The News, Culture and Practice of Sailing woodenboats
in Australia, New Zealand & The South Pacific.
“Everybody loves the sixties, especially those who weren’t there”
At a time when personal liberation and rebellion against authority were prevalent many expressed their individualism through new outlooks on religion, popular culture, and sexuality, and a handful through making slow and mindful voyages around the world in under prepared small boats.
Island Happenings
The people of Penrhyn are not new to looking after stranded sailors, and there are often stories told about the odd Japanese fishing boat that has been wrecked on the island, the most recent of which was in the last 15 years.
“Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul”
In essence, we’re just a conceited, naked ape. In our minds we’re some sort of “divine legend” We can walk around the earth deciding who will live and who will die and what will be destroyed and what will be saved.
Port Lincoln's historic fishing vessel rots on the seabed
The ALMONTA remains on the seabed, its crow's nest and railings breaking the surface of the calm waters of Porter Bay and lilting precariously to one side.
Back to Chelsea
The Chelsea Classic brings to life the excitement of sailing from the Club’s formation in 1938, to the post war boom in sailing through the 1950’s to 1970’s including Vee Jays, Skates, Rainbows, Gwen 12's, St Kilda 8's, 14 foot skiffs, Heavyweight Sharpies and timber Lightweight Sharpies, both sailing and on display.
Remember where you have been, look to where you are going.
Perhaps rowing is a metaphor. As we age we seem to spend more time looking back than looking forward, and we risk stagnation. If we don’t row we go nowhere.
Jolly Roger-Rani’s Relation
Perhaps before embarking on the new build of a wooden boat, first consider if there is an existing craft that, given a full restoration, would fulfil your needs and dreams as well as one built from scratch.
the workings of the master cartographer
Two centuries later, the books used as source material by Flinders during his three-year voyage are back on Australian soil, in the possession of the National Archives in Canberra.
The AWBF 2023 Film
Just in case you are still dreaming of that weekend three weeks ago, the AWBF has put together a three minute video montage covering all the action from in an around the Hobart Waterside.
My activism is the rent I pay for living on this planet
The power of the film comes, not from any particular radicalism that Lamya shows in her work … but by showing the counterpoint of her “normal” life in Paris with the horrors of environmental vandalism around the world.
I Didn’t know it meant That Much
But the takeaway for me as one of the current custodians, is that I didn't realise how much these old wooden boats still meant to the people who had been involved with them.
Eight Bells- Doug Jenkin
An upright, quietly spoken gentleman in a captain’s cap introduced himself, and without any hint of self-engrandisment, made it clear that he knew what he was talking about when it came to wooden boats.
New insights on ancient people movements in the super-continent of Sahul
The ancient continent of Sahul was comprised of Australia and PNG, when sea levels were much lower. It’s to this continent that the ancestors of Australian Aboriginal people came.
Not The ARCHIBALD RUSSELL!
Another major piece of evidence in this discrepancy, is that my model is carrying on its mainmast, now very discoloured, the House Flag of Robert and John Craig, Glasgow
GLORIA-Perfection afloat
The creators of GLORIA were certainly looking for perfection during their 15 year build at Wilson’s in Cygnet. I’m not sure if they achieved contentment but they certainly created one of the most special yachts in Australia.
The Festival-Frame by frame
While we came away with enough content to keep these pages filled for a month or two, this week we choose instead to simply share some images from an unforgettable four days.
Open for Business
For some time at SWS, we’ve been discussing the need to dip a toe in the pool of offering our readers online products - and here we are launching with three. Welcome to our SHOP! Please come inside!
A National Secret for Falling Asleep
WARNING : Do not watch this video while driving. Just as there are those who prefer wood over plastic, humans can be further divided into good sleeps and poor sleepers. This article is for the later.
‘Elements’ and ‘Shelter’
This joint exhibition examines the connection between the ‘Elements’ and ‘Shelter’. At sea amongst it, in an anchorage seeking it and ashore being comforted by it.
Treasured Possessions.
In today’s world many of us cry out for ways to express our individuality and character. Many of our manufactured possessions are white and precision made from plastic or metal, it is rare for us to give them a name or character.
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