Volunteer sailors onboard a 143-year-old wooden boat, a Cornish Lugger, have set sail on a 1,000 mile voyage.

The six-week voyage aims to connect four ancient Celtic lands: Cornwall, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

It aims to provide education, preservation, and fundraising opportunities to maintain Cornish maritime heritage.

The boat is a mackerel driver named ‘Barnabas’.

It's the last of its kind, a 'St Ives double-ended dipping lugger.'

After a traditional blessing from Rev’d Derath Durkin, the Barnabas set sail from Newlyn.

Crowds cheered it on with calls of ‘Oggy, Oggy, Oggy’.

Falmouth Packet:

On board the Barnabas, the CMT aims to preserve sailing traditions that have all but disappeared.

Those on board will live in the same close quarters experienced by Cornish fishermen in the late 1800s.

This provides a unique educational experience for the 30+ volunteers who signed up to help to pass on these 'endangered' heritage skills.

The furthest destination of the trip is Ullapool, Scotland.

At this location, Johnson & Loftus Boatbuilders will fit Barnabas with two handcrafted Douglas Fir masts, replacing the current ones prime to weather and time.

The boat will then journey on through the Hebrides before returning via Fishguard, Cork, and the Isles of Scilly, with an anticipated return to Newlyn on June 22.

Falmouth Packet:

Olivia Byass Smithies, 24, a volunteer on the voyage, said: "My partner is from Scotland and we’ve explored the West Coast but never had the opportunity to sail.

"To be able to do this on a beautiful boat with so much history and learn the skill of sailing a lugger feels like a huge privilege".

Vicki Norman, CMT Artist in Residence, added: "Sharing and recording how to sail a dipping lug rig is hugely important to British Maritime history in preserving the methods of sailing and maintaining these magnificent old boats.

"Sailing with CMT is giving me friendships, adventures and a tonne of visual inspiration for my work!"

The voyage seeks to raise support for preserving Cornish maritime heritage as well as funds for new masts.

Half of the required £15,000 has already been raised.

More information can be found on the following website: http://cornishmaritimetrust.org/.