Australian Wooden Boat Festival

In February, we flew to Tasmania to help a friend take his wooden boat ‘Windrose’ to the Australian Wooden Boat Festival. I am super glad we did. Windrose, a Sparkman & Stephens, pictured below, was built in 1959. She was part of the first American team to win the Admiral Cup in 1961. In 2019, Windrose, her owner Ashok and a keen crew completed the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Read on to see what an ‘Australia Wooden Boat Festival’ is about.

The Wooden Boat Festival

This biennial four-day event attracts over 200,000 visitors and hundreds of boats of all shapes and sizes. Sailing boats, motor boats, tall ships, canoes, dinghies and even model boats. If it is wooden and floats, anything goes. Showcasing the most extensive collection of wooden vessels in the southern hemisphere, it is also the second biggest such festival in the world.

The festival’s origins go back to 1994 when three friends & boating enthusiasts got together and decided Australia needed a wooden boat festival. Furthermore, today it is still primarily run as a not-for-profit by volunteers.

The event, originally held over two days in November, attracted 150 – 200 boats during the first few festivals. The weather in November can be unpredictable, and in 2001 organisers changed the event to the long weekend in February. The change proved advantageous, and 320 boats registered for the festival that year, and 650 boats by 2007.

Wooden vessels are unique. There is often an interesting story behind each concept and design. At the wooden boat show, you will notice that some boat owners go to great lengths to share the tale of their vessel’s creation or the voyages she has made. There is something about wooden boats that naturally ignites ‘nostalgia’, and at this festival, with some participants dressing the part, it is no exception.

The event encompasses all it should, with wooden boats displayed afloat and onshore. The festival includes demonstrations and hands-on events, such as traditional woodworking, exploring Tasmania’s seafood industry and indigenous water-crafts. Moreover, the wooden boat show is rich with local food, live entertainment, exhibits and children’s activities.

2023 Wooden Boat Festival

Parade of Sail

The festival opened with a sail pass as many ships made their way up the Derwent to the festival. You could even book a ticket to sail on one of the tall ships!

Blundstone Noisy Boatyard & Shipwright’s Village

People could get hands-on in the Noisy Boatyard with many short woodworking courses. And the Shipwrights Village had demonstrations  – e.g. Constructing crayfish pots, rope work, dinghy building, sailmaking and traditional caulking.

Vintage Steam Village

The Hobart Vintage Machinery Society shared stationary engines, steam engines and outboard motors.

Constitution Dock

Constitution Dock had many boats and events, including safety demonstrations and model boat sailing. People could borrow dinghies (and safety gear) at a temporary floating pontoon in the middle and row around the area.

Food, Drinks and Entertainment

Many restaurants and food vans served fresh Tasmanian produce. The pop-up Iron House Waterside Tavern was popular. People gathered there to drink and listen to the entertainment. Free entertainment was also at the Princes What Forecourt, and there were roving entertainers.

Some of the entertainers during the 2023 festival included, The Royal Australian Navy Band, Velvet Divan, Barrelhouse, The Suffrajettes, and a whole heap of nautically named groups, such as The Stranded Wailers, The Lost Quays, Baby Come Tack, Clover Hitch, The Boaters and Where Water Meets.

The Old Woolstore Little Sailors Village

The ‘little sailors village’ on Parliament House Lawns had free fun entertainment for kids. Some of the fun included face painting, circus workshops and entertainment by popular Scallywags, Bipedal Beetles, Exitleft and Makebelieve.

Eat More Tassie Seafood

In the Eat More Tassie Seafood marquee, local chefs demonstrated how to cook delicious meals with Tasmanian seafood. Other demonstrations included oyster shucking and watching local fishermen making abalone catch bags or rock lobster pots. It was an excellent opportunity to learn more about how fishermen, scientists and governments manage Tasmania’s seafood industry.

Maritime Marketplace

The Maritim Markets, held at Princes Whaf in the No1 Shed, had over 60 commercial exhibitors. You could find almost anything you needed for your vessel, e.g.paint, furniture, insurance, props, engines, pumps, winches, tools, cleaning products, and so much more.

Exhibitions, Films & Other Events

City Hall held the Spirit of Tasmania Australian Dinghy Display and the radio-controlled One Metre Yachts. At the same time, the model boats were displayed at the Waterfront Pavilion. The Peacock Theatre, Salamanca Arts Centre and The Maritime Museum of Tasmania had Films and exhibitions. They included ‘Ice in the Rigging’, ‘Women and Whaling’, and ‘The Recovery of the Clipper Ship City of Adelaide’. There were also many one-off ticketed events, including a ‘Sparkling Breakfast’ onboard the Tall Ship ‘Soren Larsen’ with Chef Eloise Emmett and a ‘Sea Shanties Workshop’ aboard the tall ship Enterprize with The Lost Quays.

Vintage Diving Display

There were daily demonstrations with vintage diving gear at Watermans Dock.

Admiral’s Sail

The vessels departing concluded the festival. And once again, you could book a ticket to sail on a tall ship.

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