An age-old craft skill devoted to the building of model sailing boats will be the focus of a summer workshop in Peterhead.
'The Boaties' Craft Residency is the first event of its kind organised by the University of Aberdeen's Elphinstone Institute, and will showcase the remarkable talent of a team of highly skilled model-makers from the North-East.
The flagship event at Peterhead Maritime Heritage Centre will run from Tuesday June 8, until Saturday August 28, and aims to raise awareness of the fascinating craft of model sailing boat building, and introduce children and young people to the skill of boatie making.
Dr Ian Russell, Director of the Elphinstone Institute, said: "This is a great opportunity to focus on a unique craft skill and to celebrate Peterhead's maritime and fishing heritage. Our aim is to take it forward across the generations."
The official launch of The Boaties will be held on Friday June 11, at Peterhead Maritime Heritage Centre, at 4pm, with a lecture entitled, 'The Sailing of the Boaties at Boddam: Community, Craft and Cultural Tradition'. The lecture is open to anyone interested in the craft, and will be followed by a reception in the Maritime Café at 5pm.
'Boaties' are a model-making skill unique to the North-East that dates back at least 150 years. They are based on the traditional Scottish fishing boat known as the 'fifie' and sail without rudder, motor, or remote control, depending on the skill of the maker/owner to trim the boat and set the
sails appropriately. They are made in various sizes from 1ft 6ins to 4ft, but boats as large as 6ft have been made in the past.
The centre for hand manufacture is Peterhead district, and The Boaties will coincide with an event held every year in Boddam on the first Saturday in August at the Den Dam. Here the boaties are sailed competitively in various classes, and some of the boaties taking part go back many years, their hulls having been re-painted and re-fitted many times.
This summer's Boaties craft residency will give the skilled model boat-makers in residence, John Buchan, Jim Reid, Sam Allen, and Alastair Law, the opportunity to demonstrate their unique skill and forge valuable links with other model sailing boat builders in the North Sea region, while giving visitors and participants a rare chance to explore one of Scotland's less familiar crafts.
The residency will be supported by a group of enthusiasts, some of whom are members of the local model yachting clubs, Boddam Junior Model Yachting Association and the Buchanness Model Yachting Club.
As well as the craft activity, it is planned to create a travelling exhibition and make a video, illustrating the history of the tradition and recording the construction stages.
"We also hope to create a photo archive of every boatie that we can locate in the district," said Dr Russell.
"Anyone who would like to come along to have a go at building or just to watch will be welcome. "
Groups and parties of 10 or more are welcome and information on pre-booking is available by contacting the Elphinstone Institute on (01224) 272996, or e-mail: elphinstone@abdn.ac.uk.