‘Peerie Boat Week’ details announced

The first details of next month’s “Peerie Boat Week” festival, a scaled down version of Shetland Boat Week, have been announced by Shetland Amenity Trust.

Details were published online on Tuesday morning while a printed programme will be available shortly.

While the main core of activities will take place over the weekend of 17th to 19th August, there are a number of exhibitions and boat trips scheduled for the lead-up to these dates, from 11th August.

Some additional events were still being confirmed, according to the amenity trust, and would be added to the online listings over the next few days.

In addition to the boat trips being offered by Shetland Museum in the Vaila Mae and Laura Kay there are wildlife cruises available on the Seabirds and Seals catamaran and trips round Mousa and Noss with the Mousa Boat.

Cait McCulloch will visit Shetland, supported by Heriot-Watt University, to deliver workshops and discussion sessions on maritime themes including learning about and writing sea shanties and a discussion of Shetland’s maritime future by considering the past.

The museum and archives team will also offer a range of workshops and events for all ages, including drop-in family craft sessions all weekend.

The amenity trust stated that it remained committed to celebrating Shetland’s maritime heritage. It would “continue to work with event planner Emma Miller to co-ordinate staff, volunteers and external event providers to ensure this year’s event continues on the successful delivery of last year’s full Shetland Boat Week programme”.

The event team is still looking for anyone who has a traditional Shetland Model, suitable for the outdoor display at Hay’s Dock from 11th to 19th August, and anyone who would be interested in volunteering to help with dockside activities over the weekend.

Contact: info@shetlandamenity.org, emma@realtaevents.co.uk or call (01595) 694688 by Friday 3rd August.

Serco NorthLink Ferries is sponsoring the programme.