News

The world-renowned Boat Building Academy (BBA) in Lyme Regis, Dorset, will hold its annual Open Day on Saturday 27 April, offering visitors the chance to see the latest student-built boats, finding out about courses on offer as well as enjoying entertainment and food.

The Boat Building Academy and Furniture School is situated on Monmouth Beach next to Lyme Regis’s historic cobb and is the first port of call for trainee professional boat builders, furniture makers and woodworking enthusiasts from across the UK.

Visitors to this month’s Open Day will have the chance to see the four wooden boats currently being built by the latest 40-week Boat Building course cohort. These include a 20ft diesel launch – once used as a passenger ferry in Looe, Cornwall – which is being rebuilt and restored to its former glory by student Ben Short, and student Ginny Harvey will also be working on the 14’ 4’’ boat she's building from scratch, which she hopes to sail from her native Hampshire.

The BBA offers courses from just two days to 40 weeks and a range of bursaries are available. Information on this will also be on hand throughout the day. Visitors can also expect to see a wonderful range of wooden furniture created by the academy’s students.

In terms of refreshments and entertainment, there'll be a barbecue, live music from The Lyme Bay Moonrakers in addition to a raffle, with all money raised going to the Academy’s Bursary Fund.

BBA Director, Will Reed, said: “The annual Open Day has something for everyone and attracts people from all over, from those who want to come and train in preparation for a career at some of the top boat yards in the country, to career changers or retired people who dream of building their own boats or furniture. Plus, of course those who just want to soak up the unique atmosphere, smells and sounds of this amazing building. We look forward to welcoming – and inspiring – all our visitors.”

The Boat Building Academy Open Day is free to attend and takes place from 11am until 4pm on Friday 27 April at the BBA, Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3JN.

For further information, visit www.boatbuildingacademy.com.