Skiff Story Part Three

All aboard! We’re ready to launch!
GCP’s Skiff Story Part Three

You may have heard by now that GCP’s talented woodwork team, members, pre-apprentices and corporate volunteers have been building a boat!

And, we’re set to launch on Sat 26 April in Newhaven, as the main highlight of this year’s Seafaring Spirit festival.

What’s more, Olympic Champion, Dame Katherine Grainger will be launching the boat with us!

And, you can vote TODAY to name our boat.

It has long been a dream of our GCP community to build a boat. Now, thanks to funders including National Lottery Heritage Fund, HSBC, Edinburgh Airport and John Lewis & Partners, the dream has come true.

A community effort

We’ve been building our Scottish clinker-style rowing boat known as a St Ayles Skiff out at Granton Lighthouse Depot. The skiff design is based on the Fair Isle Yoal, inspired by the historic tradition of Fife miners’ rowing regattas. Community engagement and participation are core aims of skiff building, so it’s the perfect fit for the Grassmarket Community Project.

It seems like yesterday when the first plank was attached to the skiff, in the presence GCP’s CEO, Helene and our Heritage Lottery Fund partner, Una Rogers. They both really enjoyed seeing the skiff and hearing about progress made.

Una was impressed by what she saw,

‘It has been great to get down to see the build and get a sense of scale. It looks so much bigger in real life. It’s going to be a beautiful boat.’

And, Helene was keen to stress,

‘The members are learning so much, not just about boat building but how the project can build community links in the future, within and beyond the Grassmarket.’
 

Final stages

A recent chat with Campbell, our incredible boat builder and project team leader, confirmed that things are moving quickly towards the launch, with the team now painting the boat. Campbell has enjoyed seeing the Skiff go from a wooden shell to a beautiful boat,

‘Earlier this month, she looked like a great white shark with her undercoat colours in grey and white. But now with the addition of two top coasts, she is shining a glorious blue and white. She’s really starting to look like she’s ready to go.’

In early March, Campbell and the team were back in the GCP workshop, building the rudder and breasthooks. The rudder is taking shape and will soon be ready to attach to the boat. The breasthooks need lasering and once in situ, will strengthen the skiff frame. These will then be stencilled with the name of GCP and all the supporters who helped to make the build possible.

The team are also working on the oars which are being made from sitka wood, kindly donated by Abbey Sawmill in Dunnes. Campbell explains,

‘The oars are coming together nicely but they are difficult to store due to the length. The wings have just been bolted into position and we will start shaping the wood soon.’

Team work and resilience builds skills

During the winter months, the build has been hampered by a leaking warehouse roof. Now Campbell is delighted to be back on schedule,

‘It has been a rocky road at times with a leaking roof slowing progress before Christmas and yet again in February when we had squally weather. The team have shown great resilience and tenacity to have worked through it all.’

Campbell explains that it has been very much a team effort. The most experienced woodworking members form the core team but over 20 others regularly come along to help and gain valuable training,

‘At all times, quality and safety come first and the build is all about using and preserving traditional boat building skills. It has been a challenging experience, as we have been able to demonstrate the complexities of boat building, showing members that woodwork is not always about flat and square pieces, but often more nuanced and about the feel and look of the wood. It has been a fantastic opportunity that members have been given to learn this.’

What’s next?

Look out for further news about the skiff launch soon, including the latest on our new Sea Shantie, especially composed for the occasion. STV have also been filming at the warehouse too, so GCP’s boat building team may well be coming to a TV near you soon!

Catch up with Skiff Story Part 1 and Skiff Story Part 2.

Meanwhile, get voting! Name our Boat

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