There are few more excited to witness the hustle and bustle of event preparations than TasPorts, which has been a proud supporter of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival since its inception in 1995.
Posted
09 February 2023
Organisers have been blessed with sunny skies and warm temperatures as they set up for the Festival, which starts tomorrow, Friday 10 February. The four-day event is a celebration of beautiful wooden boats and is the most significant event of its kind in Australia.
The event kicks off at noon tomorrow with the Parade of Sail when more than 250 boats and Tall Ships make their way up the Derwent to the Festival.
One enthusiast most anticipating the event is TasPorts’ Tug Master, Peter Manthorpe, himself an owner of a beautiful wooden boat. Not only a competent Z-Tech tug operator, Peter also has a strong attachment to Tall Ships, having sailed as Mate aboard the Bounty during the First Fleet re-enactment in 1988.
He’ll be taking part in the Parade of Sail in Chapparal, a vessel first launched in the early 70s as a Huon pine cray boat. It came into Peter’s possession in 2010, long after it retired, and after he saw its potential to be reborn as a cruising vessel.
Peter’s also looking forward to seeing the Tall Ship One and All, a vessel based on the original rig of an 1850s brigantine, built in South Australia and commissioned in 1987.
“One and All was the first ship I skippered,” Peter said.
“And as luck would have it, my nephew is now skipper and will be at the helm when the Parade sets sail tomorrow,” he said.
The event showcases Tasmania’s rich maritime history and continued links to the water through tourism, seafood, trade and leisure – it’s also free and family-friendly.
TasPorts recognises the importance of preserving our maritime history and heritage and is extremely proud to support the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.