A festival tideto float all boats

A 100-year-old Galway hooker and a Cornish fishing lugger which sailed to the Antarctic and back before being restored in West Cork are among the stars of the colourful Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival, which begins on Friday.

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.