Maritime Heritage at Arts Sunday

Our first preview festival will extend Guernsey Arts’ Arts Sunday on 7 June.

We will take over the so-called ‘hammerhead’ end of the Crown Pier, with a static display of surviving examples of Guernsey boats. Some dating back to the early 20th century — some barely surviving, others lovingly restored.

Among them is Sport, a 19ft wooden boat found adrift during the First World War with no one aboard. She was brought to Guernsey and worked by several fishermen over the century, eventually being left in a barn until last year, when local shipwright Edmund Morgan was commissioned to restore her.

We will also feature a diverse array of floating boats in the marina, including the working fishing boat Sarada, still in use by fisherman Peter Lesbirel, and a Second World War work boat built in Scotland. This vessel served in the Mediterranean and originally carried an anti-aircraft machine gun!

On land, visitors can enjoy craft demonstrations, including forging (Nic Gee), steam bending (student shipwright JP Lenormand), capstan shanty singing (lead by Jerry Cobb), spar making (Pete Crossley), and willow basket and crab-pot weaving (Rae Bearder).

Our tent will house a display of local maritime heritage memorabilia from Lloyd Robilliard and Peter Brehaut, alongside a creative showcase (by Yasmin Atkinson) of the epic 1937–39 journey undertaken by 14-year-old Guernsey girl Anne Collins (née Brache) and her family, who sailed from Guernsey to Sydney, Australia. Now 102 years old, Anne still lives in Brisbane.

We are offering boat trips to Fermain and Saints Harbour with Guernsey Coastal Cruises and their wooden boat: Glad Tidings, at special festival rates from just £10.

Artists Richard Le Goupillot and Susanna MacInnes will also be painting around the pier for everyone to see and enjoy.

Join us on Sunday, 7 June, from 10 am to 5 pm.