Wind, Tide & Oar, a unique film exploring the art of ‘engineless sailing’, premieres in London at Royal Museums Greenwich on 23rd April, before embarking on a three-month sailing tour on Sea-Change Sailing Trust Thames sailing barge Blue Mermaid, crewed by young people.
Filmed and produced by internationally recognised filmmaker Huw Wahl and adventurous sailor Rose Ravetz, Wind, Tide & Oar captures the art of engineless sailing and the lives of those who navigate the seas without relying on auxiliary power. Shot on 16mm analogue film over three years, it follows a diverse array of traditional boats, delving into the rhythms and motivations of sailing engineless, taking viewers on a mesmerising journey across rivers, coasts and open seas, spanning the UK, the Netherlands and France.
Through its encounters with engineless sailors and their vessels, the film addresses themes such as ecology, mental health, heritage, traditional skills and maritime history. Using a 1960s hand-wound camera, Huw Wahl offers a poetic and intimate perspective on the ancient craft of harnessing the wind for travel, inviting deep reflection on our relationship with the natural world, where sailing becomes a place to explore our interaction with and responsibility to the environment and the world around us.
Huw was introduced to sailing by his sister Rose Ravetz on her engineless boat Defiance, an experience which grew into the sibling collaboration of Wind, Tide & Oar. Huw noted the parallels between filmmaking and engineless sailing: “Both are deeply rooted – during their best moments – in feeling… whether that’s intuiting the right time to tack, or the right time to press the shutter.” Rose commented, “Rather than overpowering the elements by mechanical force, the engineless sailor is asked to engage in a conversation with the natural world. For these sailors to be successful, they must listen more than they speak; they cannot impose their will on the elements.”
Tickets are now available for the premiere screening at 6pm on 23rd April 2024 at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, introduced by National Historic Ships Director Hannah Cunliffe, with a Q&A session with Huw Wahl and Rose Ravetz. Premiere tickets include same-day entrance to the Cutty Sark and a tour around the Thames sailing barge Blue Mermaid.
On 26th April, Wind, Tide & Oar embarks on a unique three-month journey along the southeast coast aboard the engineless Thames sailing barge Blue Mermaid. Crewed by young trainees from Skippers of the Future, the tour offers free film screenings, Q&A sessions and school workshops showcasing traditional maritime trades in ten ports.
An accompanying book, published by The New Menard Press, will be launched at the film premiere.
For more information, visit: www.windtideandoar.com