Bures Coracle Regatta
Our event is all about meeting up with like minded people and paddling around a bit. Everyone is welcome to join us from beginners to experts. We are all about getting people on the water and enjoying these historic craft.
Saturday 13th August 2022 saw Dunbar's annual Sparkling Dunbar Pirate Festival.
To celebrate the event it was decided to attempt a record breaking build when two new Dunbar coracles would be made from scratch, fully fitted out, and launched and sailed all in one day !
Impossible they said, can't be done they said, who thought that one up they said...
The job seemed to be doomed to failure until the ever resourceful Captain "Mauler" Maule had a brain spasm -" dump it on Coracle Dave's lap and let him pick the bones out of that one - he is yer man for the job, and daft enough to give it a go!"
And the rest now is history as they would say.
Never missing the opportunity to get dressed up, coracle accepted the commission and slurped into action.
First job was for him to select a suitable pirate disguise to cover his Batman playsuit so he would blend in the the rest of the scurvey Dunbar rum- swilling bilge rats,
Next-handpick his crew; turned out to be two from Dunbar's Mans Shed .and a laddie and lassie from Dunbar's Sea Cadets, and the project was " bankrolled " by Dunbar Harbour Trust, so they would get first pick of the spoils at the end of the day (a shrewd move Cap'n Maule)
Fast forward to 9.30am on the morning of the 13th, coracle and crew hit the ground running (OK - maybe walking briskly then!) and not a bacon butty or mug of steaming tea in prospect, the decision was taken to make a start until the promised Caribbean pizzas arrived at lunchtime.
After much banging, sawing, sanding, bending, grunting, drilling, and clenching of nails and buttocks, by the said lunchtime, two unlikely looking craft were beginning to emerge from the seemingly organised chaos,and local visitors changed their chant from "wat are yer doin" to "OOOH look, I think it is some kind of boatey thingys they are doing?"
Several pizzas and an ice cream later, we cracked on and with several good hearted locals who offered to help us get finished and clear up the site, we had reached our objective of not only one,but two one-day coracles being completed.
Finished indeed,and fully fitted out, and launched on their maiden voyages by a squadron from Dunbar Sea Cadets at 4pm all on the same day, I wonder if anyone amongst the coracle fraternity have done that before in under 8 hours? (answers on a £5 note please)
Unfortunately we do not seem to have made the Guinness Book of Records, but I certainly did enjoy the two bottles of draft Guinness when I got home that night,and slept like a babe-and maybe I will take my pirate suit off in the morning?
Once again,my personal thanks to Capn. Maule and Barnacle Bob for inviting me back to this wonderful Harbour Town just south of Edinburgh ,and to all the brilliant people who helped out,and those who expressed a lot of interest in what we were trying to do,and the many visitors we had to our stand on the day and their questions - most of which we had heard before and of course the hardworking Yvonne and her team for organising the festival events over the year - many thanks.
Dave Purvis
24 July 2024
If you've been following our news, you will know that a new project has started this year with the aim of preserving the craft of coracles and coraclemaking, rated as endangered on the Heritage Crafts Association's Red List, for future generations to enjoy.
24 July 2024
We're looking for volunteers to help with the Five Miles From Home challenge. This may be familiar to you if you read the item in the 2023 Journal from member Gary Fruland, who took part in this international event last summer.
24 July 2024
The Society is sad to share the news of the passing of former committee member, Brian Pearce, aged 92.
24 July 2024
Ironbridge style coracle for sale. Well used but in good condition and watertight. Originally built in 1996, has been re-covered many times. Can be put straight on to the water as is, but may benefit from some light repair/restoration. Offers in region of £200 considered, buyer collects from Cheshire
Please contact Euan Raffel for further information
Our event is all about meeting up with like minded people and paddling around a bit. Everyone is welcome to join us from beginners to experts. We are all about getting people on the water and enjoying these historic craft.
The Carmarthen River Festival is back on Saturday 17th August from 3pm. (Rescheduled from July due to river conditions)
There'll be the ever popular Raft Race, Coracle Races, Rowing Race, Duck Race and FREE Canoe, Kayak & Coracle Taster Sessions.
River demonstrations with plenty of dryside entertainment, cookery demos, FREE funfair rides, children's coracle pool, climbing wall and plenty of stalls selling food, refreshments and ice cream.
Annual coracle regatta and races, plus raft race. Licensed bar and BBQ. Part of Cilgerran Festive Week
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