Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2012 | Page 72

ON THE WATER Seaview Mermaids! The IW Construction Industry’s Mermaid Cup will be staged at Seaview Yacht Club on June 20. Last year’s event had 10 boats competing over a series of five races, and Paul Swain’s team from the Build Center became the first name on the trophy. This year’s event will start with a meet and greet prior to the race briefing given by the club secretary. Teams will select their mermaid dinghy by pulling colours out of a hat, before Seaview Yacht Club’s race organisation starts the first of four races, with a break for lunch. There will be an evening barbeque and use of the club’s bar and restaurant when the results will be announced and prizes presented by the Club’s Commodore. The Mermaid Sailing Day was originally set up by ermc Ltd who were working with many local contractors through the IW Council’s Education Building Programme. The day gave a chance for local team members from both construction and consultancy to get together socially. The Education Build Programme was five years long so the event acted as a positive team building experience and celebration of ongoing partnering success. The 'I.W. Constructors Team Challenge Trophy' was first presented in 2005. Participants were drawn from the multi-disciplinary project team which included the main contractor, Osborne, Tari Willis Associates (Structural Engineers), Henderson Green (M&E Engineers) and Clarkes Mechanical (M&E Sub-con tractors). In 2010 Round the Island Builders kindly agreed to take over the organisation of the event. Boat Museu m has new home The Isle of Wight Classic Boat Museum has moved to new premises in Albany Road, East Cowes. The Classic Boat Museum is staffed entirely by volunteers and many have been involved in moving more than 50 lovingly restored craft from the old premises at Seaclose, Newport and preparing the Albany Building. The exhibits feature many unique and fascinating boats. These include; Europe, the boat in which Shirley Robertson won the first of her gold medals at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney; Kitty, which transported Shirley to her wedding; Coweslip the Flying Fifteen belonging to HRH Prince Philip, an Airborne Lifeboat designed by the Uffa Fox works on the Island, Lord Brabazon’s autogyro rigged Bembridge Redwing, Kestrel and Rosabelle the former Beken launch, the latest restoration to be completed. The move means that The Classic Boat Museum will now be close to The Gallery which opened in the Venture Quays building in 2007 and which features, among many fascinating and unique items; a comprehensive archive, original Gypsy Moth IV artefacts and some of Ellen MacArthur’s trophies. The Classic Boat Museum and The Gallery form part of a Trust which is a charity and relies entirely on the goodwill of volunteers and donations from the public. The Museum and Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10.0am to 4.0pm and other times for parties by arrangement. 72 www.visitislandlife.com