Boat restoration project sets sail at Eyemouth

A 90-year-old fishing fifie will be a regular sight sailing along the Berwickshire coastline after ‘old sea dogs’ and ‘young pups’ joined forces to restore her to her former glory.

The former ‘Robina Inglis’, now the ‘Good Hope’, spent six months in Dicksons Yard, as members of Berwickshire Maritime Trust worked on her alongside six school leavers.

The trust joined forces with Connect, Berwickshire Youth Trust, who supervised the six-month apprenticeship programme for the youngsters. And Drysdales vegetable processing plant at Cockburnspath, keen to encourage youngsters to gain skills and prepare themselves for work, funded the apprenticeships.

Former Eyemouth harbour master Johnny Johnston headed the restoration project and now that the ‘Good Hope’ is back in the water he will be at the helm when youngsters sail in the fifie to St Abbs and back experiencing sailing as fishermen would have done a century ago. Weekly trips are also planned during the summer holidays as part of Connect’s summer programme for Berwickshire youngsters.

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Johnny is now looking to start another restoration project and is looking to recruit more older volunteers. For more details email Alison Clyde