The 10th Century Celtic voyage to the Isle of Man

People in Castletown have had a glimpse of life a thousand years ago after a 10th Century replica boat visited the Isle of Man's ancient capital.

The 12m (39ft) vessel is predominantly made of leather and is named after Saint Brioc, who travelled from Aberystwyth to Brittany in medieval times.

The 12-strong Breton crew, and a dog, are visiting Celtic nations on their epic journey towards the North Sea.

Eating and sleeping in close quarters, its captain Ingwenok Jaouen said the voyage had been the most fascinating, but also the most tiring, experience of his life.

The project began in 2023 with the aim of crossing the English Channel in a traditional leather boat built using early medieval techniques.

After spending two months sailing in stages from Brittany, the crew completed the latest leg to the Isle of Man with a 50-hour crossing from south Wales.

Jaouen said the name of the boat and the expedition was inspired by the journeys of Saint Brioc, whose travels between Wales, Cornwall and Brittany reflected centuries-old maritime links between the Celtic nations.

He said history offered a way of bringing people together, and sailing a thousand years ago and sailing today still had things in common.

"It's the same sea, it's the same human, so you need the same skills," he said, adding that "common sense" was a continuous thread.

Life on board authentic to the way of life in the 10th Century, making fire to cook from flint and steel, wearing woollen clothing, and using the sails to protect them from the challenging elements.

"We just wear wool and if it's raining, then we are wet," Jaouen explained.

Navigation is also kept as close as possible to historical methods, with the crew using a solar compass while at sea.

Despite the hardships, Jaouen said the journey had strengthened his appreciation of both nature and history.

He said the expedition also carried a wider message, showing that the sea continued to unite communities despite modern political divisions.

"we are still able to connect together by the sea. We are Celt, we are linked by our language but also by our seas," he said.

Reflecting on the Isle of Man's place in Celtic history, Jaouen described the island as an important meeting point linking the Celtic world with northern Europe.

He pointed to references in the Icelandic sagas connecting the rulers of Mann with lands in Brittany, saying the shared heritage between the regions should continue to be celebrated.

He added that while he was not suggesting people should abandon the benefits of modern life, there was value in remembering how earlier generations lived using the natural resources around them.

For him, the voyage was as much about rediscovering those connections as recreating the past.

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