Boat Building Challenge, one of the best-loved events at the MyState .... Please visit the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council
AWBF
newsletter Christmas 2014
It's that time of the year again! It seems no time at all since the last MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival; and certainly no time since Christmas, 2013. And yet, here we are again. There are so many exciting things planned for our next festival, and I know all of you are looking forward to it so much! Our army (or should I say navy?) of wonderful volunteers, a great management team and all the crew associated with our festival, have been working so hard and energetically towards producing another terrific event. On behalf of the board and members of our organisation, a big thank you to each and every one of you. I know our event is going to be, yet again, another outstanding success! However, please put the paintbrush, pen, spanner, keyboard and the phone to one side once we get to Christmas, and make sure that you all enjoy time with your families. It is a lovely time of the year, and one to sit back and enjoy with your loved ones. To each and every one of you, thank you for everything you do for our event; please have a happy, joyous and safe Christmas, and a wonderful new year. And here's to the 11th MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival! - Steve Knight, Chairman, AWBF, Inc.
The AWBF office will be closed for the holidays from 4:00 pm on Christmas Eve, re-opening on Monday 5 January 2015. If the matter is urgent and you need to contact us, send an email to:
[email protected] 1
The Big Log Project
A Great Day Out in the Bush Before there were roads, or sawmills or Caterpillar tractors in Van Dieman’s Land, traditional bushmen used the broad axe and the adze and the cross-cut saw to cut the timber that would go into building the hundreds of wooden boats that served a growing colony. Those skills are now rare, but not entirely vanished, as we learned when bullock driver Brian Fish, axeman Dale Lester and woodsman John Sutcliffe demonstrated how it was done ‘As Once We Were’.
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Searching second-growth eucalyptus forest, our experienced woodcutters selected two trees that will eventually arrive on the festival site in February 2015. The trees were felled by hand, using axes and cross-cut saws. Brian’s team of twelve bullocks were harnessed together and pulled the logs out of the forest, where they will be seasoned before delivery to the Shipwright’s Village at the festival. Over the space of four days, visitors can watch our shipwrights break the logs down into useable timber, using only hand tools and traditional methods.
n a private property in the Coal River region of southern Tasmania two trees were selected for The Big Log Project at the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival 2015. The aim is to demonstrate the skills and hard work that went into building wooden boats in the early years of the Van Dieman’s Land colony. Before machines and roads arrived, individual trees selected for their straightness, grain and size were cut by hand and pulled out of the bush with teams of strong bullocks. Brian Fish is one of the last remaining professional ‘bullockies’ and he cares for a full team of these gentle giants.
Photos, previous page from top: Brian Fish runs one of that last working bullock teams in Tasmania, visiting country fairs and shows to demonstrate the vanishing skills of the bullocky. Dale and Brian swing into the 150-foot tree with axes as the crowd stands well clear. Everyone lends a hand to break the log into manageable sections and pass on a few skills to the next generation. This page: traditional tools and equipment still do the job today. Wood-chopping is a competitive sport in Tasmania. It’s all hands to the logs, including AWBF Vice-Chairman Peter Higgs
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Dale Lester, Brian Fish, Jack Lyall and John Sutcliffe get a well-deserved rest, and a welcome gift from sponsors Blundstone
Everyone who was privileged to watch this event was impressed by Brian’s extraordinary control over these powerful animals, who respond not to the whip, but to his voice. Visitors can see this demonstrated at the AWBF, as the bullocks deliver the logs on Friday, 6 February and Saturday 7 February 2015. This is selective and respectful use of specialty timbers to
make wooden boats, some of which will be in service for 100 years or more. More than 20 centenarian vessels will be on display during the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival. A related display of wood-cutting skills will be presented at the Port Arthur Heritage Site on Sunday 8 February, using timber from the same trees.
