The theme for the 2016 festival was a celebration of
the ‘best of Australia’s maritime and boating heritage’.
Plans are well under way to make 2018 bigger and
better. Each festival has a different theme aiming
towards the culmination of a six-year journey to 2020
to mark 250 years since Captain James Cook’s arrival
in Australia.
This is being aided through input and contribution
from the Wooden Boat Association of NSW, boating
associations including the Halvo’s, Historical Skiffies,
Steam Boat Association of Australia, Sydney Heritage
Fleet and major harbour sailing clubs. There is clearly
a lot to get excited about as the three-day celebration
of vintage, veteran and wooden boats reflects the
time ‘when boats were made of wood and the men
were made of steel’.Boats abreast showing their colours.
Children having fun onboard.
for all of you old matelot’s,
the action Stations
Exhibition and theatrette
provide a pretty realistic
recollection of life at sea
on a warrie that will send a
shiver down your spineMaybe, we should mention steel boats also, as many
great examples are present on Sydney Harbour. One
of these is the James Craig which is one of few iron
square rigged ships still operational in the world. I
have good scuttlebutt that she will be doing cruises on
the harbour over the weekend along with the Sydney
Heritage Fleets Lady Hopetoun. This will be a great
opportunity to spend some time around steam to
refresh the memory for all of you mature enough to
have spent time steaming real ships.
There is also the museum’s collection of old warries
including the O-Boat Ex HMAS Onslow, Ex HMAS
Vampire and the patrol boat Ex HMAS Advance. For
all of you old matelot’s, the Action Stations Exhibition
and theatrette provide a pretty realistic recollection
of life at sea on a warrie that will send a shiver down
your spine.
As we saw in previous CWBF’s there will be a large
fleet of Halvorsen’s from 25-60ft bobbing alongside
examples of some of the best wooden and early
fibreglass boats ever built in Australia including my
Clansman. With a rise in amateur and professional
boat builders restoring and building with the finesse of