Before coming to Lyme, Vera had worked as a trainee/deckhand on classic yachts such as Aschanti IV and Kairos II in two different shipyards in Spain. The days at sea, crossing the Atlantic, and her time in these hugely impressive shipyards showed her that she too wanted to become a brilliant boatbuilder – something she has gone on to achieve with the help of the BBA.
She says: “After my time in Spain I started to research how to follow my dream.
“I came across a newspaper article about Stefanie Bielowski who was working at Spirit Yachts and I contacted her to ask if I could meet her in Ipswich. It was Stefi who told me that if I wanted to become a boatbuilder I should do the same boatbuilding course that she did – at the BBA.”
Vera applied for the BBA, and for a scholarship via a foundation.
“I got the place at the BBA and financial support and aged 21 I packed my stuff and moved to Lyme Regis. I spent an intensive year there studying and building, with my evenings and weekends also spent in the workshop improving my skills or studying theory.
“I had a lovely time with a wonderful class. I had an amazing place to stay, with a classmate the same age and with the same goal, we both wanted to become the best and we supported each other in every way.
“All the instructors were inspirational, especially Matt and Joe who were my heroes, my idols. They could not have done anything better.
“We built seven different boats – all sailing, rowing, and paddle boats: A Traditional clinker, glued clinker, glued carvel, stripped planked, cold moulded.
“After the course I received four job offers – one at Spirit Yachts in Ipswich, another near Amsterdam and two different boatbuilding job offers in Zürich.
“I took the job offer in Zürich at Staemple Rowing Boats.
Then of course Covid reared its head, so to extend my knowledge and skills in welding, surface materials and to learn computer aided design I applied for a bachelor’s degree in industrial design.
“While doing this degree I worked as a sailing Instructor and in 2023 I got the offer to work for the Suisse Sail GP Team and spent a thrilling season with them in the US.
“Since receiving my bachelor diploma I now work at a Craftsmanship and Design Academy called Haus der Farbe in Zürich. I am leading the wood workshop there and giving courses in design and woodwork.
“I would highly recommend the BBA 40-week course to anyone who is fascinated by the building of beautiful boats.
“The academy, the instructors, the boatbuilding, I loved everything – it got me on the road to becoming the boatbuilder I wanted to become and am today.”