Blue Angel on the Rhona H A late twilight sail with breathtaking stories of the sea. Rhona H, one of Hobart’s favourite tall ships is partnering with theatre company Big hART's Blue Angel project for the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival 2015. A sneak peak into this extraordinary arts project, which is uncovering secret seafaring stories usually kept at sea. Throw yourself onto this magnificent vessel, feel the breeze on your cheeks and allow yourself to be carried away as you immerse yourself in some untold stories from the ships. This event is a teaser of the world premier of Blue Angel for the Tasmanian International Arts Festival in March 2015. One of Tasmania's premier companies, Big hART is known for their exceptional imagery and storytelling. Don't miss this chance to experience it for yourself. Faces of the Sea - in a linked performance, celebrated artist Robert Hannaford will conduct an open studio session aboard the historic yacht Westwind in Constitution Dock on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February. For full details see the official AWBF Festival Program. 4
schools will compete in the 2015 Quick ‘n’ Dirty Boat Building Challenge, one of the best-loved events at the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival. The challenge? Build a real boat in just one day, paint and decorate it the next and launch it in Constitution Dock for the finale on Monday, 9 February. It’s sink or swim (and sometimes both) as each team learns something about design, construction, rowing and sailing. It’s about teamwork, speed, concentration and flair - with a lot of giggling thrown in for good measure. With materials donated by sponsors Clennett’s Mitre 10, Spotlight and Tas Paints and supervision by project leader Suzy Manigian and boat builder Ian Johnston, the teams will get some real-world experience afloat – or otherwise. Prizes for the best design, best decoration, fastest build and racing honours are presented by Australian actor Jane Longhurst , of , and fame. The construction method is loosely based on the traditional Irish , a stretched skin boat over a wicker or cane frame. Light, tough and cheap to build, these boats are still used daily on the west coast of Ireland. Legend has it an ocean-going version carried St. Brendan the Navigator to America in the Sixth Century AD. ‘They won’t be going that far’, says Suzy. ‘Twice around Constitution Dock would be a good result!’
From top: Veteran boat builder Ian Johnston coaches the teams on how to build boats - fast! Centre: Project leader Suzy Manigian helps launch the new boat. Bottom:Competitiors try it out for size in the cold and muddy waters of North West Bay. Photos: Laki Anagnostis
Photo: Greg Norris
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f this doesn’t bowl you over, nothing will. Two lucky guests attending the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival will be coming back to Tasmania, in style. The winners of the Saffire Prize, drawn at random by independent research company EMRS, will experience an all-inclusive luxury package that includes dinner and accommodation at the famous Wrest Point hotel and casino, followed by transfer to what has recently been named the ‘Best Boutique Hotel in the World’ at the 2014 World Boutique Hotel Awards – Saffire Freycinet on the East Coast of Tasmania. The Saffire Prize includes accommodation, all meals, beverages and transfers, whisking you away to the lap of luxury. How to enter? You must be present at the festival, register your email address, complete a short questionnaire and then hold your breath….because it could be you!
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Saffire is an intimate sanctuary on Tasmania’s East Coast that delivers sophisticated coastal style and an inspirational experience. Discreetly positioned overlooking the Hazards Mountains, Freycinet Peninsula and the pristine waters of Great Oyster Bay, Saffire blends mankind and nature with breathtaking beauty. Featuring 20 luxurious suites, exclusive day spa, restaurant, guest lounge and bar, this new experience is a celebration of the art of service, internal and external wellbeing, local culinary delights, ancient landscapes and abundant wildlife. In the restaurant, innovative dining does not compromise the true flavours of the local produce. From breakfast through to a gourmet degustation or a la carte dinner, guests can customise their dining experiences to suit all tastes and schedules. Saffire prides itself on the art of customer service, with staff tailoring the details of your stay to suit the individual preferences and expectations for your indulgent break. They are dedicated to making your Saffire experience as unique as the destination itself, with the utmost in quality, engagement, skill and flair. There is a range of complimentary activities to enjoy: • • • • • •
Explore the Coles Bay waterfront or walk over the saddle to Wineglass Bay. Visit a working oyster farm and develop an understanding for wetland and marine ecology, plus a taste for prized Pacific oysters. Snorkel over literally hundreds of Freycinet Sea Rays. Experience the fun and freedom of learning the art of flying one of Saffire’s highly developed stunt kites. Don a jacket and join our highly acclaimed Chef for an hour to learn the methods behind some innovative award-winning culinary delights (by prior arrangement). Relax in the comfort of our hammocks with a good book and some fresh Tasmanian produce.
