NorthLink Ferries supports Year of Young People with delivery of Shetland Yoal to Stromness Rowing Club

Monday 23rd July 2018

Members of the Stromness Rowing Club have been presented with a traditional Shetland Yoal, built thanks to the NorthLink Ferries Traditional Boat Building Project.

Local Shetland boat builders, Jack Duncan and Robbie Tait began working on the brand new clinker built fourareen at Shetland Boat Week in August last year using traditional boat building techniques. The boat, which has now been delivered to the Stromness Rowing Club, has been named the Havera after the now uninhabited island located off the South West coast of Shetland.

Stuart Garrett, Serco’s Managing Director of NorthLink Ferries, said: “As the providers of the Northern Isles lifeline ferry, it was a natural fit for us to support the Shetland Boat Week when it took place last year. During the event it was a privilege to witness the painstaking work that goes into making such a beautiful boat, and I know the craftsmen spent many weeks completing the project.

“As the boat is being delivered during the Year of Young People, it felt appropriate that it should go to the Stromness Rowing Club, who will use it to train young people, as well as adults, in the popular sport of coastal rowing.

“By sponsoring the building of this yoal in Shetland, and gifting it to an Orkney rowing club, we hope to inspire many more generations of islanders to pursue the sport, and keep the friendly inter Island rivalry alive and well!”

Mark Shiner, chair of the Stromness Rowing Club, said: “It’s wonderful that the Havera has found its home with us here in Stromness. She rows beautifully and I believe she will now inspire our membership and be a huge help in making the club grow. I’d like to express my thanks to NorthLink Ferries for gifting us the yoal, and of course to the incredibly talented craftsmen who made her.”