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Date Published: 05/06/2023

Whaling boat made from chocolate sets sail in northern Spain

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The 1,500-kilo vessel, constructed entirely from chocolate, was launched in the town of Gipuzkoa, Spain

Whaling boat made from chocolate sets sail in northern Spain

Stunned spectators lined the port of Pasaia, in Gipuzkoa, northern Spain on Thursday June 1 and waited with baited breath as a ship made entirely out of chocolate was launched into the water on its maiden voyage.

The incredible eight-metre vessel is modelled on a 16th century whaling boat also constructed in the city, which sank off the coast of Canada after an ill-fated journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

This sweet reincarnation took more than 40 chocolatiers, chefs and expert craftsmen almost two months to build and the final ship weighs a hefty 1,500 kilograms.

Representatives of the community described the launch as a “technical feat and representative project of symbolic memory for Basque maritime history and the history of chocolate”.

A nervous crowd watched as the chocolaty vessel was slipped from its mould on the banks by artisans from the confectioners Gozoa and shipbuilders from vessel factory Albaola, and two brave pastry chefs volunteered to be the first to try and sail the boat.

Despite working on the novel project since April 17, none of those involved were sure that the ship would actually float, or whether the salt water in the port would begin to dissolve the chocolate.

Their fears were unfounded, however, and the structure was declared sea-worthy after making a 30-minute lap of the marina. Two smaller rescue boats – made of wood rather than chocolate – followed the course of the vessel in case it ran into trouble but thankfully weren’t needed.

Local confectioner Lorena Gomez, President of Gozoa, one of the project’s promoters, explained that the boat began its first water voyage shortly after a reception with Xabier Agote, President of Albaola.

“The keel, the upper part and the seats are made of wood, but the rest, as well as the base, is made of chocolate,” she added.

In other news: VAT reduction on food saves shoppers in Spain 254 million euros

Images: @CommunautePB/Twitter

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