Three men in a boat

[whipper_snapper]

I imagine these programmes has been discussed here before, and I don’t know when it was broadcast, but someone kindly recorded them for me and I have just seen half of episode 1 and I am driven to comment!

I was blown away by Undina – what a gorgeous boat. (can anyone tell me a bit about her?) But it was amazing to see the reaction of the non sailor crew to her. The 1st shot of the interior had me gasping at the beautiful restoration and them commenting that it was cramped and woody!

I guess that the skipper’s apparent incompetence was largely down to the editing. But nevertheless, was that a real conversation with Dover coastguard?! Appalling VHF procedure apparently including illegal profanity!

She seemed to go to windward in a blow absolutely superbly, but they seemed to have a full genoa and no main going to windward in what looked like a 5-6. Why not a reefed main and a proper amount of headsail? I would have thought she would have handled way better. Or was that again just for the few minutes when the accompanying RIB could get a decent shot ?

Anyway, sorry if this has been done to death when it was broadcast, but I enjoyed it and will watch the rest over the next few days (if anyone wants a copy, I will be in UK next week and I could put a DVD in the post)

 

[Cornishman]

Can you name any one member of the Three Men? I suspect that this was a regional programme made for Westcountry TV some time ago, but would like confirmation before making comment.

 

[Alcyone]

Griff Rhys Jones, Rory McGrath and Dara o Briain.

http://www.britishclassicyachtclub.org/register/undina.htm

 

[rickp]

Undina is owned by Griff Rhys-Jones - so it was the programme shown on BBC over Christmas.

Rick

 

[Cornishman]

OK - not the one I was thinking of which was a Denham Production with Chris Denham, Craig Rich and Ron Bendell who sailed a small yacht down the Westcountry coast in about four or five episodes.

 

[Gordonmc]

There was a fair bit of comment around transmission time.
Poor continuity was one bugbear with Undina shown going the wrong way up the channel etc.
General ignorance on the part of one crew member drew numerous responses as did the crew following the boat by road catching up for filming sessions. The need for "good telly" reduced a potentially interesting programme to a succession of squabbles which would be better off on a soap-opera set.

 

[Chrusty1]

Fair comment, but the need for "good telly" is understandable, given that most of the audience were probably not boaty people?

 

[LadyInBed]

was discussed here and here

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
sorry if this has been done to death when it was broadcast

[/ QUOTE ] It was!

 

[Athene V30]

More details about Undina on this web site The British Classic Yacht Club

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Undina is a lovely yacht .... tripe sums up the programme quite well. A disappointing cock-up of a golden opportunity!

 

[fastjedi]

Griff's sailing skills did look a bit iffy in eposode 1, as you say, it is a perspective based on editing for effect. By the time you get to the end eposide 3 you will have a rather different view.

 

[whipper_snapper]

There's a 3rd episode? Bugger! There's only 2 on the dvd I have!

 

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
Undina is a lovely yacht .... tripe sums up the programme quite well. A disappointing cock-up of a golden opportunity!

[/ QUOTE ]

a golden opportunity to what exactly?

 

[alldownwind]

All set up (as Griff remarked at the LBS opening ceremony) but entertaining TV anyway, at least we saw saily boats on the telly for once.

 

[smudge837]

hi all, just a quickie if i may. i asked/forced my other/better half watch this sailing faux pas. and she loved it, asked if we can have one of them. and i told her one day.( /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) all in all it was tv, not ment for sailing types in any way, but did at least show that it is not all G & T. and even if i sat there feeling a bit smug a times thinking i would not have done that, it was still good to see a very nice yacht on tv at a time when my little baby was tucked up in her winter berth. and even better i was in island harbour dropping of a nice 32 footer while they here sneaking into the field. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif, i bet he got paid more than i did.

 

[whipper_snapper]

I have now watched it all (both episodes!) and I must say I enjoyed it. It was not targeted at sailors but was a bit of harmless fun on a lovely boat. And I caught a 2 seconds glimpse of the 'John Laing'.

 

[snooks]

Heads up

Just to give you advanced notice...

We have an interview with Griff including Undina in July's issue of Yachting Monthly (out 12th June) and yes he does reveal the value on the bit of paper!

I would tell you, but I'm not allowed /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[nigelmercier]

Re: Heads up

[ QUOTE ]
We have an interview with Griff including Undina in July's issue of Yachting Monthly...

[/ QUOTE ]

A nice article, and some very nice pictures.

I can thoroughly recommend Griff's book To the Baltic with Bob - I've got a signed hardback copy, and I'm not selling /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

As I read the book, I kept seeing myself in Griff's character (although I was often Bob as well). I'm not sure if this is just down to the writing style, as we do have a lot in common.