Spotted on Thursday, September 05, 2013 in The Cornishman/West Briton http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Hayle-community-group-step-closer-restoring-old/story-19750630-detail/story.html

Hayle community group a step closer to restoring old lugger

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

CMChloe

Volunteers at Hayle-based community group the Dos Amigos Project are a step closer to repairing a 93-year-old fishing vessel, thanks to a gift from another boat yard.

A cradle from The Happy Return boat in Gweek was moved to Hayle, where it will be used by the group to help repair the Dos Amigos lugger, which was salvaged from Looe Harbour earlier in the year.

?

Hayle community group Dos Amigos are a step closer to restoring an old lugger

The 13.8 tonne vessel is privately owned but has been put into the hands of the community group to be restored.

Project overseer Robb Lello, who runs Treeve Boatyard, said: "It was very generous of the Happy Return to sell us their cradle at its scrap price.

"We're finding there's a real will locally to support this project and we are all very positive. The cradle was always going to be vital, and the next step is getting it put up safely and securely.”

The boat is the sole surviving St Ives Carvel Gig, and one of the very few remaining intact craft built by St Ives boatbuilder, Thomas Paynter.

Dos Amigos community group see the restoration as a good community project and a way of engaging local people in Cornwall’s maritime history.

Volunteer, Jayne Clayton, said: "It was great fun spending a day at the Dos Amigos; I really enjoy getting my hands dirty on restoration work and everyone made me feel really welcome. I will certainly be back for more.”