The 18th-century style batteau, 7 Islands, navigates through the rapids on the James River at Hatton’s Ferry about four miles west of Scottsville, Va., during the James River Batteau Festival on June 23, 2021. The flat-bottomed boats were five days into their yearly eight day trek down James, traveling from Lynchburg to Richmond.
(Photo by Mike Tripp)
Photographer’s Note: Always remembering my own years crewing these boats (Pride of Rockbridge and then the Virginia Creeper), I’ve said for the past five or so years I wanted to get back to the river to photograph these historic beasts. Yesterday was my first time seeing them since 2006, and the first time I’ve ever photographed them navigating rapids from a fixed position on shore.
Of the various things I have done in my life, being rear-sweep on a couple of these boats is in the top of the top moments.
Was great to see them again and have many more photos from them crossing through Hatton’s Ferry that I will try to get worked up and posted online within the next week!
