Northshore Open Day | Opening the doors to the Arksen workshop
Last Saturday, Northshore Boat Yard in Itchenor, home to Arksen’s workshop opened its gates to the local community for a day of live music, good food, electric boat rides and harbour sunshine. And we at Arksen were proud to be right in the middle of it.
Where Our Vessels Are Born
Northshore boat yard is located on the beautiful south coast of England, sitting on the eastern shoreline of Chichester Harbour. It's where Arksen builds some of its vessels. So when Northshore invited the local community in to see behind the scenes, it felt like a special opportunity. A chance for neighbours, boaters and visitors to step through the gates and see the craftsmanship that goes into every boat we make.
A Day to Remember
Live music from the Thumping Tommys and DJ James Uplift set the mood throughout the day, with food and drinks from Something Fishy, Escapist Brewery and The Cream Mary. Visitors got to meet the gROW Atlantic team, two women preparing to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic with no engine and no sail, and hear from the Chichester Harbour Conservancy about the incredible natural environment on our doorstep. The Wittering Rowing Club gave people the chance to try coastal rowing for themselves, and Northshore's own Boat Club team was on hand to show off the fleet.
Arksen on the Water
We brought along Trophy, our custom 10.8m adventure RIB, alongside the Arksen Discovery 8 and a selection of apparel. It was a fantastic chance for people who'd wandered past the workshop to finally see what we've been building, and to talk to the team directly about what adventure on the water really looks like.
Raising Money for 10% For The Ocean
The highlight for us was the prize raffle we ran in support of 10% For The Ocean of which Arksen is a founding partner. 10% for the Ocean is charity working to protect and restore the ocean ecosystems that so much of what we do depends on. Together, we raised £773 on the day.
It was a brilliant day for an important cause. The ocean is at the heart of everything Arksen stands for, and events like this are a reminder of how much a community can do when it comes together.
Want to Support 10% For The Ocean?
If you weren't able to make it on the day or you were there and want to keep the momentum going you can donate directly to 10% For The Ocean at 10percentfortheocean.org.
Every contribution helps fund healthier oceans and coastlines for generations to come.
On behalf of Arksen a huge thank you to everyone else who donated a prize for the raffle: Joanna Jones Pet Photography, Northshore Boatyard, The Outboard Centre, Holly Bassett Personal Training, Fox Red Flowers, Lucy with Diamonds, Waldrons Detailing, Super Signs Itchenor, The Ship Inn, and 10% For The Ocean.