Serco NorthLink showcase of Boatbuilding
Shetland Boat Week organisers are very excited to announce that a key activity at this year’s festival will centre on traditional boat building, thanks to Serco NorthLink Ferries, one of the event’s main sponsors.
The ferry operators have provided support for local boat builders, Jack Duncan and Robbie Tait, to build a brand new, traditional clinker-built boat. The expert duo will prepare the keel prior to the beginning of the week, then build the boards during the main event from 7th to 13th August so the public will see the boat take shape each day.
The Boat Shed at Shetland Museum and Archives will be open daily from 10.00am to 5.00pm for viewing, with local experts on hand to explain the processes Jack and Robbie will apply, and answer any questions.
The process has already started, with the wood now delivered from Woodworx, in Sutherland, thanks to the efforts of Fiona Anderson from NorthLink’s Aberdeen terminal, and assistance from Northwards Ltd.
Shetland Boat Week Co-ordinator, Emma Miller, said “This project will be at the heart of the event this year, with the boat build progressing each day. It’s a perfect opportunity for the public to see traditional boat building skills first hand and to see the process from beginning to end. We had lots of requests after last year’s event to showcase more boat building, and I don’t think we could have done better than this fantastic project. We’re very grateful to NorthLink and their staff for helping to make this happen.”
Stuart Garrett Serco NorthLink Ferries Managing Director said “We are delighted to once again be involved with the Shetland Boat Week and especially this year to support the building of a Shetland fourareen . This continues our involvement with the long history of boat building in the North of Scotland and in particular linking the Scottish Traditional Portsoy Boat Festival and Shetland Boat Week activities.
The full Shetland Boat Week programme will be released on Tuesday 2nd May. This will be availble online at www.shetlandboatweek.com/events and from local outlets.