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| Kingbilly Pine yacht. Over the last ten years the Hobart Wooden Boat show has grown and grown. The recent show attracted some 650 wood boats from all over the world and attracted over a quarter of a million visitors. Anyone interested in boats, particularly wooden ones this display is not to be missed. |
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| Cluster of wooden yachts. The display has grown in size year after year to now be the largest exhibition of wooden vessels in the Southern Hemisphere. To wonder around the Hobart docks on a fine January day is a delight. Then there is the added bonus to be able to talk and discuss the methods of construction of these wonderful vessels with the people who actually built them. Their love and enthusiasm for their task is there for all to behold. Hobart has had a long history of boat building which in a sort of way justifies the British settlement of this part of the world. The British Admiralty became quite excited about the Norfolk pine trees on Norfolk Island and could see how they maybe able to supply the navy with masts and spares. This of course didn't happen, but what did take place the discovery of Huon Pine, a timber that was nearly rot proof, oily and ideal for boat building. This was the start of Tasmania's love affair with wooden boats, a affair that has lasted to this day. The state has establish a wooden boat school at Franklin were an enthusiast may learn how to do it from experienced shipwrights. |
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| James Craig' steel hulled ship along side the dock. |
James Craig.
The James Craig was a steel wreck tied up to the Hobart shoreline when I first came to live here in 1975. How it had survived over the years is any one guess. However a far sighted individual from Sydney purchased the vessel. towed it back home to Sydney Harbour and set about the restoration of this fine example of 19th cent shipbuilding. The result does great credit to the craftsmen involved as any viewer would testify. She had sailed down to show the flag. During the year the James Craig sails around the Australian coast, and I believe any keen sailor has the opportunity to learn the ropes.
A beautiful boat .
This a beautiful example of the shipwrights craft.
Tasmania is well blessed with many fine timbers suitable for boat building, Huon pine,
Kingbilly pine and many others.
Eye of the Wind.
One of several sailing vessels who made the trip down to Hobart. There was a grand sail past at the end of the long weekend down the Derwent River. Some of my readers may not realise that the Derwent in a very deep waterway, and the harbour is one of the largest in Australia though now not greatly used thanks to the container age.
Years ago Hobart had a flourishing ferry service, sadly now not as greatly used as it could be.
However the city still has a number of the old steam ferries operating as tourist vessels.They add a sense of great charm and colour to the dock area and are very popular with visitors. It is possible to catch a ferry up the river to a new Hobart attraction MONA Museum of Old and New art.. The Hobart docks are more or less in the middle of town giving the city a maritime feel.
Looking across the docks at a few of the boats.
Russian visitor. This vessel sailed half way around the world to get here!
Sullivan's Dock with a few of the visitors.
Poop section of the "Notorious"
A replica of the Portuguese 15th cent caravel..
This vessel has been hand built along the traditional construction lines and was open to visitors.
It was built from reclaimed timber by a dedicated couple in Victoria.
Hand built canvas boat with its builder.
Who is only too willing to instruct you in how to build your own..
Note the novel oar shape. This boat has been built along the lines of an Irish corache.
Note the rib construction made of small sapling timber and how the stringers have been tied
to them. As the vessel is covered in canvas and then sealed with bitchmen paint you need to
be careful where you place your feet.
Sail past up the Derwent River on the last day of the show.
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