Parade of Sail Luncheon Don’t miss the chance to see the Tall Ships come up the Derwent on Friday February 6 from your exclusive table at Wrest Point. Waterfront views, fine Tasmanian food and wine, canapes on arrival. $135 per person, bookings a must! Call (03) 6221 1888
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The Lap of Luxury Lovers of the large and luxurious in wooden sailing vessels will have the chance to wine, dine and inspect the magnificent 33 metre Last Vintage at the forthcoming MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart. Last Vintage is owned by leading Tasmanian winemaker Julian Alcorso, who bought the vessel in early 2014 and sailed her from the Whitsundays to Hobart where she is undergoing an extensive refit and refurbishment. By 2016, when the work is completed, Julian and his son Matt, along with two other crew members, will set sail for the Mediterranean via the Caribbean. During the Wooden Boat Show, Julian plans to open the gangplank each day to a limited number of guests for lunch and dinner. They will be treated on board to some of Tasmania’s finest foods prepared by leading chefs as well as premium wines made by Julian himself. Last Vintage, originally named Markson and later Pacific Sunrise, is a ketch rigged, traditionally built, timber motor sailer of 159 tonnes. She has a sail area of 221 square metres combined with an eight cylinder Gardiner marine engine. The hull, which remains sound, is built from Fijian Kauri while the deck is Teak. Built in Fiji by Whippy Brothers Boatbuilding, she was designed by B.W. Donovan as an inter-island trading vessel. In the 1990s she was taken to New Zealand where she was fitted out as a floating hotel, renamed Pacific Sunrise and taken to the Whitsundays as a luxury tourism charter. With eight state rooms all with
their own en suites and a rich wood panelled entertainment, bar and dining area, she was a star attraction. Unfortunately, the owners struck trouble and the vessel lay idle for an extended period during which there was little or no maintenance undertaken. Since her arrival in Hobart the vessel has been renamed Last Vintage in deference to Julian Alcorso’s impending retirement from winemaking. New sails have been cut and new rigging will be fitted in the New Year. The imposing bow sprit has been updated and the Samson post strengthened. The decks have been re-caulked and varnished along with much of the feature timberwork both inside and outside. The restoration of Last Vintage is being managed by Julian’s son Matthew. Julian says Tasmania’s depth of talent in the building and maintenance of wooden boats is a huge benefit in undertaking a project of this scale.
- we’re on it! The AWBF new-build pontoon is well underway at Workskills Tasmania’s Glenorchy Red Shed. Employment skills trainer Martin Killick has a team on the project, learning valuable trade skills at the same time as supporting the Wooden Boat Festival’s children’s program in Constitution Dock. Project manager Tim Oxley says the scheme is about as good as it gets: local businesses, a training organisation, volunteers and a popular community festival getting together to do some good. Will the pontoon be ready by February? ‘No problem’, Tim says, ‘we’re on it’.
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What Boat Is That?
The challenge is to correctly identify what type or class of boats these are. Here are your clues: Designed in Tasmania in the early 1900s. Overall length around 24’6”. Quick and competitive against bigger boats, often given Harry Potter-ish names. Around nine of them will race this year at the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival. First correct answer posted on our Facebook page wins a small prize!
An invitation for all AWBF interstate visitors: Welcome to Tasmania! All visitors sailing to Hobart for AWBF 2015 are invited to a Welcome to Tasmania event - The Triabunna Seafest Taster will be held on Sunday 1st and Monday 2nd Feb 2015. Sunday’s activities will begin at 11am at the Triabunna Marina and will offer a selection of the finest east coast produce, including local delicacies such as Spring Bay mussels, local oysters, crayfish and scallops, (dependant on seasonal availability) locally harvested sea salt and local wine. Enjoy live music and visit local attractions such as the Spring Bay Maritime and Discovery Centre and Spring Bay Community Boat Shed. Some berthing spaces are available at the new marina, currently under construction. To assist with catering please RSVP if you would like to attend and require a space for your boat.
