Welcome to the Boat Building Academy

'A centre for excellence'

Chris Humphries, Director General City & Guilds

Practical, professional or purely for pleasure - come and learn boatbuilding or woodworking skills at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis.

Whether you want a professionally recognised boatbuilding qualification, a few days by the sea learning practical skills, or to build your own boat, there is a course for you here in Lyme Regis.

Our boat building training courses are hands-on, taught by experts and vary in length from 1 day to 38 weeks. Based on Lyme Regis's famous Monmouth beach in Dorset the Academy lies at the heart of the UK's most breathtaking scenery, the Jurassic Coast. This stretch of coastline is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our students come from every profession and from all over the world. Many will go on to work in the marine industries but our courses also appeal to those taking a sabbatical from their 'real' lives or simply escaping the rat race.

'My visit to the Academy was truly inspirational. I found the energy and commitment of the staff to be second to none. Their dedication to their craft and the students, and their passion for excellence in design and technical skills, clearly explains the success rates that the Academy has, and the very high level of results achieved by the students.  You truly are a centre for excellence in your field!'

Chris Humphries, Director General of City & Guilds

after visiting the Academy on 13th April 2007

'Your college has set the benchmark for the future of training craftsmen which has long been the biggest worry of traditional boat builders and repairers. Your college deserves to go from strength to strength and I for one will recommend it to anyone looking for a career in our industry'

Tom Richardson, Owner of Elephant Boatyard, Hampshire, 14 June 2011

Employer of two Academy graduates

Jack Chippendale's colossal contribution to British boat building, dinghy racing and sailing has been recognised by the award of an MBE.  Jack was central to the formation and success of the Boat Building Academy in his years as adviser and senior instructor, and continues to have close ties with the school from his home in Norfolk.  Jack, we salute you.

The BBC interviewed Ian Baird, class of March 2010, and Roy Gollop on the build of Ian's traditional clinker boat 'Witch of Weymouth' replica of the 1902 Weymouth-built crab and lobster fishing boat 'Witch of Worbarrow'.  Click here to see the BBC report.  Water Craft magazine ran a series on the build starting in the January 2011 edition. 'Witch of Weymouth' is on exhibit in Falmouth National Maritime Museum with 'Witch of Worbarrow' from the middle of October 2011.

The National Maritime Museum at Greenwich featured 'Defiant of Lyme Regis', one of the boats built by Marc Chivers and the class of March 2008, as the centrepiece of their 'Boats That Built Britain' exhibition, which ran alongside the BBC4 series of the same name.

Click here to to hear Marc Chivers' interview on the building of 'Defiant', a replica of a 13 foot Pilot Punt.

Jon Palmer's photograph, 'Beer Lugger', won the 'Traditional Maritime Skills in Action' category of the National Historic Ships and Classic Boat 2010 Photographic Competition.  The Lugger in question was built by Alasdair Grant and the class of September 2009, which included Jon.  To see Jon's photograph, and other category winners, click here.

Gail McGarva, having launched Cornish Pilot Gig 'Black Ven', came back to the Boat Building Academy workshop to build a Lerret (traditional Dorset fishing boat) 'by eye'.  Gail talked about the build on Radio 4 Woman's Hour, to hear the interview click here.  BBC News filmed a short interview, see that here (There seems to be some confusion at the BBC around gigs and Lerrets...)  Gail launched 'Littlesea' on Saturday 31st July 2010 from the slipway in Lyme Regis.  Click here to see her talk at the V & A this year about her boat building career.  Thanks to all of you who bought a ticket in the raffle to raise funds for Gail's workshop.  Gail is now in residence and starting to build the next Cornish Pilot gig for Lyme Regis Gig Club.

The Daily Telegraph magazine published a story about the Academy written by journalist, Sophie Campbell, who spent a day at the Academy with a photographer.  To read the story click here.

The 8 week Woodworking Skills course next runs from 9 January to 2 March 2012.  Click here for further details on our intensive joinery training, and to see some of the course work and projects completed by students while on the course. 

Boat Launches

The next launch is at 1400 on 13 June 2012 when the Class of September 2011 launch the boats they are building.  For details on the students and links to the boat build diaries click here

December 2011 Launch

	Gail McGarva said come howling wind or storms she would be in the harbour in her waders at 1400 on 9 December 2011.  The sun struggled to shine at times but the Class of March 2011 launched their boats and careers watched by hundreds of people without umbrellas, including the growing group of BBA babies... Please click here for photographs of the launch and here for boat build diaries and student profiles.
	Tuesday 7 June 2011 was dark and overcast but the 18 students who launched their boats hardly noticed.  Hundreds of wellwishers celebrated with the class of September 2010.  We also got news that Ross Doherty (class of March 2010) and Elizabet's baby girl had launched into the world at 4am that morning.
	The class of March 2010 launched their boats on Thursday 9th December 2010. It was another fantastic day, with the added surprise of a marriage proposal on the water. Click here for more information and photographs of the day.