Model Yacht. '6 Meter' Scale Model Sailing Yacht

Art in the City

Art in the City, a dementia-friendly community group, joined us in May 2025 to explore items in the Edinburgh900 category of 'City of Leisure'

People were asked…

What are your thoughts about this object?

Response

With the rise of radio-controlled (RC) boats, traditional model yachts like this one have become less common. The group speculated on the practical challenges of sailing such a vessel, particularly how one might retrieve it if it stalled in the middle of the pond. Some suggested wading in, or hooking the boats in from the bank.

Gill, who lives in Montrose, asked about the letters on the yacht’s sail. She explained that on real boats, these letters often represent the first and last letters of the town’s name. Montrose, for instance, would be “ME.”

Vicky noted that part of the pond is now maintained as a green space to support local wildlife. This led to a broader conversation about how public parks have evolved over time. Bill shared that he had allowed about a quarter of his back garden lawn to grow wild, and he appreciated the contrast between the waving grasses and the neatly trimmed sections.

The conversation then took an unexpected turn toward memories of work outings. Volunteer Liz recalled how these trips were once major social events, complete with paper streamers trailing from bus windows and picnics in local parks. She painted a vivid picture of the joy of travelling along with the streamers signalling to others that the party was on their holidays. Bill contributed a memory from his childhood on a farm, where he and the farm workers would take trips using the workers’ bus. He remembered the distinct smell of wet clothes and vegetables that lingered inside. This sparked a wave of sensory recollections from others - memories of the smells that once defined towns, from brewing and chocolate to biscuit making.

Model yacht. '6 meter' scale model sailing yacht

Art in the City