The latest graduates from the Boat Building Academy (BBA) couldn’t disguise their joy as they launched their new boats into the sea at Lyme Regis on the hottest June day ever recorded.
The 16-strong cohort enrolled at the college in September 2025 and together have built an 18ft (5.5m) traditional clinker double ender commissioned by the family of student George Snellgrove, a 16ft (4.9m) glued clinker, cutter-rigged sailing dinghy, based on Francois Vivier’s Ebihen design commissioned by student John Piper, and a 17ft (5.2m) strip-planked Gartside runabout powered by a 30hp outboard motor, commissioned by student Gordon Gray.
George Snellgrove’s traditional clinker was commissioned by his grandfather Mark Snellgrove, who has his own sawmill in Bude, Cornwall.
Mark said: “I have been up to the BBA to visit the build five times since it started and it’s been amazing to see George and his fellow students working on it, learning so much, and ultimately producing this wonderful boat.”
George and his family sourced the oak and larch for Bessie from the Pentillie and Endsleigh Estates on the Tamar.
“It was important to us that we knew where the timber for the boat came from,” Mark explained.
“We then cut it ourselves for the build and George and his fellow students have taken that wood and produced something spectacular. It was quite emotional to see her finally take to the water.”
Bessie, named after Mark’s grandmother, was designed by BBA tutor Justin Adkin and is based on a traditional Grimsay fishing boat from the Outer Hebrides.
“We have a small holiday home there and it was my original intention to take her there to sail her,“ explained Mark. “However, now the family have all seen her finished they are adamant they want her to stay with us the west country so they can enjoy her as much as possible – and I’m inclined to agree.”
George, who decided against going to university in favour of enrolling on the boatbuilding course said: “It’s been an amazing experience. But it wouldn’t have happened at all if I hadn’t been able to get bursaries towards the cost of the training, most notably from the BBA itself. I’m now looking forward to taking the skills I have learned here to enter a career in boatbuilding. I will always be hugely grateful for the topclass training I have received.”
Also on the course was retired racing car driver John Piper, who has swapped horsepower for sail power.
John was a designer for motor racing giants Williams and Benetton in the ‘70s and played a key role in the creation of legendary competition cars such as the Metro 6R4 and Jaguar XJR- keen astrolo14. He also helped to set diesel-powered speed records at Bonneville, which still stand today.
“It’s been a learning curve working with wood instead of metal, but it’s a challenge I have enjoyed very much,” he shared.
“It was great to finally put Jupiter in the water with some of my fellow students. I had a great team helping me and when I think about the start of the course, and what we have all gone on to achieve it’s pretty amazing.”
Student Hannah Blake came to the BBA after illness forced her out of a successful career crewing on Tall Ships. She says the course has shown her that her ongoing disability won’t stop her future success: “Covid and pneumonia stopped me from working at sea full time and I joined the course hoping to add to my skills. It has done that and so much more. The tutoring has been outstanding, as has the whole course experience.”
The latest launch was attended by dozens of friends, family members and representatives from Heritage Crafts and Victory Live: The Big Repair.
Also on display was a 16ft (4.9m) composite foam-core and glued clinker lightweight dinghy, a hybrid design, by BBA tutor Justin Adkins, which was worked on by all the students.
Also drawing interest was the 18ft Hillyard 2.5-ton gaff sloop ‘Decibel’, which was built in 1935 and bequeathed last year to the BBA by the estate of its late owner, Richard Coleman, whose last wish was that his beloved boat should be restored by students.
Students on the course have completely replanked and reframed Decibel ready for the next cohort to take her onwards. Her restoration will span three courses in total, before she features in the next BBA launch – on December 3 at 12.30.
The June launch is the latest in a run of successes for the BBA:
The student cohort which launched their boats in June 2026 was evenly split between men and women for the first time ever and collectively won the Rising Star accolade at this year’s Classic Boat Awards.
The BBA was also announced this month as winner of the Business of the Year in British Marine’s 2026 Boatbuilders Sector awards.
Director and Trustee Will Reed said: “Another incredible launch on a blisteringly hot day.
“Three beautiful new boats combined with the flat sea and gentle breeze made for fantastic sailing after 40-weeks of hard work from our latest cohort.
“This team of graduating students take our total to 293 boats and more importantly 676 boat builders launched over the past 29 years. Many of the students already have jobs or trials set up with top boat yards around the country.
“Launch day is a sea-trial but also a celebration – it can be slightly bittersweet as we have to say goodbye to an incredible group of students and boats that have all had a huge presence in the workshops. We finished by sharing a balmy summer evening with pizza and a pint – the perfect end to a perfect day.”
