Orkney Yole Association | HLF Yole Project

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HLF Yole Project

A new Orkney Yole has now been built by the Orkney Yole Association thanks to money provided by the Heritage Lotttery Fund.

The new yole named “Lily” was constructed by Orkney's last full-time boat builder, Ian Richardson and has been built to the lines of the Flotta built Yole “Emma”. She was officially named on Saturday 10th May 2008 in front of a large crowd at the Navigation Pier in Stromness.

It is hoped that the new Yole will attract more interest in these traditional sailing craft and their history. She will be used to train youngsters and will be available for any OYA member to use if they don't have a Yole of their own.

The Funding which totalled more than £20,000 has allowed the association to buy a traditional three sailed Sprit sail rig and also an optional two sailed Gunter rig, a trailer to transport the yole, an outboard, oars, an anchor, a pump, fenders, ballast, buoyancy aids and a traditional Stromness Flattie. The Flattie will allow the boat to be moored at a traditional mooring off Flaws' Pier in Stromness.

The Orkney Yole Association has 60 members throughout the islands with only eight Orkney Yoles in a seaworthy condition. Some of these are over eighty years old, so new Yoles are essential to ensure an active future for Orkneys traditional boats.

Building "Lily"

Launch and Naming

Commitee members of the Orkney Yole Association.

Boat plans, a photo album, a description of the building process and a short history of the yole are now available at the archive section of the Orkney Library, Kirkwall.