Portsoy's Scottish Traditional Boat Festival to go virtual as part of Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21

PORTSOY'S boat festival will move online this June amid Covid-19 uncertainty.

But the organisers of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival – which has expanded since it first sailed in 1993 to become one Scotland’s leading celebrations of maritime heritage – have been working on ambitious plans for their 2021 virtual offering.

The digital festival is being backed by funding from EventScotland as part of the Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21.

Protecting the local community has been the overriding consideration for the boat festival committee, who have had to rethink staging the festival which regularly attracts 16,000 people to the coastal village.

Organisers said they held off for as long as they could before making the switch.

Members have come up with innovative plans to stream bespoke video content over the weekend June 25-27. Details will be released soon.

Chairman David Urquhart said: "It is with a heavy heart that we have taken the decision not to go ahead with the 2021 Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.

"This festival will maintain our profile, providing some fun and entertainment on the weekend the festival was due to take place, and will give a taste of things to come in 2022."

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