News

That’s certainly the way it is for some of Boleh’s loyal supporters and we are proud to say this commitment runs more than skin deep.  Roger Angel rescued Boleh in 1978, restored her and owned her for more than 25 years before she passed after his death to the Boleh Trust.  Picture shows how one family member keeps the ‘can-do’ spirit alive.

We are very grateful to the Payne-Gallwey Charity Trust whose generosity has once again given young people the chance to look in to Boleh’s world and get afloat. Picture shows Dorset school students peering through a Japanese fighter windscreen at the cabin below. Boleh’s designer Robin Kilroy, a naval fighter pilot in the Far East during WW2, used 2 windscreens from downed Japanese planes as deck lights when building his vessel in 1949.

We often mention Boleh’s wonderful volunteers but we are also fortunate in having loyal professional support as well. Boleh’s main boom suffered some damage last month, putting her sailing programme at risk. Within a matter of hours Tim and Jason from Birdham Pool were on the case and, once the weather allowed, a skilled and rapid repair was completed. Picture shows Jason putting the finishing touches to his work.

A recent article about Boleh in the Royal Naval Sailing Association Journal ended with a call for volunteers.  We are pleased to report a good response, with more volunteers being signed up to help the Trust.

We are always very grateful to all those who volunteer to crew Boleh, often for voyages at short notice.  Picture shows Boleh, silhouetted against the setting sun and under a wind streaked sky, ghosting into Chichester Marina at the end of one such trip, with Volunteer Skipper Barry Corke at the helm.

Children from the Pompey’s Military Kids programme have started the sailing season with a series of ‘special days’ afloat in Boleh.  In the words of School staff, this has been an ‘amazing opportunity for our pupils’ and everyone ‘had such a great time’  – as this happy picture shows!

The Boleh Trust is only able to help children in this way thanks to the generosity of our donors.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank two charities in particular, Trinity House and the Foyle Foundation, whose recent substantial donations to the Trust help ensure Boleh’s availability for these charitable activities.

We are proud and delighted to have recently been awarded a very generous grant of £19,350 from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.  The Boleh Trust is extremely grateful for these funds – they will help Service children from Portsmouth schools get afloat in Boleh throughout the 2019 season.

This programme for Pompey’s Military Kids is delivered by the Trust with the support of Halcyon Yachts and in partnership with Portsmouth City Council and the Naval Families Federation.  The picture shows Boleh Trustee and Treasurer, Henry Middleton, receiving the cheque from RN&RMC Head of Grants, Anne Carr, with a helping hand from the Charity’s mascot.

Led by the Revd Bryan Hackett, Rector of the North End Team Ministry, and Canon Simon Tatton-Brown, representatives of Portsmouth Family Church and of North End Baptist Church spent a day at sea in Boleh last month; their aim, to evaluate the potential benefits of the vessel’s ‘can do’ experience for young people from inner city Parishes.

We are happy to report a successful visit and the Boleh Trust is now looking for suitable dates.  Picture shows, from left to right, Revd Tracey Ansell, Wayne Keeping, Celeste Fields and Steve Ansell enjoying the Spring sunshine from Boleh’s cockpit.

Spic and span and ready to go – that’s Boleh after her winter maintenance in Birdham Pool, Chichester.  Picture shows Boleh back alongside in Gosport where, thanks to Dean and Reddyhoff, she enjoys a grace and favour berth in Haslar Marina.

We’ll be telling you about our busiest Sailing Season ever and the generous donors who have made this possible over the coming weeks.  In the meantime, don’t forget to visit Boleh in Haslar Marina at the Gosport Marine Festival on Saturday 11^th May.

We’re pleased to say that Boleh will be back again in Haslar Marina for the Gosport Marine Festival on Saturday 11^th May.  Boleh will be berthed close by the Trinity Lightship and we look forward to welcoming you onboard.

It’s all free at the Festival and there’ll be many sea-based family activities for everyone to join in.  Whether you’re 7 or 77 come along to the Festival and we hope to see you there.

We’re proud to say that the new Brochure for ‘Pompey’s Military Kids’ – a joint initiative by the Naval Families Federation and Portsmouth City Council – features sailing experience on board Boleh among the events and activities on offer to the Group.  This reflects last year’s very successful pilot programme of day sails in Boleh for Service schoolchildren.

As you will see from the featured Brochure, the Group works with local schools to bring together and support Service schoolchildren within the wider community.   The Boleh Trust now looks forward to sharing Boleh’s  ‘can-do’ experience with many more Service schoolchildren in the sailing season ahead.

Download a copy of the Brochure here.