My view is birthdays should be fun, my last few have not been – so how to make it so?

One of the things I like about the Western French (I can’t speak of experience with other parts of France) is they know how to party.

Any reason is good enough!

Out come the wine, gateaux and gourmet foods in come the friends.

We are not talking wild parties, simply groups of friends and neighbours enjoying life together.

It is a matter of attitude, knowing how and when to relax and is even written into the famous cry that still echos in France from the French Revolution you know the words

“Liberté Egalité Fraternité” which remains to this day written on most town halls in France.

However today is a birthday, which I am quite willing to share with anyone else born on or near the 25th of May, and I am visiting and meeting a friends family in Amsterdam which as the Dutch will readily confirm if asked is not in France.

Why I am in Amsterdam is partly because of the European Parliament rules state exhibitors are not to sell from exhibitions.

I assume I should follow those rules and intend to make the best possible use of my time, besides my paintings can speak for them selves.

What I forgot was they can’t protect themselves…

Another lesson learned, if you read yesterday’s blog, the part about fizzi rizzi, you will to see what I mean.

The 25th dawned as a beautiful clear sunny day in South Holland, Amsterdam.

I was on the road by 08.30, unfortunately without Maryse and her 10 year old son who was not well.

To my great surprise my TomTom GPS informed me the route to Vollenhove and the Royal Huisman Shipyard passed right by Leylstad, home of the Batavia Wherf…

My appointment was for 10.00, after a beautiful drive across verdant sunny countryside I arrived at 10.01.

I find Holland a beautiful country and I admire the Dutch who have turned a rather unpromising land into a fine place to live.

No surprise the Netherlands is top of the Europe list for Islamisation!

On this particular day although the morning was chilly by Tarn standards.

The daysoon looked and felt like the South of France; what a nice day for a birthday!

The days already felt good as I swung my car into the entrance to the world famous Royal Huisman Shipyard www.royalhuisman.com.

I was expecting some thing special and I got it, with style.

I was met by Jurjen van ‘t Verlaat, responsible for Public Relations and I presented him with a copy of the European Parliament Exhibition booklet and another for Alice Huisman director.

I first met Alice  at a Monaco Yacht Show while visiting the impressive Royal Huisman display.

Some of the better exhibits at such shows feature superb models and large photographs.

I am surprised though that the more dedicated exhibitors don’t use paintings.

Fine paintings are much less expensive than the models.

Paintings of the best quality bring models to life in a way no photograph can the latter being rather graphic and less emotional.

Fine art can do several mysterious things for your subject including make time seem a bit longer and literally last longer buy out living most photography, magazines and brochures.

The over use, the unrelenting use of photography surprises me because here is an industry that aspires to the best and highest standards yet is blissfully unaware of fine art.

Jurjen van’t Verlaat was very generous with his time and conversation.

I learnt from Jurjen some of the reasons why super yacht builders don’t think to use paintings.

I need a new brochure, rewording and new pictures…

To that end will have to paint some specimen super yachts pictures on speculation unless suitable commands arrive which with the Internet and the law of Inverse Probability (as in Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Universe, may happen when I least expect and least want it!

One only has to visit a place like the P&O offices in London or the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich to see what I mean.

Alice  kindly gave me a beautiful signed copy of Royal Huisman, 125 years which I found interesting, informative and inspirational.

I was aware the time Jurjen van’t Verlaat could give me was limited so after a coffee and exchange of ideas and information we proceeded with a tour of the yard.

First I was shown the workshops and how envious I was!

The layouts and equipment was first class or if possible better, the work shops clean and well organised, the staff clearly content, skilled and dedicated to the highest standards.

It was as if I was seeing everything we had been doing when I was MD of South East Boat builders Ltd back in the 1970’s at Rye East Sussex had been taken to its logical conclusion.

I quickly found myself thinking, if I was going to build a super yacht I’d have complete confidence in these people and this yard.

With my time at Royal Huisman limited and not wishing to delay Jurjen I took photographs, not as many as I’d like to have done however I hope you find these attached here an facinating introduction to  the world of super yachts. 

The Royal Huisman story is a fascinating one.

The yard is 127 years + old and as new and up to date as it is possible to be, an inspirational business story and one which still has a long voyage ahead.

