With the theme of the 2027 festival being “Working Boats”, the SWS editors have scoured the listings for half a dozen special boats with industrious origins. Even if you are not in the market… It’s fun to dream!

She’s had a number of different lives. When new in 1920, she took parties out sailing and for picnics from Sorrento Pier on Port Phillip, something many couta boats did alongside, or as an alternative to, fishing. In 1923 SEA HAWK began her professional fishing career

The forecast looks good and there should be no excuses for not turning up for a 'Celebration of Sail' of Classic Yachts. We are expecting some Coutas and Rangers from the Harbour to join the Pittwater Coutas for a Gaffers Division and I am hopeful that we could have a mixed Metre Boat division on the Saturday ( 5.5M, 6M & 8M )…….. plus other Bermudians!

Chris Crerar was a great supported of SWS. He wrote some heartfelt articles that told of the highs and lows of owning wooden boats. Many of our readers were absorbed by a deep seated honesty in his writing style

I continued to look at the weather incessantly, until December came around – at last a double high pressure system lay over Victoria, producing a week of pleasant but windless days. It wasn't an idyllic northwesterly, but it was something. This was my chance.

If you are heading to southern Australian waters, there is a fair chance that you will spot a gaff rigged wooden boat sailing or cruising along the shoreline. And when in full sail they are magnificent in their graceful movement through the water.

We were one of 747 boats in the Douarnenez Festival and won the Marco Polo award for having travelled the furthest. We were treated like rock stars.