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Set sail for Scottish Traditional Boat Festival

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Set sail for Scottish Traditional Boat Festival


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IT was almost a flat calm sea as we stepped back in time on a 1902 lugger which once held the record catch for the most herring.

Stewart Buchanan gets ready to take to the sea.
Stewart Buchanan gets ready to take to the sea.

Far from 250,000 fish in 223 crans on board – a record set in the 1930s in Shetland – a nice cup of tea and some cheese scones from the Seafront Cafe in Macduff was the only cargo carried on the Reaper from Macduff to Portsoy on Thursday morning.

As the 70ft twin-masted fishing boat made its way carefully out to sea, under the steady hand of skipper Willie Deas, myself and colleague Kyle Ritchie settled in for the short voyage along the coast.

The Red Arrows will be the headline attraction at the festival this weekend.The Red Arrows will be the headline attraction at the festival this weekend.
The Red Arrows will be the headline attraction at the festival this weekend.

I have never been a fisherman of any sorts, in fact the closest I have been to a haddock or a cod has been at a collection of very nice chip shops countrywide.

So, to learn a little about the history of the Scots fishing culture was fascinating and experience what it must have bee like for fishing crews more than 100 years ago as they battled the natural elements to bring home a rich marine harvest.

Banffshire Journal reporter Kyle Ritchie gets his hands on the wheel.Banffshire Journal reporter Kyle Ritchie gets his hands on the wheel.
Banffshire Journal reporter Kyle Ritchie gets his hands on the wheel.

OK, the sun was shining, the sea was calm, there was little wind, we had tea and scones and a very relaxing journey, so we didn’t exactly recreate early 20th century fishing conditions, but you get my meaning.

Glenglassaugh is the main sponsor of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.Glenglassaugh is the main sponsor of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.
Glenglassaugh is the main sponsor of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.

The short hop took just under two hours as the gentle breeze of 5-10 knots was not enough to really put the wind in our sails – literally.

An iconic voyage for Glenglassaugh's single malts.An iconic voyage for Glenglassaugh's single malts.
An iconic voyage for Glenglassaugh’s single malts.

The vessel had been in Macduff for more than a week, allowing local school children and residents to visit the living museum vessel and go below deck.

Visitors to this weekend’s Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival will also get the chance to go on board.

The potted history of the Reaper.The potted history of the Reaper.
The potted history of the Reaper.

The Reaper was built in 1902 by J&C Forbes in Sandhaven, Fraserburgh.

Used for drift line and great net fishing, she is now owned by the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, Fife and is one of only a handful of historic vessels in a seaworthy condition.

The volunteer crew and guests onboard.The volunteer crew and guests onboard.
The volunteer crew and guests onboard.

This was skipper Deas first trip in charge, although he has been connected to the fisheries museum for many years, although he has lived in Amble in Northumberland for many years after plying his trade from there, having followed his father to sea at the age of 15.

You can watch a video interview with Willie here.

Stewart Buchanan, global brand ambassador for Glenglassaugh Distillery, which is a few miles from Portsoy, accompanied us in the journey as he and his team get ready for a busy weekend of promoting their fine single malt whisky and sharing in the heritage of the coastal community.

Joan Paton of the Scottish Fisheries Museum presents a framed picture of the Reaper to Stewart Buchanan, Glenglassaugh global brand ambassador.Joan Paton of the Scottish Fisheries Museum presents a framed picture of the Reaper to Stewart Buchanan, Glenglassaugh global brand ambassador.
Joan Paton of the Scottish Fisheries Museum presents a framed picture of the Reaper to Stewart Buchanan, Glenglassaugh global brand ambassador.

He said that the distillery, which was reopened in 2008 after being mothballed for more than 25 years, is a perfect fit for the traditional boat festival and the unique design on their environmentally-friendly bottles reflects the ripples in the sand on nearby Sandend beach.

Skipper Willie Deas (left) enjoys a dram with Stewart Buchanan of Glenglassaugh.Skipper Willie Deas (left) enjoys a dram with Stewart Buchanan of Glenglassaugh.
Skipper Willie Deas (left) enjoys a dram with Stewart Buchanan of Glenglassaugh.

Stewart has travelled all over the world promoting the whisky and he was revelling in being at sea, viewing Glenglassaugh’s home environment on such an iconic boat and in such beautiful surroundings.

I chatted to Stewart about the brand and the boat festival and you can watch what he had to say below.

It was a fabulous couple of hours in good company and at one with nature.

The museum volunteers have done a great job in preserving this iconic living and breathing piece of fishing heritage, which is still sailing the seas 122 years after she was built and took her maiden trip.

Make it top of your list of ‘must-sees’ at the Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at Portsoy on June 22-23.

Land ahoy. The Reaper makes it way into Portsoy.Land ahoy. The Reaper makes it way into Portsoy.
Land ahoy. The Reaper makes it way into Portsoy.


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