If you would like to know more about the fabulous Royal Huisman Shipyard try www.royalhuisman.com or contact Gordon Frickers who will help you with pleasure.

~

There followed a stop at beautiful Vollenhove at a snack bar, fried fish Dutch style, I regret not photographing the people and bar for you.

I’d reached the furthest point of my voyage North.

I re set my GPS and turned my car  towards Amsterdam, back along the same course I’d set to arrive at Vollenhove .

The route passed Lelystad, home of the Batavia Werf.

What had changed in the 12 years since I was last there and painted.

“Zeven Provinciën“, Royal Netherlands Navy?

(http://frickers.co.uk/marine-art/zeven_provincien_2.html).

A beautiful sunny day and to much temptation.

I thought,  as I have no idea if I’ll ever pass this way again,  probably not, I should not miss the opportunity to see this extra ordinay ship yard again.

Besides I was not expected in Amsterdam for a few hours yet.

As usual my GPS could not give me the exact address – are all TomToms like that?

I saw no signs for the Batavia Werf, the GPS got me near, the rest was memory and guess work.

First guess put me near and I discovered the fisherman’s old huts had transformed into a very cute excellent boutique area. >

All rather fun, and a couple of new museums had opened, one for small locally evolved sailing craft one called Neew World.

< The Batavia Werf entrance was not hard to find, following directions given from the Tourist Information Office in among the boutiques. The Batavia Werf takes its name from the 17 century Dutch East indaman “Batavia“, a ship of 1200 tons, one of the largest Dutch ships of her day.

The first ship the yard built was a detailed replica of the Batavia.

The photos here give a hint about this remarkable and inspirational shipyard.

This ship is now 15 years old.

Like her name sake she too has been to Australia and there, almost wrecked her owners business.

The bones of the original Batavia lye bleached and buried on a far and remote western Australian shore, victim of poor charts, inadequate equipment (of the period), sloppy navigation, bad luck and a mutiny with women at the bottom of the trouble!

The modern Batavia had her problems in Australia, almost bankrupting her company but was luckier eventually returning to her home port.

I arrived with out an appointment to find everyone at the Batavia Werf most welcoming and generous with their time (and coffee).

From Robien van Ee, the marketing and communication manager I was quickly brought up to date on the history of the yard since my last visit.

We also discussed how the way ahead and how I might help this great project.

The youth training part of the project is still financed by the EP and local government but less so.

The yard has not yet been able to re establish its self as a well signed tourist attraction and is very short of appropriate visitor amenities including stock for the gift shop.

There is much to be done.

In a nut shell after a major set back with a sponsor, an Australian connection some years ago who not only failed to keep faith but placed the yard in a near impossible position, the yard is just getting back to work.

The work is:

*historical replica ships of the highest order.

*Acting as a visitor heritage centre

*Helping young drop out learn skills and team work.

I found the contrast with my previous visit  absorbing.

All the staff I had know including master ship wright Willem Voss had moved on.

The work had not moved on as much as I expected due to the sponsor catastrophy, happily now part of the Batavia history.

The figure head shown here is one I’d previously photographed including with the people who were carving it!

I was extreemly fortunate to have the current master shipwright give me a personnel and detailed tour of the facilities and ships, shared with you here through my photographs.

Aryan Klein, master Ship wright is a most worthy successor to Willum Voss.

Aryan Klien’s knowledge is very extensive, he is very open to new ideas and has an admirable, contagious thirst for information on 17th century ships  and ship centred life.

Aryan was very generous with his time.

Maybe my training at Falmouth Ship and Boat building College and subsequent work in the marine industry ship and boat building for 10 years helped us see eye to eye, a mindmeld, maybe its just a ship n boat thing, what ever I was soon immersed in the Batavia world and learnt much in a short time.

I am quietly confident I can justify Aryan’s time by putting some of this new knowledge to use and help the Batavia Werf in some modest useful ways.

This was the first time I have been aboard the Batavia.

On my previous visit my time was centered entirely with Willium Voss on “Zeven Provinciën“.

In many ways Batavia resembles but is larger than the fine replica of Drake’s Golden Hinde built at Appledore in Devon.

Aryan described the view from Batavia’s high upper poop deck as his favourite and the best view in Holland!

Batavia is now 15 years old and that is old for a wooden ship and that worries Aryan.

