The Wooden Boat Stage

Join Will as he demonstrates letter carving and produces a sign for one lucky winner. You can also pick his brains on all things BBA ….follow the carving through the show.

Press event – come and see the new-look Wooden Boat Stage in its SECOND year, and hear what we have planned for the show.

Traditional boatbuilder specialising in re-building and building fine Thames launches. Colin established his own boatyard near Henley on Thames in the early 1980’s. He is currently the chair of the Wooden Boatbuilders Trade Association.

Always a favourite, Woodbridge Boatyard are demonstrating the techniques and uses of steambending timber.

An audacious project to rebuild a fleet of seven Alfred Mylne yachts is nearing fruition. More than rebuilding a fleet, it rebuilt it changed the direction of a career.

Join Will as he demonstrates letter carving and produces a sign for one lucky winner. You can also pick his brains on all things BBA ….follow the carving through the show.

Steered by Simon Crawford of Marineware, this expert panel brings together Mat Lis, Abbey Molyneux and David Squibb to share professional advice on maintaining wooden boats. Covering routine care, repairs, finishes and long-term protection, their combined experience offers invaluable guidance for preserving performance, character, and timeless appeal of any craft.

Whipping workshops – every sailor has rope on their boat but can you competently apply a whipping of the right type ? Learn how to select and apply the correct whipping for your ropes. I will teach common whipping, Stitched whipping, Sailmakers whipping and west country whipping, why and when to use them.

Always a favourite, Woodbridge Boatyard are demonstrating the techniques and uses of steambending timber.

Director Will Reed talks with graduate and tutor Emily Stokes – who worked at Spirit Yachts and HMS Victory – about life at the BBA and where it can take you.

Join Will as he demonstrates letter carving and produces a sign for one lucky winner. You can also pick his brains on all things BBA ….follow the carving through the show.

Spirit Yachts’ Yard Manager Adrian Gooderham and boatbuilder Brenden George demonstrate how a ring frame is made for their modern classic sail and motor yachts. Using Sipo Mahogany laminates, Adrian and Brenden will show the process of gluing, clamping and shaping the frame, whilst discussing the cold moulding hull construction method used at Spirit Yachts.

Always a favourite, Woodbridge Boatyard are demonstrating the techniques and uses of steambending timber.

Spirit Yachts’ Lead Designer Thomas Smith and Yard Manager Adrian Gooderham share insights into the development of Spirit’s latest new model; the P50 motor yacht.  From early design sketches and sources of inspiration, to construction and materials, Tom and Adrian will discuss the goals for the yacht and why the yacht will stand out from the crowd both in looks and performance on the water.

How to have a wooden boat adventure without owning a wooden boat! Come and hear from 4 of the top providers of holidays and hire – delivering amazing on the water experiences in wooden boats.

Join Will as he demonstrates letter carving and produces a sign for one lucky winner. You can also pick his brains on all things BBA ….follow the carving through the show.

Marking and cutting dovetails, using handtools to produce a wooden box with a handle.

Observe the skill of 52 years on the tools and watch boatbuilding legend Colin Henwood effortlessly create a paddle.

See the magic of steam and the Woodbridge Boatyard team bending SUP hooks.

Watch the Wessex Technical Team demonstrate how to mix and apply WEST SYSTEM® epoxies at the Wooden Boat Stage. Pick up practical tips, see the products in action, and get answers to your project questions during the Q&A session afterwards. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, there’s something to learn.

Join this inspiring talk exploring a life in boatbuilding and discover why it’s more than just a career. Through personal experiences, learn about the rewarding lifestyle, opportunities and lifelong benefits the industry offers. Whether you’re considering a career or simply passionate about trade, you’ll leave inspired to share the story.

Join Will as he demonstrates letter carving and produces a sign for one lucky winner. You can also pick his brains on all things BBA ….follow the carving through the show.

Join Bob Sykes as he explores the story of a sixth-generation family business that has grown into one of the UK’s largest and most diverse independent timber specialists. Discover how Sykes Timber sources exceptional hardwoods and softwoods from Britain and around the world, combining the efficiency of a large-scale operation with an unwavering focus on quality.

How and why we lay traditional deks on boats. This Demo will be a look at how traditional laid wooden decks on 1900s work boats are now laid on sub decks of traditional and modern leisure boats. We will look at the correct methods of marking out and laying the component parts to create a pleasing and ” Correctly” laid deck. Also looking at the mistakes and difficulties if this is not done with accuracy and precision.

Always a favourite, Woodbridge Boatyard are demonstrating the techniques and uses of steambending timber.

The panel aims to demonstrate different ways to work with schools and school-age children to get them involved in the industry from an early age – working to create the talent of the future. From the Primary school activities at Hunters Yard and Woodbridge Riverside Trust, to the work experience opportunities offered by Spirit Yachts, to the Boat Building Academy’s courses for secondary pupils and those who don’t thrive in mainstream education, this panel hopes to inspire more yards and organisations to look at working with school-age children.

Join Will as he demonstrates letter carving and produces a sign for one lucky winner. You can also pick his brains on all things BBA ….follow the carving through the show.

In June this year an entire class of Boat Building Academy students won the Classic Boat Rising Star Award. Many have gone on to brilliant jobs in wooden boat building. Hear them speak about their experience at the BBA and now as professional boat builders.

