Boat Building Academy (BBA) graduates launch stunning new boats at Lyme Regis
by Debbie Granville 5 Jun 2024 09:34 PDT
Andrew Streeter introduces his hand built 14 ft Glued Carvel Cobby Catboat Trio to the water for the first time at Lyme © BNPS
The latest wooden boats, hand-built by students at the world-renowned Boat Building Academy (BBA) in Lyme Regis, have been launched in the town's historic harbour.
As is the custom, the craft were wheeled the short distance from the Academy to the harbour slipway, where they were greeted by the town's Mayor Cllr David Ruffle, before ceremoniously taking to the water for the first time.
The spectacle attracted hundreds of well wishers including friends, family, BBA trustees, volunteers and local townspeople.
Sixteen students undertook the Boat Building Academy and Furniture School's latest 40-week wooden boatbuilding course, spending the first 20 weeks learning skills such as joinery, lofting, traditional, modern and fibre reinforced plastic boatbuilding, and sail making.
In the last 20 weeks they have come together to build three boats and renovate a fourth. This has required all their new skills and gruelling days often working long into the night.
The boats were commissioned by course members Ginny Harvey, Andrew Streeter, Tom Thorley and Ben Short and all the projects were overseen by the BBA's expert tutors.
Andrew Streeter has built a 14 ft Glued Carvel Cobby Catboat Trio.
Tom Thorley built an outboard powered, 14 ft Carvel & Cold Moulded Riva Scoiattolo.
Ginny Harvey built a 14ft 4 Glued Clinker Welsford Walkabout Lug Yawl.
Ben Short's quest has been to restore a 20 Ft Looe Traditional Clinker Diesel Launch which was once used as a passenger ferry, to its former glory.
The boat had been in a barn for some years prior to its restoration and its engine had been submerged in a creek.
After taking his boat into the water for the first time Tom Thorley said: "The course has been amazing. Very tough at times, but the tutors are incredibly knowledgeable, supportive and inspiring, and the experience has reached all my expectations, one hundred per cent.
"I now look forward to spending as much time as I can in my beautiful boat."
The Boat Building Academy and Furniture School is situated on Monmouth Beach and is the first port of call for trainee professional boat builders, furniture makers and woodworking enthusiasts from across the UK.
Many graduates of the 40-week course go on to work at the UK's leading boatyards.
BBA Director Will Reed said: "I am immensely proud of the students and staff who have all worked so incredibly hard to get their boats to where they are today. I never tire of our launch days - they are always truly inspiring events and todays was no exception.
"For many of the students, this is just the beginning of their journey into the exciting world of boat building, and I wish them all the best of luck."