OK we admit it. We are proud owners of a wooden sailing boat too. Not just any boat but a Moray Firth Skaffie lugger, clinker built in Scottish larch on oak called Gratitude after the original of the same name built in 1896. So as well as spending a lot of my time chopping, sawing, carving, sanding and waxing wood, I now spend a lot of time sailing , repairing , varnishing and antifouling it too. Great isn't it?

In order to brighten up the website I have now started a gallery cum blog of our experiences. We hope you can take the time to have a look.

Windward Yachts are now on display in the Sea Sky Art Studio Gallery which is located on the cobbled High Street of Hamble leading down to the famous sailing river. Sandy exhibits her own work and that of a number of local artists as well as providing Art courses and creative workshops. More details can be found on the Sea Sky Art website.

Bursledon Art Society held their regular Winter Art Exhibition on the 1st and 2nd December in the Bursledon Village Hall. Attendance at the preview evening and during the exhibition was very good with an excellent range of work on show. All paying attendees were asked to nominate their favourite painting and 3D piece. I was very grateful and delighted to have the Windward Yacht "tacking duel" voted as the Most Favourite 3D exhibit at the show. My very first award although I have to admit that there were many more paintings than 3D exhibits ☺

Whitchurch Arts are organizing their 2012 Art exhibition for local Artists at the Gill Nethercott Centre in Whitchurch on Saturday 3rd ( 11.30am-4pm) and Sunday 4th ( 10am-4pm). A range of the Windward yachts will be on display along with many exciting works of other local artists. Entry is free.

The Greyladyes Arts Foundation (GAF) invited me to have a stall selling yachts and boards at their annual Autumn Fair to be held at the GAF centre on School Road, Old Bursledon 10.30am til 2pm on Friday 26th October. There will be range of craft stalls selling seasonal goods as well as garden produce, cakes, deli food and more. Please drop in if you are looking for that early Christmas present.

I have been asked many times if I make any larger windward yachts than the current large range. In September I thought that I would give it a try and this is the result. The sails and hull are made from oak on a substantial spalted beech base standing about 1 metre high. You will find the yacht on display at the Dansel Gallery in Abbotsbury.

The Greyladyes Arts Foundation (GAF) have opened their doors to participate in the Hampshire Open Studios scheme to promote local artists. I and four other local artists will have our work on display from the 18th to the 24th August 1pm to 5pm every day. Further details can be obtained on the GAF web site page.
Please drop in if you are in the Bursledon area.

"There is some great art out there, go out and find it" - Hampshire Open Studios

The Azure Gallery is located in the centre of Sidmouth displaying a collection of British Art, Glass, Ceramics,Jewellery and Gifts. Joint owner Nigel invited me to display my yachts there after buying one at the Dansel Gallery. When we delivered, what hopefully will be the first batch of yachts, it was my first visit to Sidmouth. We found it to be a delightful seaside town and we were really impressed with the range of beautiful work that Nigel And Angela have on display. More details of the gallery can be found on facebook or on their developing Azure Gallery website.

Hardings Art Gallery and Picture Framers is situated close to the River Hamble in Warsash. It is a delightful gallery with a wide range of marine paintings and a interesting selection of wood craft items. Warsash is very much a sailing area and I was very grateful that they agreed to display my yachts. The gallery is at 11 Shore Road, Warsash, Southampton SO31 9FS and telephone no. 01489 571882.

The Dansel Gallery specializes in contemporary British woodwork displaying an amazingly wonderful variety of wood craft items and so I could not be more pleased when they agreed to show some of my yachts. The gallery is located in the picturesque village of Abbotsbury situated on the B3157 coast road between Weymouth and Bridport in West Dorset. More details of the gallery can be found on the Dansel Gallery website. If you are visiting that beautiful coastline I would encourage you to drop into the gallery to view their superb collection.

The Craft Fair held at Antrobus House in Amesbury was great fun and well attended. The house itself was a beautiful Georgian building not far from the town centre. I had on display my usual range of latest items but added a few more fruit themed boards this time. The small lemon boards went down a treat and we had great suggestions from a number of browsing customers on what other types of boards they would like to see too.

I have visited this fascinating craft shop many times located in the High Street in pictureque Stockbridge and noticed an ever increasing range of wooden craft items. So I was very pleased when they agreed to sell my yachts. Established in 1983 Broughton Crafts remains a family owned and run business specialising in British crafts well known for their unique and ever changing selection of crafts and gifts. Contact details can be found on the Broughton Crafts website.

I have been exploring a range of different styles for the WW yachts as you can see from some of the photos. I have even taken an old woodwormed piece of beech to experiment with carving spinaker shapes as shown below. This needs to be delveloped a little further to make it more practical but aesthetically it is looking good. I will show these in the gallery when finalized.

The Christmas Gift Fair in Figheldean Village Hall was a well organized event with something for everyone. Besides our woodfest, there  were handmade bespoke jewellery, pottery, stained glass, chocolates,soaps and specialist folk art pieces. Great interest and purchase of yachts and boards plus ringed mushrooms and tealight candle holders.

Figheldean is a few miles from the famous Stone Henge and the not so well known Wood Henge is just over a mile away so we decided to supplemented these local attractions with our own version.

Join us on facebook You do need to be a member to join but the link will provide a view of what is available. 
My son, Mark's idea supported by my facebook loving wife. We have not considered Twitter as yet.

Bell Fine Arts is a wonderful gallery on Parchment Street in Winchester, Hampshire. They exhibit and sell a wide range paintings and sculptures with a fine marine range.

Our latest stall was hosted at the Cygnet, Swan's Yard in beautiful Shaftesbury. Swan Yard is just off the High Street and very central to all amenities. The turnout was reasonable considering that the weather was more wet & windy November than calm & sunny August. The morning started with what appeared to be a sea fret and then hardened into regular gusty showers into the afternoon. We met and talked to many people who greatly admired the items on display.

Artamain Gallery wonderfully located on the High Street in the yachting centre of Hamble, has agreed to display a selection of the Windward series of Kevin Longstaff's yacht sculptures. Owner, Hellen Bartholomew, felt that locally produced sculpted boats with local traditional hardwood complimented the nautical theme of the gallery.

We had a stall at the open day selling our wooden boards and yachts. It was a great turn out in the sweltering heat but luckily the YC is right by the cool River Hamble. The only disappointing aspect of the day was England's performance in the Worldcup.

Welcome to our new website. Feel free to browse and any feedback would be very welcome.