John M. Horton C.S.M.A. F.C.A.

By 1860 Fouchow (English pronunciation of Fuzhou) had become China’s major seaport. Fast clipper ships gathered in the spectacular Pagoda Anchorage to load tea from junks and sanpans that brought their precious cargos from as far as 100 miles up the Min River.

When fully loaded the clippers would race around the world to England. Classic tales tell of 2 or 3 ships arriving in London on the same tide after being driven hard for anywhere from 116 to 160 days, neck and neck, across the world’s oceans. The first ship to arrive received the best price for its tea and prize money for its crews.

This painting shows a clipper ship arriving in the Pagoda Anchorage while other ships are already busy taking on cargo.

The Bacino was the main anchorage in Venice for the many trading vessels that helped make the city so rich. It must have been a fascinating sight.

The working craft that deliver everything that Venetians use, are shown here, entering the canal that separates Murano, the great glass making centre, from San Michele.

A large freighter being turned around at the entrance to Vancouver Harbour (British Columbia) is a clear demonstration of the power of small docking tugs.
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When I was young my native Poole Habour was full of classic yachts. Of course, then, they were not called classics! J Many were gaff rigged, built of wood, with cotton sails and most with paid crews. Today, we are still drawn to such vessels lovingly restored and maintained. They exude a grace that can never be emulated by modern fibreglass yachts. [Read more…]

Protection Island – so named because it protects Nanaimo Harbour, is the location for many lovely homes and because we had very good friends who lived there, we visited often.

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While away on a safety patrol for the 2020 chum fishery in Johnston Strait we met the coast guard patrol ship “M. Charles M.B” and I was inspired to create this painting of her conducting a fisheries patrol. She is a fairly new ship and I had not painted one of this design before. This 140’ Hero class vessel is based on a Dutch design by Damien Stan and nine were built for the Canadian Coast Guard.

Pleasure yachts at peaceful anchor – one can see why Buccaneer Bay is such a popular spot for yachtsmen cruising the upper Georgia Strait.

High waves can be whipped up by a strong NW wind on the lower reaches of the Fraser. Here the ship docking tug “Tiger Sun” pounds her way down river on such a day.

While cruising close to Victoria, on one occasion we decided to anchor behind Discovery Island. Sailing our dingy “Goblin” was a delight in the protected haven and we landed at the old Coast Guard lighthouse station and found this view from the ruined boathouse.