Batavia despite te TLC lavished on her is showing the inevitable, unmistakable signs of becoming an older wooden ship.

Aryan  asked me about maintaining ships of this type and of course I know from my Falmouth and other times some of the tricks like salting the timbers.

Unfortuantely I can’t be on site for Batavia.

You could help and jion this wonderful project by joining the friends of Batavia via www.bataviawerf.nl

Fortunately I know some other experts who could advise, one of the foremost being Peter Goodwin with whom i promised to discuss the Batavia by phone and when I’m next in Portsmouth, in England.

If only I’d had more time…
I’d have taken more considered photos and included more of the people and information today.

Maybe I will have to go back?

Meanwhile I’m late for a birthday party in Amsterdam complete with children, should be fun, must hurry on!

I’ve been asked, I would paint the BI ship “Chintala”. ~ Chantala ~ I have a phone call coming in later today asking ?

I have painted quite a few BI ships including one for Robin Knox-Johnston who started his amazing career and adventures on Dumra.

You can see examples of my merchant ship marine paintings on web page

http://www.frickers.co.uk/marine-art/shipping.html

This page includes Dumra painted for Robin Knox-Johnston who said after commissioning the now famous painting Roaring Forties, “I’d love another Frickers painting ” and bless him was true to his word hence Dumra and The Clipper Way.

Do you think this enquirer means the BI ship Chantala or Chintala?

This gentleman wrote that his father sailed with the British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd.

I have 2 good books on BI, one book  book lists:

1. Chantala 1920 – 1941 – P.26, 149

2. Chantala, 0950 – 1971 P. 26, 190 ~ carried 31 cadets ands deck crew, 12 passengers,

Built Barclay Curle, launched Sept 49, delivered as a cadet ship with her sister Chandpara, she was intended to vary her routes so had only had 13,000 c f of refrigerated space.

Chantala introduced the Company Britannia badge on her soft stem which became traditional to the last BI  ships.

There was great rivalry between the 2 cadet ships so the company took care that they never berthed in the same port together.. Stories and anecdotes of the cadets are legion, mostly growing with time and watering.

Chantala was in her early years employed Britain – Australia

In ‘59 both ships were altered to carry 52 cadets.

And employed on the East and South Africa and Indian routes

Both sister ships were sold Apr ‘71 to Pacific International Lines Ltd of Singapore Chantala became Kota Sentosa, scrapped 1974 by China National Metals.

Related web sites include:

http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/bisn.html

http://www.biship.com/

http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=1071623

http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/allbi.html

http://www.rakaia.co.uk/downloads/chantala-data.pdf

If you know any other good related sites kindly let me know, thanks, Gordon.

Peter is very concerned that there are structural problems in Victory caused by poor repairs and the committees responsible are not listening to him …

Thus I was able to bring Peter some moral support and light relief with some marine news.

I’d previously emailed Peter Goodwin as discussed when I last visited HMS Victory last December (see blog entry 5 Dec http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/2009/12/05/portsmouth-hms-victory-and-pickle/.
My email had not arrived, just as well I phone today?
I had attached a draft letter of introduction worded as nearly as I can recall, to the original from Captain Mike Cheshire, the then commander of HMS Victory.
The original letter was on official ship’s stationary and would have been dated about May 1995.

The letter  was unique, an honour, more it was very useful, opening doors all over Europe greatly aiding  my research for HMS Victory.
It enabled me to access many rare documents and artifacts in turn leading to some ground breaking research.

I was greeted with enthusiasm and given unlimited co operation in places as far afield as Liverpool, Madrid, London and San Sebastian Naval Base, Brest and Cadiz, Paris and Plymouth.

Unfortunately I left the original with the marine Museum in Madrid and can’t find the last copy I had.
I’d like to show some thing with the above date on my web site as part of the Trafalgar project.

It would also be very helpful to have an up dated copy similar or same wording from Peter Goodwin to use during current ongoing research.

For example, last month I was in the Musee Marine National, Paris.
While they were polite, no one was very helpful, an opportunity missed.
Next Month I will be in Brest around the 12th 15th and possibly visit La Hermione so a new letter would be most helpful.

