Yacht Elver 1936

Travels of the Yacht 'Elver' on the Essex and Suffolk coast

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: boys John and Tony on board and guests departing by dinghy; large boats and paddle steamers on the River Orwell; wet weather sailing; the Harwich ferry; visit by H.M. Customs boat; Graf Zeppelin airship over Walton-on-the-Naze in 1931; rough weather with waves on deck; taking tea at the yacht club house; swimming; large yachts Sonia II and Tamesis decorated with flags.

Keywords

Boats; Sailing; Sea; English Channel; Ferries; yacht racing; airships

Intertitles

Spelling as it appears on the intertitles Yacht Elver. 1936 part One John goes aboard En route for Brightlingsea John takes over Tony tries his skill John all over the place Charles and family going ashore On the way to Ipswich Bullo in charge The stewardess insists on talking to the man at the wheel Not much room on the “Orwell” for passing The old “Woolwich Belle” now the “City of Rochester” Baby “staysail schooner” Another August heatwave Harwich the Flushing boat H.M. Customs come to enquire if “Elver” has been foreign or not The 1931 cruise Ipswich Graf Zeppelin passing over Walton-on-Naze Under foresail and staysail only What buoy? “Cliff Foot” The old “Woolwich Belle” again Walton pier This buoy’s name? The “Wallet Spitway” Where is this one The Wallet Spitway Returning to Mersea The cruise was given up after a week of gales and rain Big Bill’s week-end tea at the club house Edna Sheffield showing us how “Elver” putting her nose into it, with Kath enjoying it Off to Brightlingsea with the Scotts The crew quarrels but “Elver” carries on “Tamesis” Bushell Senior and Bushell Junior on board Bushell Junior has not got his “sea-legs” Bushell Senior has “sea-hands” Sonia II “Elver” in a squall with lee-scuppers well under Water everywhere End of Part One

Other Places

Brightlingsea, Essex River Orwell. Suffolk Ipswich, Suffolk Harwich, Essex Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex

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. Sonia II – large steel schooner yacht built 1931