The little boat that could go anywhere... came to Scotland

Pictures of the little boat that could, found by tourists John and Angelika Dawson from Canada on Balivanich beach. (John and Angelika Dawson)

A TINY unmanned sailboat launched by school pupils in the US has washed up on a Scottish island.

The little craft travelled more than 3000 miles, surviving towering waves and storms.

Finally, after a 168-day adventure, tourists found the “shipwrecked” vessel on a Benbecula beach.

Now it’s set to be repaired and relaunched on another epic jouney across the Atlantic.

The five-foot drifter, which students at Kennebunk High School, Maine had dubbed The Little Boat That Could, was discovered by John and Angelika Dawson.

The holidaying couple, from Abbotsford in British Columbia, discovered the boat marooned on Balivanich Airport Beach.

Curious, they alerted the police. The Coastguard then checked to ensure the craft was not dangerous, before contacting a teacher at the school using details found within the ship.

Senior David Patoine, a student in the Kennebunk High School Alternative Education program, applies a sticker from a local business on the boat in December. Students hoped it would reach Ireland. Staff photo by Gregory Rec

Only then did its amazing journey come to light.

Murdo Macaulay, area commander for HM Coastguard Western Isles, Skye and Lochaber, said: “It’s one of the most spectacular and interesting things that has washed up.”

Communications director Angelika, 53, said police station staff looked surprised when she walked in to report a “shipwreck”.

John, 59, added: “We were not sure what it was initially until we started examining it. It had obviously been in the water for a long while and was covered in mussels.” The boat was passed on to Mari Morrison, a teacher at North Uist Primary School.

Now teachers in Maine hope they can work with staff and pupils in North Uist to get it fixed up and back on its way around the world.

Leia Lowery, Kennebunk Conservation Trust’s director of education, said: “It was supposed to go to the UK based on currents but it must have gone in a storm because it went straight to Spain then all of a sudden made a beeline for Scotland and got there very quickly.

“The pupils were excited when it ended up there.”

Teachers are keen to establish links between Maine and Benbecula to let pupils learn about life on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

Leia said: “We are hoping we can help these kids fix up the boat and launch it and then they can follow it too.”

John and Angelika confirmed they’ll also be keeping track of its progress. John added: “We were totally captivated by it. It’s amazing their little boat made it across the Atlantic.”