Wooden boats event gets own film fest

WORK has progressed on a restoration project in Sydney introduced on this page earlier this year and of considerable interest to Tasmanians.

It is a Herreshoff-designed 18m ketch built by Canadian tuna fisherman Douglas Baron in 1974 in Sidney, Vancouver, and will be featured at the 2019 Australian Wooden Boat Festival.

Originally called the Mercator, the renamed Wright of Passage Mercator completed four Pacific Ocean crossings from Vancouver to Hong Kong and twice from Hong Kong to New Zealand. In 2002, a new owner sailed it from Thailand to Sydney, where it has been ever since.

But it is its recent history that will make Wright of Passage Mercator a featured attraction at the festival.

The vessel was in a state of disrepair when it was donated to the charity Sailors with disABILITIES in January this year. Since then, a major restoration project has been underway at Woolwich Dock in Sydney with the work being done by young people who may be challenged by a disability, geographic or social disadvantage.

Participants learn about tools, carpentry, electronics, mechanics, general boat maintenance and the work of a shipwright under the guidance of skilled mentors. Their involvement in the program can lead to trade apprenticeships and employment in the marine and allied industries.

Wright of Passage Mercator was originally built using oak frames, a western red cedar hull and a deck constructed of beech on ply. Its restoration has been a major undertaking and has included rebuilding the main mast, splining and regluing the mizzen mast, completely refastening the hull, installing some sister frames and applying epoxy sheaving from the water line down. Major work has been done in the engine room and the accommodation has been modified to meet the specific needs of sailors with disabilities.

Leading the project is David Pescud who, despite leaving school at the age of 15 unable to read or write, ran successful businesses and was able to retire in his early 40s and to devote his life to his first love, sailing, with a focus on creating an opportunity for disabled young people to learn to sail.

The ultimate aim of the current Wright of Passage Program is to sail the vessel to Hobart and proudly display their achievements at the wooden boat festival.

For more details and offers of help for the project, phone 0421 725 170 or email info@ sailorswithdisabilities. com AN exciting new feature is being added to the next Australian Wooden Boat Festival program.

Entries are now open for a film festival focusing on, or highlighting, wooden boats which is to be part of the greater 2019.

The AWBF Film Festival carries a prize of $500 for the winning film and a further $250 prize is offered for a people’s choice short film award.

For 24 years the award-win- festival in February ning four-day festival has brought together the largest and most beautiful collection of wooden boats in the southern hemisphere.

Film makers are invited to submit short or feature-length films under three broad cate- gories: documentary, narrative or animated. The only stipulation is that the film must embrace the common theme of wooden boats.

The competition is now open with an early-bird deadline on August 3 and the final closing date for submissions on September 17. Films are to be uploaded through the Filmfreeway portal at filmfreeway. com/ AustralianWooden BoatFilmFestival where filmmakers can also find full details and competition rules.