Join us by the lakeshore for a special moment as our newly built traditional Windermere skiff is launched onto the lake for the first time. 

Built by boatbuilder Line Packer during her Homo Faber Fellowship at Windermere Jetty Museum, under the mentorship of Senior Conservation Boatbuilder Stephen Beresford, the skiff celebrates traditional boatbuilding skills, local materials and a shared passion for keeping Windermere’s boatbuilding heritage alive. 

Crafted using locally sourced timber and a combination of heritage and modern boatbuilding techniques, the boat reflects the stories, craft and shared skills behind its making.  

Before the launch, Line and Stephen will share the story behind the build, from selecting the timber to shaping the vessel in the Conservation Workshop. They will also reflect on the tradition of naming boats before revealing the chosen name for this new Windermere skiff. 

You are invited to gather at the lakeshore and watch as the skiff makes its first journey on Windermere before joining the Festival of the Lake boat parade. 

This launch marks the completion of Line and Stephen’s Homo Faber project and offers a first glimpse into the inspiration behind the upcoming exhibition Embodied: The Making of a Windermere Skiff, opening at Windermere Jetty Museum on 18 July.