Enterprize Tall Ship busy Summer sailing program

by Rod Thomas on 21 Dec 2012 Have you dreamt of going to sea on a traditional tall ship? Melbourne's tall ship Enterprize provides people of all ages with a variety of opportunities to experience life on an authentic traditionally rigged tall ship. Enterprize has a full program of sailings ranging from one hour day sails to overnighters on Victoria's Port Phillip during the summer holiday period till end January, and on Hobart's Derwent River in early February at the Australian Wooden Boats festival.

The sails on Port Phillip are from locations including Docklands and Williamstown, and the regional centres of Geelong, Portarlington and Rye within 50 kilometres of Melbourne. The one hour day sails and 1.5 hour evening cruises are popular with individuals and families looking for a taste of sailing on a tall ship. Longer Port transits such as from Melbourne Docklands to Portarlington (27 December) or Geelong to Melbourne Docklands on New Year's Day are a good option for people looking for a longer more challenging half day sail.

On the Australia Day long weekend 26 - 28 January the Enterprize will travel down to Geelong for the Festival of Sails Regatta with port transit sails and a series of short day and early evening sails. The trips out onto Corio Bay to enjoy the New Years Eve and Australia Day Fireworks displays are particularly popular.

Enterprize is one of the featured sailing vessels at the 2013 My State Australian Wooden Boats Festival 's in Hobart from 8 - 11 February 2013. It is one of the few boats to provide people with the opportunity to go out sailing on a traditional boat on the Derwent River during the festival. On Friday eighth there is a rare opportunity for an extended trip up the Derwent River on Enterprize in the company of other tall ships. Enterprize will pickup passengers from the coastal town of Kettering (37 km south of Hobart) opposite Bruny Island at 8am and travel with the other tall ships through the scenic D'Entrecasteaux Channel to link up with the large barque James Craig and a flotilla of other vessels for the Festival's Parade of Sail.

An early morning bus trip to Kettering is available on the Friday morning. On the Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the festival Enterprize will have a number of one hour sails and early evening cruises departing from Elizabeth Street Pier, in the heart of the waterfront precinct where the festival will be based.

Further information and Bookings for Enterprize's program of sails and dockside inspections is available on www.enterprize.org.au. You can telephone the Enterprize Trust office weekdays on (03) 9621 1294.