We have a mass of new products coming shortly, including crew bags, sun shades, foot rests (pouffes to you an me), pet beds (small pouffes), IPad covers and more.

We were going to make a pet bed anyway, but guess who already loves the prototype foot rest?

A belated Christmas present for us.

We won the Best Ecommerce web awards from UK2Net for 2011.

A little ironic given we are currently working on a new site, which we hope to complete by March or April.   Basically an upgrade, but new functions, easier processes, some back end improvements to make life easier and hopefully an all round better customer experience.

Always thrilled to be recognised however and thanks to the panel at UK2Net for the award.

BAFTA here we come!

Yachting Monthly asked a while ago about boat renaming ceremonies and we promised to dig out an ‘order of service’ we attended a long time ago.  Anyway, the scanner was playing up so I have painfully typed it in full, expect a mention for this please Yachting Monthly

Order of Service

The de-naming whereby the old name of the vessel is forgotten.

In the name of all who have sailed aboard this ship in the past and in the name of all who may sail aboard her in the future, we ask Almighty God, and the ancient gods of the wind and the sea to favour us with their blessing today.

Almighty God, Creator of Might Neptune’ king of all that move in or on the waves, guardian of the winds and all the blows before them:  We offer you our thanks for the protection you have afforded this vessel in the past.   We voice our gratitude that she has always found shelter from tempest and storm and enjoyed safe passage to port.

Oh might and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and crews are required to pay homage, we implore you to expunge for all time from your records and recollection the [name of boat] which has ceased to be an entity in your kingdom.  As proof thereof, we submit this ingot bearing her name to be corrupted through your powers and forever be purged from the sea.

A metal tag bearing the old boat name is dropped from the bow of the boat into the sea.

Further, we ask that when she is again presented for blessing with another name she shall be recognised and shall be accorded once again the priviliges she previously enjoyed.  In return for which , we dedicate this vessel to your domain in full knowledge that she shall be subject always to the laws of the wind and the sea.  We now seal this pact with an offering according to the hallowed ritual of the sea.

Half a bottle of Champagne is poured into the sea from East to West.

[The vessel now has no name]

The Naming, Christening and Blessing

Neptune, Ruler of the seas and oceans, we implore you in  your graciousness to take into your records and recollection this worthy vessel, guarding her and ensuring safe and rapid passage throughout her journeys within your realm.

We now appease the angels of the wind to ensure smooth seas and fair winds.

oh mighty rulers of the winds, through whose power our frail vessels traverse the wild and faceless deep, we implore you to grant this worthy vessel the benefits and pleasures of your bounty, ensuring us of your gentle ministration according to our needs.

Facing the North – Great Boreas, exalted ruler of the North Wind, grant us permission to use your power, in the pursuit of our maritime endeavours, ever sparing us the scourge of your frigid breath.

Facing the West -  Great Zephyrus, exalted ruler of the West Wind, grant us permission to use your power, in the pursuit of our maritime endeavours, ever sparing us the scourge of your wild breath.

Then facing South -  Great Notus, exalted ruler of the South Wind, grant us permission to use your power, in the pursuit of our maritime endeavours, ever sparing us the scourge of your scalding breath.

Then facing East –  great Eurus, exalted ruler of the East  Wind, grant us permission to use your power, in the pursuit of our maritime endeavours, ever sparing us the scourge of your mighty breath.

We now bless this vessel with all four elements to insure it remains in balance with the forces of the world.

The first ancient element was AIR.  Air is the element of thought and logic of clear vision.  By blessing this vessel with air, we ask that the skipper be always blessed with clear knowledge and the skill to overcome all obstacles.  Feather

The second element is FIRE.  Fire is the element of change and magic; of transformation and of will.  I bless this boat with fire, God of mercy we ask your protection on this vessel and that she may behave well in the water.  Latern

The third element is WATER.  Water is the element of emotions and love; of relationships and friendships.  I bless this boat with water.  God of Love may this vessel always be surrounded by good friends.  Bottle of water

The last element is EARTH.  Earth is the element of basic needs and sustenance; of material things and health and financial matters.  I bless this boat with earth.  Creator God may all who travel in her have good health, wealth and happiness.  Salt

All present now take a glass of Champagne

Almighty God, who guided Noah in the building of an Ark, and calmed the raging sea, we call upon you to bless those who have prepared this ship for service, and to protect and preserve those who sail in her and surround them with your loving care.

