The Helen & Violet. LO 262

I photographed this Oyster Smack only a fortnight ago at Brightlingsea, there are still a few of these to be seen there are several at Faversham, Kent, and includes The Game Cock F 76, but the East coast of Essex is the legendary home of Gaff rigged sailing craft.

The American Gaff Cutter "Suzanne"

This picture wonderfully epitomises the splendour of a gaff cutter running with the wind and flying full canvas.

I painted this from a photograph about two years ago, the boat is part of the fleet of the New York Yacht Club