The Herreshoff Marine Museum’s 7th annual summer boatbuilding program concluded last Thursday, Aug. 10 with the launch of the vessel that the middle- and high school-aged students had spent five weeks constructing.

In front of an appreciative audience of parents, the students carried their creation, a Tenderly Dinghy designed by Chesapeake Light Craft down Burnside Street and across Hope to the HMM docks.

The students each spoke in turn, describing the many steps required to bring the project to fruition, before the moment of truth: the launch. (Yes, it floated.) According to Faith Barrass of Barrington, it was a fun five weeks, and a good experience. “I’ve been sailing most of my life so I thought it would be interesting to learn the backstory of how a boat is actually made,” she said.

For their instructor, Maks Robidoux, it was an interesting five weeks. “They were entertaining,” said the Worcester Polytechnic Institute student and mechanical engineering major. “They were fun to work with — and they did good work, though sometimes they needed to be enticed with pizza and swimming.”

HMM also offers boatbuilding classes during the school year; for more information, visit Herreshoff.org.