The News, Culture and Practice of Sailing woodenboats
in Australia, New Zealand & The South Pacific.

TALL SHIPS Mark Chew TALL SHIPS Mark Chew

Sail to Hobart on HMB ENDEAVOUR

Voyage crew will learn and undertake 18thcentury sailing skills, such as haul lines, set or furl the sails, stand watches, and steer the ship, all under the supervision of Endeavour’s professional crew. Although previous sailing experience is not essential, voyage crew are required to commit to a rotating watch roster, be physically fit and not suffer chronic seasickness.

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DESIGNERS Mark Chew DESIGNERS Mark Chew

The Boats of Norman R. Wright & Sons 

In 1960 we're starting to get into the fast boats. We built the first Customs Boat, a 40-footer called BINDERY which had a six cylinder 671 Detroit Diesel and it would do 20 knots. The Department of Customs took Dad's plans, copied them put them out to Tender. So there were five other boats built, and they all did about 14 or 15 knots because they thought the buttock lines shouldn't be bent. Dad always reversed his buttock lines so th boat sat on a big wedge at the back and customs could never work out why the others never went as fast.

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FESTIVALS Mark Chew FESTIVALS Mark Chew

A Conversation with Paul Stephanus-AWBF Director

With registrations due to open later this month for the 2025 Australian Wooden Boat Festival, we thought it might be a good time to have a chat with the Festival Director and General Manager Paul Stephanus about his philosophy on the event, why you should make the effort to attend and the process for registering your boat.

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FESTIVALS Mark Chew FESTIVALS Mark Chew

Auckland Updates

Six engaging speaker sessions will take place each day at the Maritime Museum, with films playing on rotation all weekend long. All are invited to join the celebration! Entry is free but bookings are recommended.

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FESTIVALS Mark Chew FESTIVALS Mark Chew

The Other AWBF

Each of these boats has an inter-generational story to tell. They were handcrafted in a time when we still made things with our hands. Some carried across oceans some were traders serving communities up and down our coasts. They were our transport and our recreation.

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TALL SHIPS Mark Chew TALL SHIPS Mark Chew

Sailing the DUYFKEN

As you can see from Paul’s films, sailing a Tall Ship like DUYFKEN isn’t for everyone, but is your the sort of person who likes a bit of adventure, doesn’t need to wash three times a day, and understands the meaning of teamwork then get involved!

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CRUISING Mark Chew CRUISING Mark Chew

True Amateurs Spirit

Almost exactly three months after we had left Sydney, on 22 April I stood on Georges Head to watch ANITRA V sail back through the Heads after a voyage of seven days from Kettering. It was an emotional moment to see my boat returning to Sydney.

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ART Mark Chew ART Mark Chew

Custodian-An Exhibition by Andrew Wilson

So we have Andrew’s interpretation of reality rather than reality itself. His feelings and emotions are woven through these pictures like threads in a tapestry. This is not something a documentary photographer does lightly. It throws your work wide open to judgement.

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Mark Chew Mark Chew

An update from the AWBF General Manager

What I find endlessly remarkable about this Festival is that it is held together by the power of a very simple idea – the beauty and promise of wooden boats. To some this is a promise of adventure; to others a promise of comradery, history, craftsmanship, or simple relaxation.

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FESTIVALS Mark Chew FESTIVALS Mark Chew

Just Over Seven Months… and Counting

Former Chair of the AWBF, Peter Higgs once described the Festival as an elephant on roller skates, zooming down a hill. In the words of the current General Manager Paul Stephanus… “Well, we are are now almost seven months out from the big day, and the beast is well and truly picking up momentum.“

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

Even Number years at the AWBF

There is a varied and enriching selection of events on offer, that brings to live the wooden boat building and associated crafts of the Huon Valley and the Channel Region South of Hobart.

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