Shetland Boat Week starts next week

Published: 31 July 2019

Shetland Boat Week kicks off on Monday with a packed programme of events.  The week long celebration of our maritime heritage has events to appeal to all, from toddlers to teenagers, and seasoned sailors to those who have never been on a boat before.

With boat trips, tours, demonstrations, talks, workshops, parades, barbecues, and exhibitions there is something for everyone.  There is a bumper programme this year including tours of the seafood auction and seafood recipes demonstrations, learn to mend a sail or start a seagull engine, get out on the water in traditional and modern boats, join in the ‘Ocean Commotion’ kids disco and pirate fantastic workshops or simply come along and see the wonderful boats on display at Hay’s Dock.  You can even try your luck with the ‘Creel lotto’- have a go at hauling a creel and see if you are lucky enough to score a catch!

There are a huge range of events, many of them focussing around the Museum and Archives and historic Hay’s Dock in Lerwick.  People are also encouraged to visit the nautical offerings from Unst to Sandsayre and everywhere in between.  

The Shetland Amenity Trust run the annual event with support from key sponsors, volunteers, businesses, and community groups.  Now in its fourth year, Shetland Boat Week has grown into a bigger event with many new activities, events and features.

Chair of the Shetland Amenity Trust Ruth Mackenzie said, “It is great to have Boat Week back up to full strength again this year.  We couldn’t run the event without the support of partners, volunteers and the community.  A huge thank you in particular to our key sponsors Ocean Kinetics, Lerwick Port Authority, So Much to Sea, Northlink and all the others who support us to put on this wonderful event.”

To find out more and to book events pick up a programme, see the Shetland Boat Week website www.shetlandboatweek.com, or call or pop into the Shetland Museum and Archives.