CROWDS turned out to see a replica of a Wearside-built ship set sail.
More than 400 people looked on as the model of the SD14 cargo boat took to the water at Roker Park in Sunderland.
Visitors braved wet weather to see the 32:1 scale San George ship, which is 15ft-long, on the lake.
The model was joined by accurate tug boat replicas at the event.
Most SD14s were built in Sunderland during the 1960s and 70s.
Edmund Foster, who is chairman of Roker Park Model Boat Club, said he and other members had been delighted with the turnout.
The club, which was formed seven years ago next month, meets three times a week.
Mr Foster, 64, of Seaburn, said: “The SD14s were nearly all built in Sunderland, with the majority of them being made at Pickersgill’s shipyard.
Peter Fitzpatrick, from the Wirral, Merseyside, bought the SD14 for his club, Ellesmere Port Model Boat Club.
The boat is now taken to various boating shows around the country.
“We had the model built in 2008 by an engineer in Weston-super-Mare,” said the 46-year-old.
“But today it’s nice for us to be able to bring the SD14 to its spiritual home, where she belongs.”
The Roker Park Model Boat Club has about 30 members, and meets from 9am to 11am every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.
For more details go to www.rokerparkmbc.webeden.co.uk.
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