buoy flashing every second. The ship with the smell, off Harwich. Getting up the spinnaker. All set and well away. Cecil doing a spot of work. The hard bitten crew. June 1937 off to Holland. Our point of departure for Helder “The Shipwash” The middle of the North Sea – sunrise. Thirty miles from land we take on a passenger. A starling on the wishbone. Charles’ trick at the wheel. Sunset entering Helder Helder. Welcomed by Jahrsma and taking in water. “Elver” in the yacht harbour. The naval and fishing harbour. Stanley on the milk hunt. Off to try the other side of the canal Aeroplanes to the right - aeroplanes to the left etc. etc. as “Elver” sailed into … Serious problems being discussed Pontoon bridge at De Kooi. Jahrsma telling tales. Kamperduin hills [Camperduin] Schoorldam. Our improvised cone. A cone must be hoisted when under sail and power. Another fine windmill. The ladies baths at Alkmaar. Alkmaar. The cargo of beer coming aboard. Enjoying the cargo. End of Part One

Other Places

Lowestoft, Suffolk Den Helder, Netherlands Camperduin, Netherlands Schoorldam, Netherlands Alkmaar, 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. Sparrow’s Nest lighthouse, Lowestoft Shipwash lightship - lightvessel off Harwich