Two members of Galway Hooker Sailing Club, Maria Buckley and Collette Furey, will travel to Seattle, USA, this week to represent the club at the Teaching with Small Boats Alliance (TWSBA) Conference.
Maria and Collette will deliver a presentation focusing on the preservation of the traditional Galway Hooker, one of the most recognisable symbols of Galway’s rich maritime heritage.
Their presentation will highlight the importance of highlighting these unique wooden sailing vessels, preserving the traditional skills and knowledge associated with them, and ensuring that this important part of Galway’s maritime identity is passed on to future generations.
As part of their visit, they will also visit and connect with The Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle, an organisation dedicated to preserving wooden boats, traditional maritime skills and the living heritage of wooden boat sailing.
This visit will provide an opportunity to build international relationships, exchange ideas and explore ways in which organisations on both sides of the Atlantic can learn from one another in their shared commitment to maritime preservation.
The trip represents an exciting opportunity for Galway Hooker Sailing Club to showcase Galway’s unique maritime traditions, establish valuable international connections and raise awareness of the importance of keeping traditional wooden boats sailing.
The visit will celebrate a shared passion for wooden boats and the importance of preserving maritime heritage for generations to come.
