It has become part of the north-east summer schedules.
And the intervention of volunteer “heroes”, who rescued the event, saw Vikings, musicians and chefs among more than 10,000 people who attended Portsoy’s boat festival at the weekend.
Now in its 24th year, thousands turned out over Saturday and Sunday to be a part of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival celebrations.
The maritime extravaganza has become the highlight of the region’s summer calendar which includes village galas and highland games.
But the 2017 show almost never happened after flooding forced dozens of families to flee their homes and wrecked a road just weeks before Saturday’s launch.
Roger Goodyear, the event’s chairman, has now paid tribute to the “heroes” who gave their time to ensure the festival could go ahead.
He said: “Two weeks ago we faced disaster.
“We had 24 hours of a wee bit of rain – more rain, given the flooding that occurred, than has certainly occurred in Portsoy before.
“Sadly, some of the residents of Portsoy suffered quite badly and won’t be in their homes for quite a few months. Obviously, our thoughts very much go out to them.
“But we had a problem in that the just-completed brand new 25-bed bunkhouse took some flooding.
“This wee drop of rain we had washed away 27 metres of access road. Because so many people were staying over there for the festival, we had a real problem. That’s when you get the time for heroes.”
Mr Goodyear thanked Aberdeenshire Council and Seafield Estate, which leases the land on which the bunkhouse is built, for carrying out repairs at short notice.
He also offered the festival’s thanks to the local men and women who offered their time to help.
Mr Goodyear added: “There are two people I would particularly like to mention – two real heroes in the community.
“They are Charles Gray and David Urquhart. These guys came forward and just worked their socks off, bringing down about 1,000 tons of materials to fill the gap in the road.”
The festival included rowing races and marine crafts as well as the visit of Shetland’s Jarl squad of Vikings. A colossal water slide was also created through the steep streets of the village.
Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, Clare Russell was given the duty of officially launching the festival.
But it was no surprise that Shetland’s Vikings took centre stage.
As well as posing for tourists to get their photos, the men, clad in armour, and carrying axes patrolled the harbour and took in the sights and sounds of the festival themselves.
They even entertained the crowds with a few of their native songs.
Mrs Russell, who was recently made a CVO by the Queen during her Birthday Honours, said the festival was important to the region for both what it offered as an attraction and the contribution it made to the local economy.
Every year, thousands of people travel to and stay in local hotels.
She added: “Just two weeks ago, the festival was under threat.
“Amazingly, by the beginning of this week, the sail loft was back in operation and the road had been restored – a quite remarkable achievement by the people of Portsoy with the help of Aberdeenshire Council and Seafield Estate.
“To my mind, that reflects two important points about the festival. Firstly, that it has reached a size and importance which required major organisations to step in and secure an event which is now so important to the region’s economy.
“And secondly, that Portsoy is truly a remarkable community.”
This year, visiting groups included Macduff Lifeboat, Peterhead Sea Cadets and Fraserburgh’s Museum of Scottish Lighthouses.
But it might not have happened at all without the picturesque little village pulling together for the common good.
