January
Planting begins in the National Trust Britannia Wood.
February
We enjoy a visit from three experienced Brixham trawler men! So enjoyed chatting to Bill, Nigel and John and showing them around Britannia.
March
Celebrating international women’s day by supporting women in boatbuilding, like our amazing traineee Abi!
April
Replacing temporary plywood flooring with lovingly handmade idigbo panels.
Preparing for engine installation.
Devon Education Trust awards trainee Abi £500 in traditional tools.
May
Sanding and oiling focus on the deck.
Looking glossy with a few coats of Owatrol Deksolj.
Some sections of new flooring approaching completion.
Others still in progress.
Plumbing incoming.
Cladding the container workshop and a productive pizza day with Cocreate Exeter.
June
Spars oiled and painted.
Cutest little plank patch ever by trainee Abi.
A very important installation completed!
July
More work on the spars.
Summer in full swing and it’s time to bring out the Big Fan!
Ballast that was prepped over winter going back in.
Finishing touches on the engine bed mock-up before being sent off to the fabricators.
August
Puerto Lounges supported Britannia with a fantastic community bakesale, raising more than £700 for our cause
Exeter Heritage Harbour Festival was once again a great success with Britannia as the centre of attention, bringing shanty singers, willow weavers and many other visitors and activities to the quayside.
September
The Heritage Crafts Association supports the Trust with a very generous £2000 grant towards teaching heritage skills.
Britannia hauled out for underwater maintenance, checking seams, scrubbing and antifouling.
While she’s out, we prepare her for a repaint!
Britannia gets a new look, for the first time in her century of sailing. Her topsides are painted cream to help stop planks opening during the UK’s increasingly hot summers.
We enjoy another great and successful annual quayside event – the Exeter Shanty Festival.
October
The new engine mounting comes back from the fabricators and the sparkling new engine fits like a dream.
And in she goes!
November
Britannia team restores and primes the cannons on the East Quay!
December
Another generous donation, this time from the Norman Family Trust, to support Britannia’s restoration.
Volunteer Richard is jointly awarded the Marsh Award from National Historic Ships, recognising his awesome contribution to Britannia. Very well deserved!
We finish off the year having gained four new volunteers on the ship. Really grateful to Paul who joined us in March, Phil, Eddie and Lucien and we are very pleased to have two new Trustees, Roy and Amy.
And Christmas dinner for the crew!
A sincere thank you to everyone who has helped and supported Britannia this year, whether hands-on, behind the scenes, by donating or simply by being here and accompanying us on our journey.
Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter if you enjoy hearing about Britannia’s progress, and donate if you feel able to help us reach our goal a little faster.
Wishing you all happy voyages in 2026!
Leave a Reply