Malcolm Bremner is skipper of the Isabella Fortuna, a traditional Fifie fishing vessel built by James Weir of Arbroath in 1890.
How long have you been a skipper on the Isabella Fortuna and how did you get involved?
28 years. The Wick Society bought the Isabella Fortuna in 1997 and at that time, I was the Harbourmaster for Wick harbour. I decided to get involved with the Isabella as a hobby, giving a helping hand as part of the volunteer team to restore the boat. It took us two years to strip back and renew the Isabella to what she is today. We used two 25 metre Larch trees to replace the planking, 111 pieces of oak and 800 bolts and countless hours of hard work to restore the deck
What do you enjoy most about being skipper of Isabella Fortuna?
Our crew range from ages 16-93 and we have a fantastic team who are very hardworking and dedicated. I am passionate about preserving traditional boat building skills, so I invest a lot of time sharing my knowledge and skills with the younger members of our crew, so they are fully prepared for going to sea. We still use traditional ships logs, recording all information as it would have been, hundreds of years ago, however we do have a modern, electronic navigation system, so we have moved with the times too!
What does it take to keep the boat in sea going condition?
Isabella Fortuna is the oldest Fifie still in sea going condition and it’s really a labour of love keeping the boat in good order. The boat is stored in the old lifeboat shed on the South shore of Wick Bay, from September until May. Prior to going into storage, we conduct all maintenance checks, do any repairs and then she is power washed and stored in the shed. Before the launch in May, the mast and sails are put in place and all maintenance and safety checks are carried out. The bunks are cleaned down and put back in, although Isabella Fortuna is a pleasure boat, we run it to the standard of a work boat, so all safety requirements are in place including life jackets and kit. During the summer we offer sailing trips from Wick Harbour and participate in local Harbour days and community events. We also welcome school groups on board to learn more about Isabella’s story and its maritime past; this is something we all really enjoy. Thanks to the support and donations from local businesses, this enables us to continue our rolling programme of renewal and restoration.
What do you enjoy about the festival?
Our first visit to Portsoy was in 1999 and we’ve been at nearly every festival since then. The whole crew love coming to Portsoy, there’s a great atmosphere and it’s a chance to catch up with other sailing crews and old friends. We sail down from Wick to Portsoy in around seven hours, with an overnight stop off, usually in Buckie. The festival the highlight of our summer calendar and we can’t wait to return this year.
The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival was first held in 1993 as an event to celebrate the tercentenary of Portsoy’s old harbour. Since then, it has been firmly anchored in the town’s calendar, taking place annually each summer and attracting thousands of visitors from across the region, and further afield.
The 32nd Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival sets sail for Portsoy on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June. An annual celebration of the north east’s maritime heritage, around 30 boats will drop anchor in the town’s 17th century harbour alongside a programme of live music and dance, Scottish food and drink and age-old crafts. Over 16,000 visitors from across Scotland attended the event last year to see the finest craft in the Scottish historic fishing fleet.
A full music programme over the weekend will feature a host of music and dance performers, from local groups and talented artists to renowned bands. The craft fayre and coastal crafts areas will showcase a wide range of stunning handmade items including jewellery, ceramics, artwork, candles and bespoke wooden gifts and accessories. The Wally Green Kids’ Zone will have a range of activities and entertainment for younger visitors to enjoy. Award-winning Scottish folk band, Manran will kick off the weekend as headliners of the Big Gig on the Back Green on Friday 27 June. The band’s latest single Standing Still, has featured on the BBC Radio 2 playlist for the last few weeks.
Tickets are on sale now at the early bird price of £27.50 on the festival website www.stbfportsoy.org.
