SAILS OF THE CENTURIES

HOBART IS AGAIN THE CENTRE OF THE MARITIME WORLD AS THE WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL SAILS INTO TOWN

A WORLD record attempt and international speakers headline another bumper day at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival today, after visitors packed Hobart’s waterfront for the start of the biennial event.

The festival was officially launched yesterday morning before the Parade of Sail, in which nine tall ships were escorted by hundreds of boats up the River Derwent to the waterfront.

One of those ships was the Young Endeavour, which left Sydney for Hobart last Friday.

On board was Eliza Skorulis of New South Wales, who said she couldn’t think of a better time to visit Hobart.

“It’s incredible seeing so many people come together for the festival,” she said.

“Boats have played such a crucial role in uniting people in the past so seeing how they still bring people together to this day was lovely.”

Festival chairman Steve Knight was pleased with the event’s first day.

“[We are] off to a stunning start with tens of thousands of smiling attendees enjoying the festival,” Mr Knight said.

“In particular, there is a tremendous amount of interest in the American precinct.”

The festival is expected to attract about 200,000 visitors over four days to what is the largest collection of wooden boats in the southern hemisphere, with almost 500 boats on display.

Premier Will Hodgman said an estimated 3000 peo-

ple will come from interstate and overseas, injecting about $3 million into the economy.

“Tasmania has a vibrant reputation as an events capital and the Australian Wooden Boat Festival has been a pioneer in developing our reputation,” Mr Hodgman said.

Today’s action will include a world record attempt for the largest number of ships in a bottle gathered in one location.

No record currently exists, and co-ordinator Michael Stoddart is hoping to gather several hundred with the help of the public.

“It’s open to anybody with a ship of any description, whether it’s in a glass bottle of any size and any shape, in any condition, it doesn’t matter.

“Bring the ship in a bottle along to Macquarie Wharf 2 any time from 8.30 [this] morning and it will be put on display until the count at 1 o’clock.”

The first speakers at the National Maritime Museum’s International Wooden Boat Symposium will also hit the stage during free sessions at the University of Tasmania’s Dechaineaux Theatre on the waterfront.

Today’s speakers include Jon Wilson, David Payne, Brion Toss, Sean Koomen, Betsy Davis and Carol Hasse.

The festival wraps up on Monday.

For more details visit the festival website, australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au.