Eleana Sets Sail in Falmouth: Wyl Menmuir Launches Seaworthy Project

Falmouth Haven’s slipway was busy with well-wishers on an overcast Thursday in May, as award-winning author Wyl Menmuir launched Eleana, his beautifully restored 1962 wooden Wayfarer.

From Workshop to Water

Since Wyl first arrived at the Museum to begin work on his new book Seaworthy and restoration project Eleana, visitors to our boatbuilding workshop have been able to watch the boat restoration unfold in real time. Eleana, a well-loved vessel sailed by the same family for over 30 years, arrived in need of serious care.

The challenge Wyl set himself was not just to restore Eleana, but to make the boat ready for a summer crossing from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly.

A Launch to Remember

There was a blessing, a musical performance, and a poem and plenty of warm wishes from those who had gathered on the slipway to cheer Eleana on. Wyl reflected on leaving the Museum with a mixture of sadness and excitement:

“I’m sad to be leaving the workshops and wonderful people of the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, though thrilled to have spent time with such generous people and excited for the next part of the story to unfold.”

A Collaborative Creative Community

The Seaworthy project has always been about more than one writer and one boat. As a lecturer at Falmouth University, Wyl brought colleagues and students into the project throughout his time at the Museum. Filmmaking students documented the restoration, the Head of Art record of its progress, and illustration students created original pieces responding to the story of the boat and the person restoring her.

The result is a multi-layered portrait of a vessel brought back to life, and of a creative community that gathered around a shared endeavour.

What Comes Next

With Seaworthy due for publication in early 2028 with Picador, Wyl’s journey is far from over. The crossing to the Isles of Scilly still lies ahead, and with it the next chapter of writing the book.

We feel enormously proud to have played a part in the Seaworthy story, and grateful to Wyl for bringing such warmth and curiosity into our workshop. We can’t wait to see the rest of the story develop.