My addresses are:

Gordon Frickers
41a Oak Tree Park
Glenholt
Plymouth
Devon
PL6 7JZ

Gordon Frickers
Les Lilas, ITZAC
81170 CORDES, France

Alert and Lexington

We know the British cutter Alert captured the American brig, commerce raider, Lexington.

I have made a start by re reading various books here.

While I don’t have anything on Alert, I did make a little progress re Lexington.
It appears Lexington was a converted merchant ship.
As far as I can tell from the preliminary research, no plan or reliable illustration exists of her so we have a clean shot at this.

Peter offered to contact colleagues at  the National Maritime Museum Greenwich (London) as the National Maritime Museum Greenwich archives may have a plan of Lexington.
After capture Lexington was brought into the Royal Naval Dockyard, Plymouth so was very likely measured and had her lines taken as was the custom at Plymouth in those days.

You probably know, it appears she was a typical American trader of her period.
I have quite a lot of colour pictures of such ships here.
I have not as yet searched the Internet or raised this with my friends in the U.S.A. or other possible sources.

As for a painting, I am happy to produce one on “spec”, to be used in any way we think helpful, as usual I’m open to ideas.
I can start painting as soon as you wish, anytime after the end of February would be good.
Thus the sooner we can sort out our ideas the sooner I can begin sketches for us to discuss.
If you have the time I’d like to get started ASAP, before I am to involved in the coming exhibition at the European Parliament (date to be set, possibly mid May as that is European Sea Week).

Other marine news

Last week I attended a meeting of the L’association Laperouse.
There are several opportunities there which may interest you?

You are probably aware Laperouse was the French answer to James Cook?
The society has a good web site including copy in various languages.

The society is very active and in touch with museums at many places Laperouse ships visited.
I wrote up the evening on my blog, http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/, 22 January.

Possibly the most interesting news for you and I though is the society has:
Good connections in France and abroad.
The senior people appreciate they are getting old and are concerned to find younger people to “take over”.
They wish to seek links with other European societies and museums of the great and pioneering explorers and navigators.

This with the aim of a joint presentation to the European Parliament for funds.

The present Museum is in the old quarter of Albi, Laperouse home town.
The Museum is interesting and constantly being improved.
However they are quite unaware of your marvelous work on Victory and as the Museum is about the same size of one of Laperouse ships, there are possible opportunities…?

I look forward to your thoughts on the above.

Very best wishes to you and Katie,

Gordon

P.S.

We spoke of cabin interior colour schemes, in particular the use of natural wood  and white paint in Nelson’s cabins.

After, and you may have thought of this before, I remembered when working years ago on the model of George Anson’s famous Centurion (the ship which captured the greatest treasure ever taken at sea) at the NMM Greenwich I was shown how they had put an endoscope (the sort of camera surgeons use) inside some of the models and been amazed to find many had the interiors painted in the styles of the time even though once the model was complete no one was likely to ever see the details again.

Maybe some new research here would help you with the cabin interiors of Victory?
As a trained photographer, if it helps, I’d be happy to help interpret the pictures obtained.
We might well find enough new information for hours and beers of discussion and to support a definitive point for the benefit of  HMS Victory!

A towel changing poncho/robe.

For a waterproof garment suitable for beach wear, could we could “paint” the outside with a water resistant (not necessarily water proof) layer, a little bit like sailors painting their oil skins years ago.

However it needs to be light weigh and washing machine resistant.

Do you know anyone maybe in Musto, Henri Lloyd, Yacht Parts or a camping, outdoor activity company that would know about such a substance?

Main qualities needed are water resistant, just enough to keen the rain off for 20 minutes, light weigh, and washing machine proof.

Any ideas…???

Some of you will not have received my email Christmas card and new Christmas News letter, copy below.

Reasons for this include bounced and blocked emails (more on that below).

The Internet can be bizarre, I’d had a reply from Robin Knox-Johnston, star of my “Roaring Forties” painting, then got an, INVALID RECIPIENT message re the address!

The snow here has departed but as last week’s photos look so “Christmasie” here are 2 more.

I hope you approve this slight cheating and enjoy them! 

Today we have a grey damp day with 14 C, feels like a heat wave after last week. 

~

Reasons emails failed include: 550 INVALID RECIPIENT.

This auto reply added “You may resend the message placing the code: A45-207 somewhere in the subject to bypass the anti-spam checks” – very nice of them…

How am I supposed to remember that in future?

