The Friends of the Classic Boat Museum is a group formed both to support the work of the Museum either financially or in other ways, and also to enjoy all that the Museum offers in getting together with others who are keen to preserve, restore and display beautiful boats.

Membership is £10 annually, either for a single person or for a couple. This entitles the Friend to free entry to the Museum, a newsletter that is circulated regularly and to social events which are held from time to time. Access to our growing maritime library and to the interesting archive section is also available. Attendace at classic boat rallies and regattas is encouraged for groups of Friends and visits were made by members of the Friends in 2007 year again to the Henley Traditional Boat Regatta, which was flooded by the unseasonal summer weather, and to the Morbihan in Western France with Bella and Titmous, and to the River Erdre, also in France, with Titmouse again and the Berthon folding boat.  Life membership of the Friends is also available at £150.  Visits being considered for 2008 include the Brest Douarnanez regattas in Britanny in July and Aix Les Bains in August.

There are currently about 160 Friends and their support is vital to the Museum. Contributions from the Friends have been made recently to buy tools for the restoration shed, a computer for the Archive department, and some excellent equipment for display purposes, including three lifelike models now installed on board some of the boats, dressed in appropriately nautical gear. One of these represents Sir Francis Chichester, the man who sailed Gypsy Moth IV single handedly around the world, and is wearing the great man’s original clothing, safety harness and sailing wellies.

FRIENDS AGM 2007

About forty members of the Friends of the Museum attended the AGM at the Museum on Saturday 18th November, 2007.  Chairman Christopher Hall welcomed them and reported on the year's activities.  The Friends had been very generous to the new Gallery at East Cowes, making the task of getting up and running there very much easier.  The latest purchase which the Friends funded was a new computer which allows us to scan, save and print copies of the many pictures and photos that we want to display.  Friends have also alloted money to buy a microwave for the coffee shop at the Gallery, and all the volunteeers are grateful for the Friends continued support of their work. 

Members of the Friends committee were re-elected en bloc, and a delicious lunch was enjoyed by all those present.  Dudley Brown and his helpers were thanked for the hard work in the kitchen. 

Work will continue again through the winter of 2007/08 in the Belfast Shed, where a loyal band is near completing work on the restoration of the Beken launch, Rosabelle.  The newest task that they are tackling is the catboat, Vigia, built in Cowes in 1872.  They meet mainly on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the days on which Museum is open during the winter, and would welcome anyone keen to work with wood on those days.