The Princess Royal will officially open the Portsoy Boat Festival when it returns next month for its 30th anniversary.
Held at the historic harbour in Portsoy, the festival weekend showcases the north-east’s longstanding maritime heritage.
Princess Anne will open the festivities on Saturday, July 1, and will be accompanied by her husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
It will be her second visit to the event, having previously attended in 2009.
A flotilla of more than 25 heritage boats will drop anchor in the harbour, with crowds able to enjoy a packed programme of food, drink, music and dance.
The event draws more than 12,000 people to the small port town every year beginning back in 1993.
Why will Princess Anne be opening the Portsoy Boat Festival?
Princess Anne is the patron to several maritime-related organisations including the Marine Society and Sea Cadets, Maritime UK, The National Coastwatch Institution, Scottish Fisheries Museum’s Reaper Appeal and The Mission to Seafarers Limited.
Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire, Andrew Simpson will welcome her to Portsoy and the Portsoy Pipe Band will perform.
Following the opening ceremony, she will spend some time meeting the individuals and volunteers involved in organising the festival.
David Urquhart, chairman of the ACE Winches Scottish Traditional Boat Festival said: “It is a great honour to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, to open this year’s festival.
“Her Royal Highness takes a great interest in the maritime sector and the whole committee has been working hard to create a festival programme which highlights our nautical past and present, which I’m confident The Princess will enjoy.”
What food and drink will be on offer at the Portsoy Boat Festival?
This year’s event is not only perfect for lovers of maritime history but of Aberdeenshire produce at a food fair on the Back Green.
Famous Aberdeen Angus beef, handmade pies, shortbread, oatcakes and Portsoy ice cream are just some of the delights festival goers can sink their teeth into.
Vendors will also sell their locally produced drinks, including whisky, gin, beer and freshly pressed apple juice.
These include Elgin’s Orchard, which produces up to 20,000 bottles of apple juice from 25 tonnes of apples.
Twice Buried Rum Co, are bringing the Carribean flavour with their unique product made in Aberdeenshire using local botanicals and ripe strawberries from Barra Berries.
Some of the catering at the festival includes local seafood from the Crab Company and Seafood Bothy, pizza from Haydn’s Woodfired Pizzas, and delicious burgers or steak sandwiches from Bannerman Butcher.
Other options include vegan Thistle Catering, Spanish-influenced Paella Escocia and those with a sweet tooth, Popsey’s Pancakes.
Another major draw at the festival is the Raft Race, where brave participants are cheered on by crowds as they try to stay afloat in homemade rafts, with prizes for first place and best-dressed.
‘Unique and rare’ ships for festival anniversary
David Urquhart, chairman of the ACE Winches Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, said: “The event really is a feast for the senses.
“Visitors can see some unique and rare vessels sailing into Portsoy this year, notably Reaper, which makes her maiden voyage following significant restoration works.
“There will be stories and songs of the shore with live music and dance performances, delicious Scottish food and drink and unique, hand-made gifts, jewellery and age-old crafts on display in our craft fayre.”
Alfie Cheyne, founder and chairman of ACE Winches, headline sponsor of the festival said: “The event tells the north-east’s maritime story in a very special way.”
To buy tickets, visit the festival website.
Conversation