Geelong's Wooden Boat Festival a great success!

by Bob Appleton on 29 Apr 2008 Undoubtedly, Geelong's 2008 Wooden Boat Festival was bigger and better than ever before as Australia's maritime heritage was displayed both on the waters of Corio Bay and within the Royal Geelong Yacht Club marina.

Attracting the first interstate entries to the festival, boats were sailed and trailed from Tasmania and South Australia proving the popularity of the event.

Weather conditions were ideal, flat waters, light breezes and bright sunshine complimenting the crowd pleasing Grand Parade of boats, races on Corio Bay and general displays on and off the water.

On shore there were demonstrations of rope making, displays of boat building featuring many of Australia's most prominent shipwrights and many other static displays.

Perhaps the most graceful craft on show was the fully restored former Tasmanian barracouta and cray fishing boat 'Storm Bay'. Owned by Tim Phillips of The Wooden Boatshop. 'Storm Bay' was designed by Alf Blore and built in 1925 by Percy Coverdale at Battery Point in Tasmania and used mainly as a fishing vessel. Gaff rigged with a topsail, fishing originally took place while the boat drifted under the double reefed mainsail.

'Storm Bay' features blue gum frames, Huon pine hull planking and some of her planks are a full length curved 52 ft. With an impressive 15 ft bowsprit she was relaunched in 2006. Owner Tim Phillips spent 10 years restoring 'Storm Bay' to her original condition as a sailing vessel.

Another beautifully restored boat is the ‘Zoë Clair’, a 38 ft Commuter which was built in 1930 and had accumulated quite a history!

The original owner lost his life in the 1930s using one of the 'new fangled' motorised lawn mowers and, during the 1939 to 1945 war, 'Zoë Clair' was used for 'U' Boat sighting along the east coast of America!

During her early life, 'Zoë Clair' had a skeg fitted to protect the propeller because in the 1950's, her fisherman owner often became over intoxicated and ran aground! 'Zoë Clair's current owner, Andrew Barnett, purchased the boat in 1999 and she was shipped to Australia as deck cargo.

Another 'old timer' to catch the fancy was the Couta Boat 'Fancy'. Built in the 1920s by Mitch Lacco, 'Fancy' has an overall length of 24 ft. 3 in. and was built specifically to win the Williamstown to Portarlington race. This, she promptly did!

After a life of fishing she was wrecked in the creek at Queenscliff (Victoria) where she lay for many years. Brought to Geelong's Western Beach for major repairs, the side wall of the Western Beach Boat Club rooms had to be removed to fit her inside for the operation! 'Fancy' was fitted with a truck engine and used for fishing before being purchased by the current owner, Paul van Prooyen. In 2005 she was completely restored from the keel up by Brett Almond keeping the original keel, planks, stem, stern and rudder completely intact.

Not all displays were 'big boats' and possibly, the scene stealer was the tiny 18 foot steam driven boat, 'Firefly'. Originally an open 16 foot clinker built boat she had an extra 2 feet added to her stern, then fitted with a propeller shaft, a steam engine and then the boiler. With her 'sunshade' over most of her length, 'Firefly' entertains the public wherever she steams!

Another small craft and looking rather like an oversized dinghy, the clinker built 'Penguin' is 15 ft long and powered by a 2 cylinder Stuart Turner two stroke engine. Built in a garage in the Melbourne suburb of Williamstown in 1950 she was restored in 2002. 'Penguin' is regularly displayed at interstate Wooden Boat festivals.

The 14 ft. carvel centre board sailing/rowing dinghy, 'Chinook' is fitted with a Stuart Turner single cylinder engine and was built in 1951 by Andrea Goble, a young 19 year old cabinet maker! Andrea used the original plans, Honduras Mahogany planking and elm rib material. Her present owner, Andrea's son Bernard, fully restored 'Chinook' to her former glory in 2004.

Many other beautifully restored craft were on display including the oldest yacht still sailing in Australia! The 45' Huon Pine Gaff Cutter, 'Zephyr’ which was built in Port Adelaide in 1873 and was once owned by the Attorney General of South Australia. 'Zephyr' actually won 3 of her first 15 races! A major refit was carried out in 1994.

These are just a few of the highlights of the impressive display of craftsmanship, history and tradition displayed at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club (Victoria) earlier this year. The next Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong will be held early in 2010. Will we see you here?

For further information ring (03) 5229 3705 or visit www.rgyc.com.au