The Pearl of Dunbar

16/10/2026

Richard, Pearl and the unexpected magic of volunteering 💜⛵

We caught up with Richard, one of Project Pearl’s dedicated volunteers whose time, energy and commitment have helped bring The Pearl of Dunbar back to the water.

Richard is a valued member of our crew and a brilliant example of the spirit behind Project Pearl: people coming together, getting involved, sharing skills and keeping Dunbar Harbour at the heart of our wonderful community.

He first got involved through Andy’s Man Club and his story is a great reminder that you don’t need sailing experience to be part of Pearl. Just a willingness to get involved ✨

Q: What made you want to get involved?

“I wanted to get involved as I needed a new challenge.”

Q: Did you have any sailing or boating experience?

“No experience at all apart from hand cranked boats at the Lido where I lived in Stenhousemuir Stirlingshire.”

Q: What have you enjoyed most about being involved with Pearl?

“The genuine camaraderie. Lots of laughter, music, lattes, ice cream and sharing stories🍦

Meeting people from different countries.

Being encouraged and praised by two guys from the Netherlands who were on a motorcycle tour of Scotland. One of the guys happened to be a marine engineer, small world!” 🏍️

Q: Do you have a favourite Pearl moment?

For Richard, it was a proper Dunbar sailing moment: rounding Poo Buoy, a famous local maritime landmark. You can see Poo Buoy in the photo, with a Dunbar Coastal Rowing Club skiff in the distance too.

That same sail also brought dolphins close by the boat, all on a memorable eclipse evening in August 🐬🌘

“Definitely going round Poo Buoy and then seeing the mouth of the harbour in the distance after achieving how she handles a bit of a swell and enjoying our experienced captain making my time so pleasurable.”

Q: Has anything surprised you about volunteering?

“I have challenged myself in various ways. There’s that unexpected magic of volunteering - starting out as strangers and becoming great mates.

I say to myself never give in and more importantly never give up when things go wrong ⚓

I feel a much calmer person for this with a purpose to get up in the morning and I’m proud of myself and others who have got the Pearl of Dunbar, our sail boat out on the water again after hard graft” 🌟

Q: What would you say to someone thinking about getting involved?

“What an experience you can have volunteering for a great cause. Meeting people and learning the ropes and having a laugh.

There are a few social occasions during the winter months that you are welcome to attend.” ☕🍻
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Thank you Richard, for all your hard work, good humour and everything you bring to Project Pearl! 💫

⛵ Join our Volunteer Crew! We'd love to welcome you aboard! Get in touch to find out more 🌊

11/10/2026

🌿 Wonderful news for Belhaven Community Garden! 🌿

A huge congratulations from everyone at Pearl to the Save Belhaven Community Garden campaign! 🎉

This is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved and a wonderful result for the Dunbar community. 💚

Well done to everyone who helped make this happen! ⛵🌿

Read all about it below!

Sustaining Dunbar

SAVE BELHAVEN COMMUNITY GARDEN
Dear Supporter,

Exciting News!
Just a quick note to let you know that, at their meeting on Wednesday this week, the NHS Lothian Board unanimously approved our application to purchase Belhaven Community Garden at our valuation of £45,000.
Craig Marriott, Finance Director at NHS Lothian, said: "The Board's approval of the Community Asset Transfer is an important milestone for Belhaven Community Garden and the local community. We are pleased to support the transfer to Sustaining Dunbar, recognising the garden’s value in bringing people together and supporting health and wellbeing. We wish the group every success in continuing the garden's development."

We are planning a wee, informal event in the garden to mark this occasion on Saturday 24th October, 2-4pm, to raise a glass and gather to present our plans for the next few years. Please join us if you can! And if you can't, please still consider getting involved in the next, new phase at Belhaven Community Garden to help steer it into the future.

It has been a long and tortuous route to get to this point and it will be another few months before the sale goes through. But now, at last, we are excited to be able to focus our efforts on planning the future development of the garden as a resource for the whole community.

Huge thanks for all your support! This has played a crucial part in getting us to this stage and is greatly appreciated.

(Photo Toby Bailey)

11/10/2026

⛵ Pearl of Dunbar disappearing into the mist!

A wonderful series of atmospheric photographs sent in by Owen Brown, capturing Pearl heading out of Dunbar Harbour last year, just as the fog rolled in.

Do you recognise any of the crew on board? 👀

A big thank you to Owen for sharing these beautiful images with us! 💕

05/10/2026

Meet the Pearl volunteers 💜⛵

This week we’re shining a light on Robert Craig, one of our wonderful volunteers who helped bring The Pearl of Dunbar back to the water.

1. How did you first hear about Pearl and what made you want to get involved?

I first heard about the Pearl Project while doing volunteer work with friends around Dunbar Harbour. It sounded like an interesting project, so I thought I’d give it a go.

