Articles from 2010 and earlier

Australian Wooden Boat Festival

Wooden Boat Festival, Hobart, 2009

Several members of the WBA were in Hobart for yet another fantastic festival. Some flew, others sailed, but all had a great time!

David and Jenny Stott, Graham Signorini, Brian Flewell-Smith, Max and Elaine Wilson, Russell and Jenny Jones, and Peter, Kirsty, Amelia and William Batchelor were there from Melbourne, and there were probably more.  At least 15 East Gippsland members also attended.

See photos from the 2009 Festival

18 foot skiffsFriday was hot and sunny. Good crowds attended the opening and watched the mass sail from John Garrow Light to Sullivan's Cove.  I was able to catch up with Barry North on Peace Train, and Robert Ayliffe, on a Norwalk Island Sharpie.

The quality of the boats on display is amazing! One boat that we were looking at looked as if it was brand new, but it was actually a restoration of a boat built in the 1940s.

We couldn't resist buying a couple of tickets in the raffle for the next Perigrine School boat raffle!

The Quick ‘n’ Dirty boat building competition was keenly contested by 12 school teams, and their race on Sunday drew a large and enthusiastic crowd. The Community Boat Building display, where a number of boats were being built by community teams, to a very high standard, was also very popular, and I could have spent an hour or more just talking to the people involved. This is the sort of thing that I think that we should be doing when displaying at boat shows.

Community Boat BuildingA community boat bulding project set itself the target of starting and completing a number of dinghys and skiffs in three days, and many of them were on the water prior to the quick ‘n’ dirty race. They fielded so many questions from the public during their build time it was amazing that they had anything on the water at the end of Sunday.

Another highlight was watching a fleet of 18’ skiffs set sail from Constitution Dock, and head out to race, water foaming away from their bows even before they left the harbour.

Boats were packed in everywhere: there were great sights, and fascinating people to talk to everywhere, and Young Endeavour, James Craig, Enterprize, Lady Nelson, and Windeward Bound added to the atmosphere. 

See photos from the 2009 Festival.

Find out more about the festival at www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au.

Quick n Dirty raceLeaving the festival

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Membership is open to all wooden boat enthusiasts. Many members own boats, others do not, but all enjoy the chance to get together and "muck about with boats". Their boats include rowing boats, putt-putts, radio controlled models, pond yachts, canoes, kayaks, steam-powered boats, sailing dinghies, dayboats and ocean-going yachts.

The Wooden Boat Association is based in Melbourne, with regular sailing days scheduled on Albert Park Lake, as well as other venues around Melbourne, and at least one weekend each year elsewhere in the state.

Especially welcome is the first-time wooden boat builder or restorer, who can expect to receive ample advice and assistance in getting their dream onto the water.

Benefits of Wooden Boat Association Membership 

  • Become part of a friendly and sociable group of people with a common interest in wooden boats.
  • Receive Shavings, a monthly newsletter bringing timely news about events and activities in Victoria.
  • Regular meetings with a wide range of interesting speakers and activities. Our usual venue is the Albert Park Yacht Club, with visits to other venues from time to time.
  • Monthly sailing days, on Albert Park Lake and other locations close to Melbourne.
  • Use of the Association's own boats, two traditional sailing boats, Begonia and Lindsay Symons, our canoe Stringybark, and our extremely rare Port Philip 12.
  • Access to the Association's extensive library of boatbuilding and other nautical books.
  • Companionship with sister associations in other states

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