00:00I'm here with Willie Dees, who's the skipper of the week after this weekend at the Port
00:06Saoi Boat Festival. How special does it feel, Willie, to be involved in this?
00:10Very special. It's a long-term thing. I'm really enjoying it. First time skipper, makes
00:18it a little bit more special.
00:21And you spent all your days at sea, fishing?
00:23Yes, most of my time, starting at 15. I'm a 15-year-old laddie.
00:32And you said there's a family connection to this boat?
00:34Yes, there is a big family connection to this boat. My father before this, the connection
00:41with the museum and everything. I've been involved in it myself since 1988. My father
00:47obviously a lot longer in that light, but yes, we've got a lot of connections.
00:53And how important is it for these kind of boats to be kept alive and preserved?
00:56Oh, that's very important. That's been our whole aspect of the start of this trip, coming
01:04up to Fraserborough, letting all the children see over 500 in Fraserborough and 120 in Macduff,
01:12just to let them see how life used to be. Keep everything going, hopefully.
01:17And it would have been a tough life at sea for folk on this sailboat back in the day?
01:22Say that again?
01:24It would have been a tough life for folk on this boat back in the day?
01:27Yes, well, it's been tough. When you think, we're always a little boy there, 11, 12-year-old
01:33on the crew as well, eight men and a boy there. It's not been easy. Everything's been manual,
01:40hand-pulling, everything. It's not been easy at all, but we've had plenty of them.
01:48And how much are you looking forward to the festival this weekend?
01:51Yes, I think it'll be good. Yes, I think it's going to be really good. We've had plenty
01:55of boats there, a few other boats as well, and hopefully the weather will be on our side
01:59for a change. Yes, I think it's going to be great, yeah.
02:04Brilliant. Thanks, Willie. Have out and enjoy yourself. Thank you.
Comments