I now christen this ship. In the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

I name this ship [name of boat]

Amen

A bottle of Champagne is poured over the bow of the vessel.

For thousands of years we have gone to sea.  We have crafted vessels to carry us and we have called them by name.  These ships will nurture and care for us through perilous seas and so we affectionately call them “she”.  To them we toast and ask you to celebrate the naming of [name of boat]

Then everybody raises their glass and shouts:  To … [name of boat]

Everybody takes a sip

Today we name this lady [name of boat] and send her to sea to be cared for

Let us pray.

We ask you  Almighty God  and the sailors of old to accept [name of boat] as her name, to help her through her passages and allow her to return with her crew safely.

The moods of the sea are many, from tranquil to angry.  We asj that this ship be given the strength to carry on.

We ask that You, invincible God keep the keel strong and the she keeps out the pressures of the sea.

Lord, be well disposed to our prayers and by your holy hand bless [name of boat] in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit this worth vessel [name of boat] and its passengers as you were pleased to let your blessing hover over Noah’s Ark in the Deluge.

Reach out your hand to them Lord as you did to blessed Peter as he walked upon the sea.

Send your holy angels from on high to watch over it and all on board to ward off any threat of disaster and to guide its course through calm eaters to safe harbours.  May You, in your loving providence, bring them back with glad hearts to their own country and home.

We ask this of you who live and reign forever and ever.

Amen

She is now sprinkled with holy water.

Now we salute [name of boat] and pour the champagne from our glasses over the bow to appease Your servant King Neptune.

We are very happy to be shortlisted for the Business Awards for Excellence presented by the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce.

We are nominated in the Green Business category, which is sponsored by Lloyds Cardnet.

And we are in some very good company. Our friends, Rapanui, are also shortlisted.   Now they won one of the other awards last year and have since gone on to win a whole heap of awards so we are hoping their trophy cabinet is currently full

Feast, music and awards presented on 25 November 2011.

Good luck to us all.

Can a Peg Bag be exciting – you betcha!  Have a look at this mouth watering peg bag

Hot off the R&D work benches, the Wightsails peg bag made from recycled sails and …. we have already sold a few of these.  It would appear the nation is still fond of a peg bag.  As one customer put it “… it will give me something nice to look at when I am putting out the washing …”

We have also been practicing photography of products (it just gets more exciting) with white sheets, chairs, bright lights and various instructions from photo professionals.   Lessons so far, you need patience; you need decent lights that stand up and ideally they should be the same lights and you need to build a light box; oh yes…. you also need a camera that is capable of trickery and last but certainly not least, photoshop.

We will keep practicing, but the call for a professional is suddenly looking like a sound investment.    You can buy these beauties now on the site.

With deckchairs being the talk of the day, our attentions turned to putting one up.  How hard can it be…….?!

So we went out onto the field (didn’t want to get sand on customers chairs) and shot the following video that shows you exactly how not to and how to put up a deckchair.

Thanks to our customers who provided the use of their future deckchair to be used in this video.  No deckchairs were harmed in the making of this video.

Think of deckchairs and one automatically thinks of the seafront and whilst this is one of the most popular locations to find these magnificent pieces of furniture we have listed below our favourite locations for sitting and watching the time whittle away:

1.  Brighton and Hove Seafront

What Ferrari is to Formula 1.  Any deckchair image collection would not be complete without an image of the deck-chairs on Brighton and Hove Seafront.

2.  Green Park, London

Almost as established as the seafront, sitting in the middle of London on a deckchair feels so wrong, yet so right.   One is almost transported to the sea when fully reclined.

3.  Cruise Liner

Home of the deckchair, yes on the deck of a boat.   Immortalised by the Titanic and still very much in use today on modern cruise liners.   The design may have moved on a little, but the deckchair is still very much a part of a modern day cruise.

4.  Skiing

My favourite!  I am never happier than when staring across the Alps after a tough morning’s skiing, with a strong drink in one hand lounging on a deckchair.

Where is your favourite spot for a deckchair?

A small intro video about the cafe and if you watch it to the end there is some lovely footage of a little girl playing in front of our windbreaks!

Our very own yacht

All from driftwood collected on the Isle of Wight and old sails.   I have seen these on sale for £50 odd – maybe we should brand it and start selling them?

We have new tags and keeping with the theme, they are made from mashed up paper and then impregnated with seeds.  So you don’t throw them away, you plant them and watch them grow.  Cool eh ?!

Going

Going

Almost gone

Gone – let’s watch the flowers grow