“I’m sorry to have to inform you that your message could not be delivered to one or more recipients” not as sorry as I am, I value my friends!

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification. so, your point is?

“Delivery to the following recipients failed” anyone think email is infallible???

My favourite, and I use the word favour in it’s loosest possible terms, is “This account is protected by Bluebottle.  Please click on the following link to have your address added to the recipient’s allowed list and to ensure delivery of your email“.

Despite following the instructions most carefully I am yet to have a reply from an account protected by this enthusiastic system…

I presume it appropriately was named after one of the stars of the BBC Goon Show?

Would you like to guess what I think of it?

I almost liked: “Delivery has failed to these recipients or distribution lists: The recipient’s e-mail address was not found in the recipient’s e-mail system. Microsoft Exchange will not try to redeliver this message for you. Please check the e-mail address and try resending this message, or provide the following diagnostic text to your system administrator“.

It at least included in it’s title “Undeliverable: all the best for the festive season“.

Then I realised that was the title I’d used…

Ahh well, ce la vie, email 2009, fallible but still very useful.

~

As promised above, a copy of the newsletter for you, enjoy.

An artist’s news letter

Your news is always welcome, here is a little of my news…

That was the year that was…

Better news is prospects for 2010 and 11/12 look much improved, with copy of my ecard on your right. 

If any of the following is useful in one of your news letters, personal or business, feel, free to reproduce it or if needed, ask me for further info.

Probably the single biggest news of my year is via a client/friend I have the good fortune to be invited to exhibit at the European Parliament, Brussels next year.

Julie Clark of Savage Marine Ltd, they normally design high quality Marine architectural lighting for super yachts, has kindly offered to help with the lighting. (www.savagelighting.com)

Anyone know about grants, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), an investor or other?

Flavour of the month?
Other significant people and places now begin to ask to show my art work

I have been asked by the editor of Sea Breezes to write 1000 words on superyachts, with photos.
To be based around my experiences on the cote d’azur in June and at Monte Carlo with the emphasis on looking at 2010.
I have written for Sea Breezes before, this time will be the most fun and good for net working.

New paintings
I have started a file round the Alert cutter and Lexington brig engagement, for my good friend Peter Goodwin.

Peter is the author of 12 fine books on historic ships and curator of HMS Victory.

The attached photo right, “Christmas Victory” was taken while visiting Peter after being filmed in Nelson’s day cabin for the BBC doc due out in the spring, “The boats that made Britain“. 

~

Additionally I am currently working on marine paintings described on my latest blog entries including Plymouth by moonlight, the Samuel Plimsoll, Porto Fino at dusk with super yachts, Laperouse at Botany Bay, the loss of the Spanish frigate Mercedes, a new Trafalgar Dawn, mermaids and HMS Unique.

New in print
During this year my team and I, Alan Tooze with Adaptgraphics and my web master have added 3 new marine prints to the range.
2 in the Prestige style,
“HMS Formidable, 1942, Seafires returning” and
“Jane Banks entering Bermuda”
and one (not really a marine print) to our Limited editions,
“The Flying Scotsman on the Tamar Bridge”.
The latter 2 are so new we have not yet had time to post them so ask me for details.

The schooner Jane Banks you may recall was the final running mate of the famous last British square rigger Waterwitch?
Now the pair are in print maybe they can be re united as a pair on your wall?
Plus, they sit very well with “A dispute settled”, which shows 2 other famous Cornish schooners, Katie Cluett and Rhoda Mary.

A New brochure, yacht orientated, created as part of the preparation to attend The Monaco Yacht Show 2009 at Monte Carlo, is considered by some a collector’s item so can we count that as a success?
Free copy on web site home page soon or better still, ask for an original in the post.

I hope you enjoy the brochure.

~

I retain a base in Plymouth thanks mostly to my very good friend and excellent fellow painter David Folley.
Partly because of the excellent light I am spending more time in Itzac, a tiny hill top village in the Northern Tarn, Midi Pyrenees, about half way between the Med and the Atlantic.
You’d be very welcome at Itzac but may need directions for the last few kilometres!

