Princess Anne was among thousands of landlubbers expected to descend on the Banffshire fishing village of Portsoy this weekend for this year's Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.
Her Royal Highness was greeted by a dancing tribute by primary school children from the local primary school.
Around 20,000 visitors and over 100 traditional boats are expected in the small North-east port which has a population of just 1,800.
A programme of racing will this year be complemented by displays of traditional maritime pursuits including boat building, knitting, weaving and shanty singing.
Festival Chairman Roger Goodyear said: "Knitting and nautical traditions are intertwined. The 'Gansey' was the equivalent of a seafaring uniform - warm and with a degree of being waterproof - it also had a bitter sweet element. Each fishing community had its own distinctive pattern to help identify any sailors who were drowned and washed ashore. Fishermen's initials were also knitted into the pattern.
Surprisingly it is believed that the pastime of knitting was not originally the domain of women of the house, but rather the men.
The festival's music programme will begin in style on Friday night with The Donnie Munro Band headlining the Showcase Concert and continues with traditional musicians and singers from across the world such as sea shanty expert Bob Walser.
