Header Photo: Monotype de Chatou

The previous header photo was of Louis Pillon and his restored Monotype de Chatou. The Monotype de Chatou was a French follow-on to the American Lark scow, the Lark being originally introduced to France as the Monotype de Dinard. Designed in 1901 by Francois Texier, the Monotype de Chatou featured soft bilges rather than the boxy, chine shape of the Lark and the wide scow bow of the Lark was pinched in. The Monotype de Chatou was France's first popular dinghy with over 100 being built.

The drawing below is from the Wikipedia entry on the Monotype de Chatou.

A photo of the three of the original French build of the American Lark scow, the Monotype de Dinard.

Chatou was a western suburb of Paris, fronting the Seine River. There was a yacht club on the narrow island where the fleet of  Monotype de Chatou's were moored. From Google Maps.

In 1906, the French painter, Maurice de Vlamink, painted this scene (in the style of Van Gogh). Painted from the vantage point of Île de Chatou, it is likely the moored sailboat was a stylized Monotype de Chatou.

A rescue performed by a Monotype de Chatou. I'm not sure if the swamped vessel is another Monotype de Chatou. If this was a romantic Sunday sail, I would bet the lady being dragged over the gunwhale by the rescuers didn't bargain on being completely soaked by this mis-adventure.

The Dead South - "In Hell I'll Be In Good Company"

For those who thought, in my last music video, I may have pitched head-first into syrupy elevator music, I offer up this contrarian view of love from "The Dead South". (As with the music video from Little Tybee, this video is shot with the band in many different places.)

[Whistling Intro]
Dead Love couldn't go no further
Proud of and disgusted by her
Push shove, a little bruised and battered
Oh Lord I ain't coming home with you

My life's a bit more colder
Dead wife is what I told her
Brass knife sinks into my shoulder
Oh babe don't know what I'm gonna do

I see my red head, messed bed, tear shed, queen bee
My squeeze
The stage it smells, tells, hell's bells, miss-spells
Knocks me on my knees
It didn't hurt, flirt, blood squirt, stuffed shirt
Hang me on a tree
After I count down, three rounds, in hell I'll be in good company

Dead Love couldn't go no further
Proud of and disgusted by her
Push shove, a little bruised and battered
Oh Lord I ain't coming home with you

My life's a bit more colder
Dead wife is what I told her
Brass knife sinks into my shoulder
Oh babe don't know what I'm gonna do

I see my red head, messed bed, tear shed, queen bee
My squeeze
The stage it smells, tells, hell's bells, misspells
Knocks me on my knees
It didn't hurt, flirt, blood squirt, stuffed shirt
Hang me on a tree
After I count down, three rounds, in hell I'll be in good company

In hell I'll be in Good Company
In hell I'll be in Good Company
[Whistling, Denouement....]

Music Whenever: Bay Ledges "Safe"

Must be a old guy thing. After all the twists and turns of life, I seem to enjoy boppy love songs in my dotage. Early love is where all the possibilities are endless.



I've been catching some of my music (including this one) on my afternoon commute, listening to WTMD.

Rainbow Scow Plans

The Australian Rainbow scow was a simple flat-bottomed, main and jib scow most popular around the Melbourne area; a DIY plywood design, typical of post WWII classes. These plans popped up on the Internet so I'll share them on this blog.

As always, use the pop-out icon on the top right to open this in another tab in your browser

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Other Earwigoagin posts on the Rainbow Scow.

Music Whenever: Gillian Welch and Old Crow Medicine Show "The Weight"

The Band's song "The Weight" has been covered so many times, by so many different artists. This is one of my favorite covers of this classic.

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I pulled into Nazareth, I was feeling 'bout half past dead
Just need to find a place where I can lay my head
Hey, mister, can you tell me, where a man might find a bed?
He just grinned and shook my hand, "No" was all he said.

Take a load off Fanny, you take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny, and ^and_and you put the load ^{you put the load} right on me

I picked up my bags, I went looking for a place to hide
When I saw old Carmen and the Devil, walking side by side
So I said, "Hey, Carmen, c'mon, let's go downtown"
Well, Carmen said, "You know I gotta go, but my friend can stick around"

You take a load off Fanny, you take a load for free
You take a load off Fanny, and ^and_and you put the load ^{you put the load} right on me

Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog
He said, "I can fix your rag, if you take Jack, my dog"
I said, "Wait a minute Chester, you know, I'm a peaceful man"
He said, "That's okay, just feed him when you can"

You take a load off Fanny, take a load for free
You take a load off Fanny, and ^and_and you put the load ^{you put the load} right on me

Go down, Moses, ain't nothin' that you can say
It's just old Luke, Luke's waiting on the Judgment Day
Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Annalee
He said, "Do me a favor, son, won't you stay, keep Annalee company"

You take a load off Fanny, you take a load for free
You take a load off Fanny, and ^and_and you put the load ^{you put the load} right on me

Well catch the cannonball, now to take me on down the line
My bag is sinking low, and I do believe it's time
To get back to Miss Fanny, oh..., you know she's the only one
Who sent me here, with her regards for everyone

Take a load off Fanny, you take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny, and ^and_and you put the load ^{you put the load} right on me

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From the Earwigoagin archives; another cover of a song from "The Band".

Sneekweek 2016

I've written before about the Dutch Sneekweek, a sailing regatta/dance party extravaganza. (Actually it's the other way round - a massive party featuring some sailboat racing.) The sailing classes attending feature an even balance between the plastic fantastic classes and the myriad, beautiful, vintage, Dutch wood classes. Here is a nice video wrap-up of the 2016 event which features a large number of Oops! moments.

Michael Scott's Mod Hadron Singlehander is Launched

Michael Scott sends along these photos of the launch of a Keith Callaghan designed singlehander, the Hadron, which he spend the winter modifying. Michael picked up a locally built wood Hadron, cut down the freeboard, and got rid of a funky center buoyancy tank which he replaced with a true double bottom. He added a a rig he scammed off a Hoot Dinghy. The final result isn't radical enough to qualify as a Frankenboat but, all in all, a very credible singlehander. I await some more sailing reports when there is some more wind.

Michael has emailed Keith for feedback on his mods but no reply. (I have to say most designers don't like the unwashed fooling around with their creations... unlike me, who always says ... have a go and see if it works!)

The skipper in these photos is Brad Rice. Location is Whidbey Island, Pacific NW.