~

All my contact details are always shown on my web site page contact us –

http://www.frickers.co.uk/contact.html

~

On the subject of staying in touch, if we don’t already have a linkin link, it might help you professionally or people you know to have a link?
Plus, Linkin recommendations are very helpful to all concerned. http://www.linkedin.com/home

Now and then, a bit about the year gone and a bit of the future predicted.
I won’t write much here as my blog (www.frickers.co.uk/blog) now covers most of the news as it happens or more truly, soon after.

~

2009 was predictably a difficult year for most of us, few artists being excepted from that!
I used the year to re position myself in the marine art world and further develop my web site.
To those ends, the UK Trades Investment scheme people have been very helpful again as have the British Marine Federation.
Of the latter I am delighted to be the only artist invited to be member.

During 2009 among other designs to promote my art work, time was employed in Plymouth, visiting some of the coasts of France, Bassin de Arcachon, toured the fabulous Cote d’azur where I was based in Antibes, attended the Monaco Yacht Show.
I have been filmed with Tom Cunliffe on HMS Victory as part of a programme on the ship that carried the news of Trafalgar (“The boats that made Britain” due to be shown on the BBC next spring), by a Television Production Company called Form Films who specialize in making High End Factual documentaries.
I attended the BMF showcase at the British Ambassador’s Residence Paris, and researched in such diverse places as H.M. Hydrographic Office Taunton and the Musee Marine Paris.
These and more stories with photos are on my blog.

~

Looking further into 2010 and beyond
I am now focused primarily on the invitation to exhibit at the European Parliament, Brussels next year, date to be set but probably May ~ let me know if you’d like an invitation?

It is rare for a British artist to be invited to show at the European Parliament.
As far as I know I am the first marine artist to be invited, the first who works in England and France, the first from Midi Pyrenees, the first from Devon, the first from the Tarn and certainly the first from little Itzac.

Beside the marine paintings, I will show some of my experimental landscapes and a few other surprises including the Flying Scotsman and a cockpit view from a Boeing 727.

There are also some possibilities in New York and the French wine industry.

Will I need 2011 to recover and prepare for 2012?

With luck and a following wind 2012 will be busy too, the London Olympic people are interested in my painting, there is the war of 1812 ~ USA v Britain described by one of my American friends as a good war because both sides thought they won, the Titanic anniversary, another Vendee Globe etc.

All these new paintings are adventures, they are awaiting purchase and new homes, who will we meet through them?

~

Great paintings take time. There are only so many paintings I can produce per year and I won’t live for ever so I hope this encourages people to declare their interest, I need the encouragement and work.
I am also very conscious none of this would have been possible with out the support, encouragement and friendships of people like yourself.

I wish you and those you treasure all the festive best and a healthy, prosperous and happy 2010, thank you.

Gordon Frickers.

My friend who was also my guide and able assistant and I  stayed in a disappointing hotel in the Montmatre artist’s quarter.

I would not recommend the Hotel Residence Albert to any one and how it got and has kept 2 stars is quite beyond me. 

Montmatre was delightful though, splendid views of the city and artists still at work in the streets at 23.00 hrs. 

Thus onto British Excellence at the Ambassadors Residence, Paris.

Over 100 representatives from UK and French marine companies were hosted on 7 December by Sir Peter Westmacott KCMG, LVO at his British Embassy Residence in Paris.

I shared a display area with Azure  Wear UK.

I liked the word “azure” reminding me as it now does of the Corte d’azure and my 2 spectacular visits earlier this year (see blogs June and September).

In this case though, Mr Raza of Azure Wear UK, based at Walthamstow, London (www.azurewear.co.uk) was offering what are the best gloves for racing sailors that I have seen in over 30 years of sail boat racing.

With space and access limited, I chose to show a copy of the marine print numbered limited edition “Ice Maiden”, signed by skipper Tracy Edwards and myself, an edition now almost sold out, but showing a vivid scene from an earlier transglobal race, the print a convenient size to carry. 

You can obtain one of the last copies of “Ice Maiden” by ordering securely, by scrolling down page

http://www.frickers.co.uk/prints.html, ordering your Ice Maiden only takes a few minutes.

The theme of British Excellence was further heightened by the famous sailors Ben Ainslie CBE, together with the vibrant Sam Davies.

Sam Davies presented an excellent short video of her experience of the previous Vendee Globe where she finished as first lady and first British competitor.
Sam was nominated for the ISAF Rolex Yachts Woman of the Year Award 2009 and plans to compete in the 2012 Vendee Globe.

