Australian Wood Review – June 2017

http://www.woodreview.com.au 87

every wharf, dock, building and
mooring and was a showcase for
boats of all kinds. The 450 boats
which registered for the event ranged
from dinghis and kayaks, through to
yachts and cabin boats, and rising
above were the seven tall ships which
featured at this year’s event.

Paul Cullen stands at the helm of
the management team, a non-profit
organisation that creates a wealth
of benefits for the local community
and businesses. Community spirit
is everywhere, notably in the large
force of 415 volunteers who capably
handled everything from registration,
info booths and parking through
to all kinds of administration and
marketing. The benefits of this are

an atmosphere of ownership, sharing

and excitement.

Building, restoring, fixing,

maintaining, sailing, rowing and

racing are activities that make boats,

especially wooden ones, a journey

and a voyage of discovery in their

own right. On any of the four days

the event runs for there may be over

50,000 people on the waterfront and

yet the crowds are slow-moving and

respectful as people stop here and

there to admire what others have

made or own.

Trade displays from around 80

exhibitors highlighted tools,

finishes, adhesives and timbers for

boatbuilding. Most were to be found

Main: The AWBF is the largest maritime

festival in the southern hemisphere, the

largest in the world being the Fete Maritime

International, held in Brest, France every

four years. The festival was founded in

1994 by Andy Gamlin, Cathy Hawkins and

Ian Johnston who took inspiration after

attending the French event. The huge visiting

cruise ship Ovation of the Seas can be seen

at the rear.

Above: Contestants in the Quick ‘n’ Dirty

Boat Challenge on Kings Pier drew crowds

that never waned.

Top: Crowd scene on Elizabeth Pier prior to

the first Parade of Sail.

FEATURE