Photo courtesy Tourism Tasmania & Alice Hansen
Please visit the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council website for more information, or contact Seafest co-ordinator Cynthia Maxwell-Smith
[email protected] or 03 6256 4777 9
WoW-ING THE CROWD AT FRANKLIN The Huon Valley town of Franklin has a long and colourful maritime history and in recent years the bustling riverside village has been at the forefront of Tasmania's wooden boat revival. In 2012 a community group called the Women on Water (WoW) built the first St Ayles Skiff in Australia at the Living Boat Trust shed in Franklin.
In 2013 a WoW team travelled to Ullapool in Scotland to compete in the first St Ayles Skiff World Championships. The antipodean crew were so warmly welcomed, they reciprocated with an offer to hold a regatta in WoW's home town of Franklin. Now final preparations are underway to host crews and boats from Scotland, New Zealand, South Australia and Victoria.
The Iain Oughtred designed St Ayles Skiff is a stable, sea-worthy boat, rowed by a crew of four with one coxswain. Available as a kit of plywood panels and frames, the boat is quick and simple to construct by community groups using basic skills and tools. When completed the skiffs are made available for use by members of the community.
Eight St Ayles Skiffs will be racing starting with 250 metre sprints off Princes Wharf on Sunday February 8th. Then on February 12th events kick off in Franklin with a formal opening ceremony. To welcome visitors, Franklin will be hosting Huon Riverfest, a town-wide celebration of the region's food, wine, arts and culture.
Since their introduction in Scotland in 2009, nearly 200 St Ayles Skiff kits have been purchased by communities worldwide. The WoW skiff, Imagine, was swiftly followed by two more locally built craft: Swan in Cygnet in 2013 and Chiton in Taroona in 2014. A fourth skiff is due for completion in Franklin in early 2015.
Franklin is only a 40 minute drive from Hobart so the St Ayles Skiff International Regatta is an ideal opportunity to experience some more wooden boat action in a stunning riverside location after the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival. For program details and other information go to lbt.rforster.org/tasskiffie2015 Photos courtesy WoW and Nell Tyson
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here’s a fantastic program of entertainment lined up for the 2015 MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival. We’ll keep your toes tappin’ and your hips swingin’ with a selection of top performers from Tasmania and a bus-load of interstate and international acts. We have jazz, swing, rock and light opera; we have dance, poetry, acrobatics and mime. We have every form of singing from classic sea chanties to late-night blues, light opera to soul and all of it is completely free to the public so don’t miss out on the hottest summer gig in Hobart! Poets Joe Lynch and Ian Stephen (Ireland and Scotland, respectively) will entrance with stirring poetry on maritime themes, set to music and film. Friday night kicks off with Tony Mak Music and Rewound on the main stage in the Waterside Tavern and the Clarence High Jazz Combo on the Parliament House Lawn Stage. Saturday night welcomes the hugely popular Royal Australian Navy Show Band for a concert in the park at 6:00 pm, or if jazzy blues are more your style, catch headliner Bobbi Marchini returning to Hobart with her heart-breaking blues voice in the Waterside Tavern. Canadian-Australian folk-pop group The Belle Miners put three clear female voices into intricate harmony and old school Hobart rockers Basil the Rat turn up the volume on Saturday night at the bar. The Midnight Flyers take the main stage on Sunday night. There’s no shortage of traditional maritime fiddle and song, with the Southern Cross Trawlers, Peace and Plenty, the Mainbrace Splicers, the Boaters Choir and the Gilbert & Sullivan Society. The children get their own star line-up with a mix of performance, activities, structured play and workshops. Theatre Group Big Monkey present songs from their hit show Sinbad the Sailor on stage, with Scallywags from Exit Left theatre company and the amazing Sands Family Circus on the program as well. Australia’s Got Talent pick Hamish and Amelia take on Western Australia’s Scott Henman and Beck Wilson in the acrobatic stakes, while Tony LeFevre’s Marionettes, Circus Art’s inter-active workshops and well-loved storyteller Phil Rush ensure that the kids will have as much fun as the grown-ups in the MyState Very Important Kids Area on Parliament House Lawns all weekend.