Ben Ainslie, four times Olympic Medallist (see http://www.frickers.co.uk/marine-art/ben_ainslie_sydney_olympics.html ) and Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2008, then gave an update on his recent sailing activities including the America’s Cup and a view on what the future holds for British sailing and in particular the 2012 London Olympics.

A variety of buyers attended the event including boat builders Groupe Jeanneau and Groupe Beneteau and renowned names like Plastimo and French magazine Voile.

The event was supported by SEEDA, UKTI South West through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Henri Lloyd, Peters and May and organised by the British Marine Federation (BMF).

For more information or photos from the event please contact Amanda Simpson on 01784 223628 or email asimpson@britishmarine.co.uk

Earlier this day I had visited the National Musee Maritime, Paris.

A modest affair compared with The National Maritime Museum Greenwich London, as you might expect things are done rather differently in France.

My principal interests were to see what they have that could help me with the opposite view to my acclaimed “Trafalgar Dawn“,

Available as a Prestige signed numbered time limited edition form page

http://www.frickers.co.uk/prints.html

Also to research the voyage of the French explorer Laperouse.

You may recall, all Europe had a huge admiration for the achievements Captain James Cook ?

The French even ordered their ships to grant James Cook safe passage ~ Not to attack him ~ (the Spanish and Americans soon followed this example).

Laperouse was sent on a similar mission and my new painting will show one of the most remarkable events during the cruise of Laperouse.

You may care to follow this blog for further developments inn the near future on this tale?

The Musee contains many splendid models however they have chosen to make far more use of marine painting than do most British museums.

I am in awe of French marine painting.

The general standard is in my view much higher than British marine painting or American for that matter.

The French do have a significant advantage over their Anglo Saxon friends.

Besides a long history of very fine painting, there is official encouragement by the French government via the French navy.

You can judge for yourself (great excuse to visit Paris)  the cultural benefits of the official sponsorship by visiting the wonderfully varied exhibition currently on show and see the subsequent teasures French marine painters have and are producing.

Also unlike British Museums, there was a serious effort to promote marine art in the musee bookshop.

I came away barely resisting the 480 Euro magnificent copy of the work of the brilliant Marine Marie but did fall for 2 books including one about Roget Chaplet…

Lunch, by total co incedence was in an excellent Jewish resteraunt.

The last day I gave over to my so helpful friend and aide who generously chose to show me some of her Paris (between “shopping”)  

We included a very nice wine bar which served us venison.

Where is a better sight than a lovely lady with mature wines…

and so finally back to Toulouse by TGV.  

This visit was only possible thanks to the British Marine Federation and because it was organised for me while I was focused on Forum films and Portsmouth, by my excellent friend Francoise Boitel.

Unique had quite a brief career.

Not unusual as British Submarine losses in World War 2 were 65%.

We have found the basic info on the Internet, not much and not reliable.

We are asking the very reliable  World Ship Society of which I have been a member for many years, and await a reply. (http://www.worldshipsociety.org/)
The Submarine Museum at Gosport (Portsmouth) failed to reply to my emails.

I suppose I should try phoning them???
We know Unique was lost with all hands in the N Atlantic on patrol off Spain, probably on 10 Oct 1942.

Apparently an under water explosion was heard that day by another boat in the vicinity.
The official report as I understand says Unique may have had an accident, hit a mine or been sunk by the Germans.
However we know the Germans made no such claim.
We also understand (it would be interesting to confirm) that Coastal Command claimed to have sunk a U boat that day in that area.
If I am correct and again it would be interesting to confirm this,  the German records admit no U boat loss in that area on that day.
Our connection with Unique is simple.

At that time, the commander of Unique was Lt Robert Evelyn Boddington RN KIA, father of my friend Chris.

Any information would be much appreciated.
It is my hope to eventually present Chris with a fine painting possibly of Unique at a depot ship or on patrol, to become a family treasure, and maybe a complimantary print to each of my “helpers”.

In similar vein, there is much useful info on my web site particularly on the “further reading” pages and it is constantly being added to.
if I can ever help you or any others with research issues I would be delighted to be given the opportunity.

Sincerely,

Gordon Frickers