First Shetland Boat Week festival planned for August
Another new festival for this summer, the first Shetland Boat Week will take place between 8th and 14th August.
The week-long family friendly event is inspired by Shetland’s rich maritime heritage, while also being inclusive of more contemporary methods and materials.
A wide range of activities are planned during the week, which will include demonstrations of traditional skills, talks, boat trips and tours of vessels and venues not normally open to the public.
The keynote speaker for the inaugural event will be Kevin Fewster, director of the National Maritime Museum. Dr Fewster will deliver a lecture on Thursday 11th August, and an informal question-and-answer session on Friday 12th.
Shetland Boat Week has benefited from sponsorship funding from local marine engineering company Ocean Kinetics, and grant aid funding from Shetland Amenity Trust.
The trust is leading co-ordination of the event along with Shetland Museum. Support has also been received from Serco NorthLink Ferries, Lerwick Port Authority, and Unst Heritage Centre and Boat Haven, with other local companies and groups also getting involved.
Event co-ordinator Emma Miller said: “Many generations of Shetlanders have made their living on or around the sea and the links with maritime and related marine industries are as important today as they always have been.
“Shetland Boat Week is an excellent opportunity to get more people involved with boats and the sea and pass on knowledge and experience.
“This is going to be a great event for local folk and visitors. Everyone I’ve spoken to about it so far is really enthusiastic and it’s clear to see that it’s going to be a very sociable affair.”
Community groups and maritime related groups or businesses are encouraged to take part in Shetland Boat Week by providing tours of their premises, delivering talks, slideshows or other events to share knowledge and experiences.
Anyone who would like to submit an event for free promotion in the programme should contact Ms Miller on (01595) 694688 or email emma@shetlandamenity.org.
Ray Thomson
I am considering buying a 1980 14′ Shetland with outboard Mercury 2005 15 hp engine and wondered of this is big enough for 2 people to use as a river day boat. Would I be able to use for recreational purposes in the sea around say Herne Bay coast for occasional visit to the coast. Would I also be able to make tea on this boat.
Comments and help and advice would be appreciated.