BBA student launch December 2013 – catch up with the ITV News report

BBA December student launch covered by ITV

The Boat Building Academy’s December student launch seems to have gone off beautifully – ITV News was there to cover the story, and principal Yvonne Green reported 200 people turned up at Lyme Harbour to watch, the weather was stunning, the general mood benevolent, and the students jubilant.

‘There was only just enough wind for the sailing boats, but Brian Reford’s speed boat (see the Intheboatshed.net post annoucing the event) went like the clappers across the bay.

‘The speedboat was the last to be launched, and as it left the harbour the other boats gracefully fell into line and followed. Someone said: “Blimey, that must have taken a bit of organising,” but it was a moment of synchronicity.

‘All in all it was a stunning day and utterly deserved by the students who have just grafted from early morning until late night since they started in March.’

For information, see the BBA website.

Boat Building Academy student launch 9th December

BBA launch invitation

Intheboatshed.net readers are invited to the Boat Building Academy December student launch at the harbour, Lyme Regis, at 10 am on the 9th December. Cross your fingers for good weather!

I’ll be many miles away at my desk, working, so if anyone is in a position to take some photos for this weblog, please do and I will be most grateful. I’m at gmatkin@gmail.com.

Among the  boats being launched is this beauty, which recently got a feature in the Western Morning news:

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Adam Newton’s new rowing boat wins at Beer Regatta

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Adam Newton of The Boatyard at Beer has written to say that although he hasn’t yet quite finished his glued clinker 14 ft rowing boat, it has already won the rowing race at the Devon village of Beer’s famous Regatta.

A stretched version of the 12ft Shaldon Regatta, the Boat Building Academy alumnus reports that in winning the race he beat a Fox 14, a rowing skiff designed by BBA instructor Justin Adkin and built by another BBA student, Jim Little.

Adam seems particularly pleased with that achievement, as he says it shows the boat goes well. Congratulations Adam!