Friendly rivals Tak Kershaw and David Gallichan, both of Beaumaris, cracked open the Champagne together to re-launch their vessels last week.

David rescued his boat Ceris from a bonfire and Tak's boat Peggy was in such a state he was told to chuck it in a skip.

But the two retired sailors persevered and the immaculate boats received cheers of appreciation from spectators who watched the launch.

David said he was thrilled to see the 20 foot sloop back on the water and quickly put her through her paces in a race.

"She went back in the water for the first time in 35 years and came second in the race," said David, who has been the former Coxswain of Beaumaris lifeboat for 15 years.

"The boat that came first was the one I rebuilt 25 years ago.

"I could put my fingers through the seams of this one when I got her but now she doesn't take any water.

"If we had lost this boat we would have lost a bit of history."

Tak Kershaw is the former captain of the Stena Explorer and used to handling much bigger vessels than his Fife which was built in 1927.

He was also second officer on the QE2 and a navigator in the 1972 Whitbread round the world yacht race.

His restoration work was overseen by local shipwright Ceinion Williams and hundreds of hours have been put into both projects.

"She was an absolute wreck and I was told to take her to the tip," said Tak, who has also entered his boat in the Menai Regatta.

"She'd been in Port Dinorwic for about fifteen years and she was pretty grotty really."

The Ceris was built in 1948 by Morris Levitt at Gallows Point, Beaumaris and the Peggy was built at Dickies boatyard in Bangor.

Historically there was a demand for a day-racing boat and Dickies commissioned Fife to build a 26ft water line boat specifically for these waters.

"You can race an old girl like this against a new version and still stand a good chance of winning," said Tak.

"It's taken two years and I've thoroughly enjoyed doing it but i'm glad to get it finished," he said.