This
year’s Compass Pipelines Peel Traditional Boat Weekend is shaping up to be the ‘premier
event’ of the Irish Sea for 2013, say organisers.

The
annual festival, extended to five days in honour of the Old Gaffers Association’s (OGA’s) 50th anniversary, will run from Thursday 8
August to Monday 12 August.

Old
Gaffers from all around the Irish Sea will be descending on the Isle of Man
to celebrate the OGA’s Jubilee year.

Mike Clark, chairman of the Peel
Traditional Boat Weekend committee, said he’s honoured that Peel has been
chosen and delighted to host such a prestigious event.

‘We
have been working very hard to ensure that the hospitality, for which Peel is
famous, lives up to expectation and that the weekend is packed full of
activities and entertainments for crews and shore based visitors alike.’

To
date 42 entries have been received – a big increase from the same time last
year.

The
majority are from Irish and Welsh ports, many of which are first timers to
Peel.

This
year’s entries include:

• Kaju 2, a 34.7ft, Fractional Bermudan Sloop, built in
  Germany in 1951 which is visiting the festival for the first time.
• Phyllis, a
  26ft Royal Mersey Restricted Class vessel and the winner of the Creek Inn
  Trophy for best gaff rig in 2012
• Noamh Cronan, a 56ft, Galway Hooker with
  a Gaff Cutter rig built of larch on oak in Dublin in 1997, which is also
  revisiting Peel.

Throughout the festival there will be live music around the quayside, a Leece Museum display and treasure hunt, the house of Manannan Museum and Moores Kipper Tours. On the Friday there will be a ‘parade of sale’, a ghost walk and fishyard food sale.

Saturday will offer a ‘Quick and Dirty Boat Building’ and race across the river mouth, a ‘run up to Rio Paralytic Olympics’ event, Punch and Judy and Manx dancing.

Sunday will have a Farmers’ Market, Guild Fair, prize presentations and more dancing, while Monday will end with a grand Parade of Sail.

Locally smoked kipper breakfasts will be delivered to registered boats daily and the newly refurbished Peel Sailing and Cruising Club will be the hub of events including a Thursday night BBQ and Sunday Hot Pot Supper.

A special Saturday night Ceilidh and buffet is being organised at the Masonic Hall, while a Pie and Pea Supper will be served to crews on the Friday.

To
find out more call Mike Clark on +447624 450146 , email: mclark@manx.net or find ‘Peel Traditional Boat Weekend’
on Facebook