Feb28
The Scottish Trad Boat Fest launches its 2008 programme
Jolly sailing weather at the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, Portsoy; the smart-looking
skipper in the first photograh could be Iain Oughtred; another view of the harbour
It must be nearly dinner time - for the release describing the programme for the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at Portsoy scheduled for June 20–22 this year has me drooling - though for food not for boats. I can’t even see any traditional boats in the photos they’ve sent out this year, but the old place looks every inch the grimly interesting Scottish fishing station nevertheless. If only someone would send me up there on a press ticket!
Here are some edited highlights of the festival:
- A delectable programme of spectacular nautical sights, creative Scottish crafts, sumptuous local produce and the finest in traditional music and entertainment are set to delight the crowds. The theme of this year’s event is to be ‘Salmon Cobbles and Silver Darlings’ in recognition of the planned restoration of the historic Salmon Bothy at Portsoy. More than £390,000 has been raised to restore the building.
Once complete, the building will include an exhibition profiling the salmon fishing industry alongside the social and industrial industry of Portsoy.
- Music A range of celebrated artists from the folk scene are set to take to the stage, starting with Irish folk phenomenon the Rapparees at the Friday Night Showcase Concert. The five-piece festival favourite ceilidh band Mak-a-Rak-it return once more on Saturday night with their lively traditional Scottish music and song, and melodies and music will be in the air throughout the festival thanks to a variety of colourful buskers who will mingle with the crowd each day.
- Food Tempt your tastebuds as the local produce including fish, meat, bakery products, cheeses, sweets and drink, all sponsored by local company Downie’s of Whitehills. It certainly sounds as if it would satisfy a man’s inner kipper!
- Crafts A selection of heritage demonstrations will also take place over the three days, including smoking fish, throwing pots, turning wood and smithying.
Iain Oughtred’s boat plans are available from Classic Marine.
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Gavin, We go (as spectators) most years, a truly magnificent event and even better when the sun shines. Thanks for the main shot, of course you know who it is don’t you? He is the main attraction for us - the wind can be right on the nose out of the Harbour and everybody else rows or motors out - Ian O of course just sails out, the man is some kind of magician! Pretty sure the boat is Jeanie II.
I guessed it might be Iain Oughtred - but kept schtum for fear of being wrong!
I’ll ask the nice PR lady who supplied the shots.
Gav