Launch of the Guillemot

It has taken over 12 months to build and today was the launch of Guillemot kayak built by Laurie and John. Using plans bought of the web, the pair of new kayak builders sourced and cut their own wooden strips before painstakingly building the kayak up each strip at a time. Laurie had not worked with wood like this before but was happy to work with John who some would say is a master craftsman with building wooden creations, although this was the first time he had attempted a boat.

Rather than break a bottle of champagne over the bow and risk damaging the boat ;-( ... the bottle was duly opened then poured over the bow (testing the front hatch at the same time).

With a shake of hands, the newly built kayak was ready for the water. :-)

There was some questions like "Will it float?"

Of course it did, and Laurie took it for a short paddle without showing us the hull .... he could finally savour the work put in.

Equally, John enjoyed his first paddle. :-)

With smiles all round, the crowd of onlookers enjoyed the remains of the champange.