A demo of the techniques which form the base of all hand tool wooden boatbuilding and – despite all the advances of electrical tools – are still the only way to fit proper joints, planks and specialist joinery. This will include a short demo on sharpening chisels which is so important for fine woodwork.

Always a favourite, Woodbridge Boatyard are demonstrating the techniques and uses of steambending timber.

Located half way up the river Orwell, in Pin Mill, Harry Kings boatyard still remains a thriving business. Sarah talks through a brief history of the yard, the beautiful yachts built and the people who built them, focussing on the important role small boatyards still has on our maritime heritage.

The panel will explore how a hand-made object, a boat, resonates to people’s attitude to owning a wooden boat. How the process of building a bespoke wooden boat can become part of the ownership; its provenance becoming part of the appeal and enhancing the custodianship into the future.

Join Will as he demonstrates letter carving and produces a sign for one lucky winner. You can also pick his brains on all things BBA ….follow the carving through the show.

In June this year an entire class of Boat Building Academy students won the Classic Boat Rising Star Award. Many have gone on to brilliant jobs in wooden boat building. Hear them speak about their experience at the BBA and now as professional boat builders.

Jemma Thompson will be providing a short traditional signwriting demonstration with traditional tools, ie sable quill brush, mahl stick and oil based enamels. She will show the use of a pounce pattern to transfer designs and paint Fileteado Porteño lettering and also show how to create highlights and cast shadows and gem stone effects to finish.

Always a favourite, Woodbridge Boatyard are demonstrating the techniques and uses of steambending timber.

Find out about the Pioneer Sailing Trust in Brightlingsea, Essex and their Level 3 Heritage Engineering Marine Technician apprenticeship—the only programme of its kind in the UK.

Join Will as he demonstrates letter carving and produces a sign for one lucky winner. You can also pick his brains on all things BBA ….follow the carving through the show.

Tales of two journeys at sea on a 119 year old wooden boat, one in the Swedish archipelago and across the Baltic, rebuilding, relearning how to live aboard and move at sea after a traumatic spinal injury and surgery, and the second a galvanising voyage to the West Coast of Ireland that Hannah is sailing this summer, tracing the wake and influence of Grainuaile, a pioneering seafarer from the 1500’s, with her young son in tow.

In 2020 Andy Peters of Maritima woodcarving was commissioned to carve a new figurehead for the Cutty Sark the talk will outline the research under taken to create the design of the figure and the various stages in its construction.

Always a favourite, Woodbridge Boatyard are demonstrating the techniques and uses of steambending timber.

Hear all about the biggest wooden boat festival in the US from Festival Director, Barb Trailer. Port Townsend is an incredible NW Pacific epi-centre of wooden boats and boatbuilding – and the inspiration for the Wooden Boat Stage. Come and find out why we should all travel to their festival in 2027!

Sustainability in boatbuilding is often treated as a linear technical challenge i.e. choosing the right timber or the right antifoul. This panel argues that a boat is not a static product, but a living asset within a community. We move beyond “building a greener boat” to “sustaining the maritime ecosystem.

Join Will as he demonstrates letter carving and produces a sign for one lucky winner. You can also pick his brains on all things BBA ….follow the carving through the show.

Join Bob Sykes as he explores the story of a sixth-generation family business that has grown into one of the UK’s largest and most diverse independent timber specialists. Discover how Sykes Timber sources exceptional hardwoods and softwoods from Britain and around the world, combining the efficiency of a large-scale operation with an unwavering focus on quality.

I would like to talk about the construction and navigation of ‘barche al terzo’ in the Venice lagoon; the tradition of lagoon fishing and sailing has now evolved into a class of traditional boats that boasts one of the largest fleets in Italy.

Always a favourite, Woodbridge Boatyard are demonstrating the techniques and uses of steambending timber.

Hanneke will talk about the design inspiration of Wharrams – Polynesian canoe craft – and her experience of sailing across the Pacific, visiting the islands and the reality behind Moana’s boat and story.

Mark will demonstrate how a sailmaker examines sails for wear and tear, and will explain what damage is repairable and what is not. Audience participation to check over sails is encourage. A ripping time will be had by all.

Mary Montagu-Scott tells the story of the Hampshire shipyard village of Buckler’s Hard where 50 ships were build for the Royal Navy between 1745 and 1815 including such famous names as HMS Agamemnon, Swiftsure and Euryalas.

Discover the art of marquetry through a live demonstration exploring the beauty and variety of natural wood veneers. Audrey will introduce key cutting and assembly techniques, show how individual pieces are brought together to form an image, and demonstrate traditional sand shading to create depth and dimension.

Always a favourite, Woodbridge Boatyard are demonstrating the techniques and uses of steambending timber.

Join members of the original 1979 Apache 555 race team and today’s crew as they share the story of one of Britain’s most famous offshore race boats. Hosted by Dan Lee, the panel will discuss Apache’s remarkable racing history, unforgettable stories from the 1970s, and the journey to bring her back to competitive racing after more than 40 years. Hear first-hand accounts from those who raced her in period, alongside the team responsible for restoring, developing and campaigning Apache on today’s offshore racing circuit. The panel will also share recent racing experiences, restoration insights, and answer audience questions.