A couple whose business was affected after their boat was set ablaze by lightning are hosting a fundraiser this weekend to purchase a new vessel.

Rachel Wilks, who operates Two Fish in a Barrel on Dundonald Street with her husband Alex, said the loss impacted their livelihood and operations at their restaurant, which opened four months ago.

The family-friendly event on Sunday at the Masters parking lot is to run from noon until 4pm and will feature bouncy castles, face-painting, food options, a full bar and a silent auction.

On August 13, the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service received reports of a blaze on board Hunter’s LunaSea in Queen’s Cove, Mill Creek, Pembroke, shortly before 10.30am.

Mark Taylor, a BFRS division officer, said firefighters were able to control the flames within ten minutes.

Ms Wilks said the loss of the vessel affected the family badly and that it was costly to remove the gutted boat from Mill Creek to be salvaged.

“The day it was burnt, we had to tow it to the boatyard, then we had to tow it to St George’s to see what we can salvage and then we had to take it to the dump,” she added this week.

She said her husband also supplies fish to other restaurants and noted that he spends at least three days a week out at sea.

Ms Wilks said she had been catering since 2020 and as the enterprise grew, the couple decided to open the restaurant this year.

She added: “We already received many deliveries from my husband’s boat and all his fishing excursions for our menu.

“We really focus on local fish so when this incident happened it was quite scary for us because we weren’t quite sure what will happen. But it’s one beautiful thing about Bermuda and the community, and everyone has been supportive.

“We have already had two deliveries from local fishermen to keep us going.”

She said the couple secured a temporary boat which her husband will use for the next few months until they can purchase another vessel.

Ms Wilks added: “We do still have a steady flow of fresh fish and when we get our boat we will have even more. But at least we have enough right now so that we can still have fish tacos on the menu, or fish sandwiches and so forth.”

She said the restaurant serves a variety of food other than fish, and added: “We are making do.”