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Riverside Conversations: Stories of Craft, Courage & Restoration
Settle in by the river this winter as we welcome a trio of remarkable speakers whose lives and work are shaped by the sea. From world-renowned sailor Pip Hare, to the team behind the restoration of HMS Victory and the latest on the mysteries of Agamemnon, each evening offers a rare glimpse into extraordinary stories of craft, courage and heritage.
Upcoming talks:
15 January - AN EVENING WITH PIP HARE - Pulling a Smile from the Wreckage
Pip Hare is a two-time Vendée Globe skipper and one of the few British sailors to break into the French-dominated world of solo ocean racing. Based in Poole, she entered her first Vendée Globe with just a £25,000 loan and the support of friends, finishing the 2020 race strongly before building a fully professional team that achieved top-ten world rankings in 2022 and 2024.
In November 2024, Pip returned to the start line in a state-of-the-art foiling IMOCA, capable of speeds over 35 knots. Midway through the race, 800 miles south of Australia, she was dismasted and forced to retire.
In her trademark candid style, Pip shares the story of that race, the dismasting, and the journey of recovery – not just of her boat, but of her spirit. The talk lasts just over an hour, followed by a Q&A.
5 February - AN AGAMEMNON UPDATE with Mary Montagu-Scott
Mary Montagu-Scott will tell the story of how Lord Nelson’s favourite ship, built and launched at Buckler’s Hard in 1781, ended up wrecked in 1809 on the River Plate off Uruguay.
A team of maritime archaeologists from the UK and Uruguay seek to record and preserve the wreck before she is lost by time and tide. Mary has dived on the wreck and seen its Beaulieu Oak timbers which survive against all the odds under the sea.
12 March - RESTORING HMS VICTORY: Behind the Scenes of a National Icon with Project Manager, Simon Williams
The National Museum of the Royal Navy is undertaking an ambitious 10-year conservation project to ensure Admiral Lord Nelson’s iconic flagship, HMS Victory, survives for future generations to learn from and enjoy. Project Manager Simon Williams will take you through project aims, the approaches to conservation, the challenges his team have faced and the fascinating discoveries of this once in a generation project.