2. Did you have any sailing, boating or traditional boat experience before joining?

Not really. I’d been out a few times on a friend’s small leisure boat, but that was about the extent of my boating experience.

3. What have you enjoyed most about being involved with Pearl?

For me, Pearl was never just a wooden boat. It became a real social hub, where I met lots of new people, both those involved in the project and visitors to the harbour. There was always plenty of banter along the way, and that’s probably what I enjoyed most.

4. Do you have a favourite Pearl moment or memory so far?

Probably seeing the confidence grow in some of the people who got involved. Watching people come into their own and seeing some of them now regularly sailing on Pearl has been brilliant.

5. Have you learned anything new or unexpected through volunteering with Pearl?

I think I learned that a project like Pearl can achieve much more than simply restoring a boat. Seeing what people got out of being involved was something I hadn’t really expected when we started.

6. What would you say to someone who was thinking about getting involved?

Just come along and give it a go. I had no previous sailing experience and, to be honest, I didn’t really need it for the work I was doing. Don’t feel intimidated at all — everyone involved is very down-to-earth and you’ll be made to feel welcome. You might get far more out of it than you expect.

I’ve never really been interested in the sailing side of Pearl. For me it was always about the months of work beforehand and everything that grew around the project. After all those months of sanding, varnishing and hard work, though, it was a great moment to finally see Pearl launched and out on the water — and an even better one when she didn’t sink!

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Thank you, Robert, for sharing what Project Pearl has meant to you 🥰

If you’d like to get involved, you can find the volunteer form here:

https://dunbarharbourtrust.co.uk/project-pearl/

Dunbar Harbour

04/10/2026

Pearl is out of the water for now but the work doesn’t stop here ⛵💜

After a wonderful first sailing season, The Pearl of Dunbar is back ashore for some care, maintenance and preparation for what comes next.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers who have helped sail her, look after her, support events, share skills and keep our project moving forward. Every bit of time, energy and enthusiasm makes a difference 🥰

Pearl is a community boat and it’s brilliant to see so many people playing a part in her story ❣

If you’d like to get involved, whether on the water or ashore, you can find out more & sign up to join our crew here:

https://dunbarharbourtrust.co.uk/project-pearl/



Dunbar Harbour

24/09/2026

There’s something really special about seeing other traditional boats heading out to sea under sail ⛵

We spotted this lovely boat leaving Dunbar Harbour last night, no engine just like Pearl and skilfully navigating our tricky harbour entrance under sail.

Do you recognise her or know what type of boat she is? ⚓💜

Dunbar Sailing Club

22/09/2026

Great to see The Pearl of Dunbar featured in the local press! 💜⛵

Thank you East Lothian Courier for sharing our story 💗

It’s wonderful to see the project recognised and to thank everyone who has given their time, skills, energy and support along the way.

Read the full article here:
https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/26562083.restored-pearl-dunbar-sailing-boat-returns-sea/

We’re always keen to welcome more volunteers. Whether you’d like to sail next season, help maintain the boat, support events, get involved around the harbour or simply find out more, there’s a place for you at Project Pearl ⚓

Find out more and complete the volunteer form here:
https://dunbarharbourtrust.co.uk/project-pearl/

Please help us spread the word by following our page, sharing the article and tagging anyone who loves boats, harbours, sailing, volunteering or community projects ⛵

A beloved Dunbar boat is sailing again, thanks to dedicated volunteers ⚓⛵

20/09/2026

Wonderful to see our friends at RNLI Dunbar Lifeboats, alongside RNLI RNLI Eyemouth Lifeboat and St Abbs Lifeboat, hosting such a special event. As sailors from Dunbar Harbour, we’re hugely grateful for all the RNLI volunteers who help keep our local waters safe. Here’s to the brilliant women of search and rescue! 💙⚓️👏

Women in SAR comes to Dunbar, Eyemouth and St Abbs

Dunbar, Eyemouth and St Abbs lifeboat stations this weekend played host to a groundbreaking Scottish Women in SAR (search and rescue) event.

Over 40 women from 24 lifeboat stations have come together for a full weekend of afloat and shore-based exercises, skills workshops and shared learning to connect, inspire and support women involved in maritime rescue. Host stations RNLI Dunbar and RNLI Eyemouth Lifeboat and independent St Abbs Lifeboat welcomed 42 delegates from around Scotland for exercises on four lifeboats, while inspirational speakers and activity leaders provided workshops onshore.

The initiative is the second of its kind in Scotland, after an inaugural event in Inverness last year. Launched in 2019 by the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF), Women in SAR (WISAR) is a global movement open to all lifeboat stations, including the RNLI and independent operations.

(Photo: Richard Ellis/A View From My Camera)

28/05/2026