Author Archives: Cat Holman

Women in Boat Building CIC (WIBB) have published the findings from their 2025 survey ‘PPE for Women in Boatyards’ in a new report, which they are encouraging all boatyards to read. The results of the survey and the additional information shared at … Continued

The Environment Agency is on course to remove over 100 sunk and abandoned vessels from the non-tidal Thames in its biggest push in a decade on tidying up the watercourse. The work has been spearheaded by a newly created task force whose mission is … Continued

The Worldwide Classic Boat Show takes place again this year, all online from 20-22 February. Presented by Off Center Harbor, the show is entirely virtual, with over 1000 boats and daily live presentations lined up for the 2026 edition.  As well as … Continued

The Boat Building Academy (BBA) has hosted its 55th ceremonial launch, with the latest boats produced by students on its 40-week boat building course taking to the water of Lyme Regis harbour. The academy’s most recent graduates produced four boats – … Continued

The original traditional boat festival, Les Fêtes Maritimes de Douarnenez, turns 40 next year when it returns from 23-26 July. As part of the celebrations, the festival team is compiling a commemorative book of memories from participants over the years … Continued

Douarnenez is back this year from 23-26 July, together with a couple of other ‘even year’ traditional boat festivals closer to home. In West Cornwall, Mousehole’s Sea Salts and Sail runs from 3-5 July, while the late spring bank holiday … Continued

Following the success of its inaugural event in 2024, Lugger Fest will be back next year. Ullapool’s biennial traditional maritime festival returns from 22-24 May 2026 to Scotland’s northwest coast. Held on Shore Quay, Ullapool, Lugger Fest 26 will once … Continued

Nominations are now open for the 6th annual Gustave Trouvé Awards for Excellence in Electric Boats and Boating, presented by sponsors EPTechnologies and Nautical Ventures. Anyone, including boatyards and manufacturers, can nominate a boat in any of the 9 categories, however … Continued

The inaugural Wooden Boat Stage was the star of the show at this year’s Southampton Boat Show, bringing together the wooden boatbuilding community and drawing in visitors with a packed programme of talks and demonstrations from boatbuilders, riggers, timber merchants, … Continued

A huge amount of ‘finds’ have been discovered at Buckler’s Hard as an archaeological dig revealed a preserved 18th-century slipway which exceeded expectations.  The Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust has just finished a new survey of the one of the historical slipways where 55 wooden … Continued