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Carmen Bell, Sunday, 15 February 2009 6-9 February 2009 at Hobart, Tasmania The 2009 Australian Wooden Boat Festival was the eighth festival held at Hobart, Tasmania and attracted more than 550 boats afloat and ashore. The smallest boat, but not a model boat, was a baby cradle called Eximious II at 3'9", and the longest boat was the tall ship James Craig at 230'.
The Parade of Sail on Friday signalled the start of the Festival and was attended by tall ships James Craig, Enterprize, Young Endeavour, Lady Nelson and Windward Bound. They were accompanied by a flotilla of hundreds of boats as they made their way up the River Derwent towards Sullivan's Cove. As a special treat this year, four of the historic 18-foot Sydney skiffs attended and proved their sailing skills in fresh conditions.
The Couta Boat Association hosted a get-together on Saturday at the Customs House Hotel which was attended by 112 members. Two Tasmania-based couta boats My Girls and Pelikan, and several Victoria-based Couta Boat Association members' boats such as Ruth-E, Torea and Storm Bay as well as a number of motor lauches also made the effort to attend. CONGRATULATIONS TO 'MY GIRLS C206' FOR WINNING THE PURSUIT RACE IN A MIXED FLEET - another example of what great boats the couta boats are.
Photos of the festival can be viewed at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/awbf2009/
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival is held every two years, and the next festival is planned for 11-14 February 2011.
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