Under Brian Flewell-Smith’s supervision and guidance we set up the WBA Marquee at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club early Saturday morning amidst hundreds of Classic Yachts, modern and many well loved wooden boats and a few plastic hangers-on and many wooden boat groupies.

We were on the hard stand along with Tim Phillips and the Wooden Boat Shop, Boat Books and right next to the main walkway to the harbour and jetty. Surrounding us were the static displays of a Fazackerley of the WBG Tasmania, Peter Higgs, various original dinghys and rowboats and Brian’s diagonal planked boat minus motor. The Geelong model boats, Enterprise and other model steam engine models were very popular as well as an original Rope Maker machine. Lin and Larry Pardey were signing books too on the Sunday for anyone.

The oldest ship re-construction in Australia, the Caravel Notorious was very popular and weighed in at 70 tons. Two Riva style speed boats were there, much to my delight, hand built in the Riva style and looked very impressive. We met up with Eric Messer, a very early influential member of the WBA, Peter Costolloe from CYA, and the Anglesea rowing club and their 60 year old surf boat, the Whaleboat from Flagstaff museum, as well as the entire Morris family including Laura and her much admired crib, and Frank who sailed across from Mordialloc in his Hartley.

Thanks to Brian Flewell-Smith for his organizational skills and arranging the good weather for the sailpast and the well cooked steak sandwiches which we barely survived on all weekend.

Looking forward to next time...
Andrew Cohen
Vice President