"You can come right into the shop, in the back and see the work done right before your very eyes."
Lawson Sargeant
Every year at the Bequia Easter Regatta a crowd of local children sail coconut boats in their own version of the main race. The hulls of the little boats are made from coconut shells with mainsails and even jibs mounted on mini masts.
The children launch them from the beach and the first to sail past a marker buoy a little way out into the bay wins. It was making these coconut boats, first so he could compete and later for other children, that led to a 40-year career for Lawson Sargeant.
"All the tools we work with are hand tools. A boat can take four to six months. Some take longer depends on the boat you are making. Especially if you are making a brigandine, square rigger or old schooner."
Lawson Sargeant
Today he and his brother run a model boat factory and shop where local craftsmen carve intricate models of traditional Bequia double ended fishing boats, whaling boats and schooners.
They also create exact replicas of private boats, either from photographs or drawings.
Although the Sargeant's shop isn't the only one on the island it is the oldest. Many of the other model boat builders learnt their craft from the Sargeant brothers.
"I been doing it forty years and you know it's something I like doing. To keep the tradition up. It's still something that stands out on the island"
Lawson Sargeant
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