A festival tideto float all boats
However, an array of far more ramshackle vessels will also make an appearance as part of the festival’s popular boatbuilding competition.
Using a range of supplies including plywood two-by- fours, duct-tape, glue and plastic sheeting, all supplied by Carbery Timber in Skibbereen, up to 12 teams each build a boat in one day — and must then sail it across the bay.
“They have to build the boats on the Saturday and sail them on the Sunday,” said Mary Jordan, a member of the organising committee. “The boats are launched in the harbour at noon and must be sailed and rowed out to the lifebuoy and back again — not all of these vessels are very seaworthy so we keep them close to shore.”
The festival, now in its 11th year, always attracts hundreds of people and features a wide variety of traditional wooden boats from as far away as France and Britain.
Vessels such as curraghs, Heir Island lobster boats, and mackerel boats from Long Island in Roaring Water Bay will be on display.
The weekend event is expected to attract up to 80 boats, with about 150 people on the water and hundreds more visitors onshore watching a variety of races and other events.
The weekend will feature a boatbuilding workshop for children at 10.30am on Saturday and an art exhibition on the village’s North Pier.
A seafood festival will take place on Sunday.
“The philosophy of this festival is to welcome all those who own, sail and build boats, as well as everyone who enjoy watching traditional boats under sail or oar,” said Ms Jordan.
For more, see www.baltimorewoodenboatfestival.com or www.facebook.com/baltimore-wooden-boat-festival