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Take a Tall Ship There are many opportunities to get yourself aboard a Tall Ship during the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival, from short harbour cruises to longer journeys at sea. Don’t miss the chance of a lifetime to experience the magic of wind and sail. Note: All details are subject to change. You must check with the operator directly before making travel plans. Vessel James Craig
Home Port Sydney
Enterprize
Melbourne
Bark Endeavour
Sydney
Windeward Bound
Hobart
Lady Nelson
Hobart
Rhona H
Hobart
Voyage Sydney to Hobart Hobart to Sydney Day Sails Hobart
Price Booking SOLD OUT
[email protected] SOLD OUT $75/$65 $35/$30/$45 Melbourne to $2,150 28 Jan – 4 Feb www.enterprize.org.au Hobart 8 days Parade of Sail 6 Feb $70 Day Sails Hobart 7,8,9 Feb $35 Evening Sails 7,8 Feb $55 Hobart to $2,150 15 – 22 Feb Melbourne 8 days Sydney to Hobart 28 Jan – 6 Feb SOLD OUT www.anmm.gov.au West Coast Ad$2,790 10 – 20 Feb venture $3,100 $2,950 Hobart to Sydney 25 Feb – 6 March $5,100 Melbourne to www.windewardbound 29 Jan – 6 Feb $2,400 Hobart .com.au Parade of Sail 6 Feb $150 Sunset Sails 7,8,9 Feb $90 Hobart Hobart to Recherche Bay 3 – 6 Feb $560 www.ladynelson.org.au return Parade of Sail 6 Feb $120 Day Sails in tba Hobart Hobart to Recherche Bay 10 – 13 Feb $560 return Hobart to 4 – 6 Feb Recherche Bay check www.rhonah.com.au return Parade of Sail 6 Feb $130 Day Sails in 7,8,9 Feb $35 Hobart Post Festival Sail
Yukon
Julie Burgess
Franklin
Devonport
Tawe Nunnugah Parade of Sail Hobart to Port Davey return Devonport to Hobart
Dates 29 Jan – 6 Feb 13 - 20 Feb 8 Feb 9 Feb
10 Feb 28 Jan – 6 Feb
$1,050 $150
10 – 20 Feb
$2,800 SOLD OUT
Parade of Sail
6 Feb
SOLD OUT
Hobart to Devonport
10 – 15 Feb
$1,600
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03 9621 1294
02 9298 3777
0438 120 599
03 6234 3348
0407 169 623
check
6 Feb
31 Jan – 6 Feb
Info 02 9298 3888
www.yukontours.com.au
1300 945 354
www.bassstraitmaritim ecentre.com.au
03 6424 7100
OFF CU TS Among the many international visitors heading south for the 2015 MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival is Ian Stephen and his partner Christine Morrison from Scotland’s Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. www.ianstephen.co.uk/index.html for Ian’s story. Ian and Christine have a busy schedule taking in as much of Tasmania’s coast-line and maritime heritage as possible during their visit and are seeking accommodation to help with their travels from around 20 to 30 February 2015.
The Tasmanian Working Ketch Review Will see these historic boats sail in company in the Derwent on Sunday 8 February, competing on best presentation, best sail handling and seamanship for
The Wrest Point Cup reviving a 150-year old tradition. The best part? You could be aboard for an exciting sail as a passenger. Look for details in our January newsletter.
They are not troubled with the idea of ‘sleeping rough’ so would be grateful for bunks in shacks, boat sheds or aboard boats. Obviously a comfy spare-room would also be greatly appreciated. The probable itinerary will take in the east, north and north-west coasts and maybe even a day or so in the high-land lake district where Ian might look at the Tasmanian trout fishing options.
Pricing has been released for the day sailings on the magnificent squarerigger while she is in Hobart for the AWBF:
Sunday 8 February 1-4 pm $75 adult & $65 (12-16 yrs) with afternoon tea
If you can help, please contact Desiree Fitzgibbon at
[email protected] or phone her on (03) 6265 9220.
Monday 9 February 3-5 pm $35 adult & $30 (12-16 yrs)
9 February 8-10 pm $45 adult, glass of sparkling wine included
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