Maritime Stars Line Up For AWBF

There’s a wonderful line-up of feature vessels in store for visitors to the 2017 Australian Wooden Boat Festival, including the mighty James Craig, the popular return of the One and All from Adelaide and the veteran topsail schooner Enterprize, which won the hearts of Hobart fans in 2015 by battling heavy weather to reach Hobart in time for the Parade of Sail. In 2017, we’ve added the remarkable UK tall ship Tenacious and a superb example of a gentleman’s luxury steam yacht with a surprising Hobart connection.

James Craig and Julie Burgess

The James Craig hardly needs introduction, as she has been the pride of the tall ship fleet at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival since her feted return to Tasmania in 2005 after a 25-year restoration in Sydney. The 230 foot (LOA), three-masted barque is a magnificent sight in the Derwent as she dominates the Parade of Sail on the opening day of the festival.

Giving her a run for her money this time around will be the amazing UK-based tall ship Tenacious. This is the largest wooden boat to be built in the United Kingdom in the modern era, a three-masted barque of a similar size to the James Craig, launched in 2000. Tenacious is unique in that she is adapted for able-bodied and disabled sailors, providing a real blue-water, ocean going experience for hundreds of people around the world who might not otherwise have access to tall ship sailing. Tenacious is in Australian waters for several months and will, in fact, pop in to Hobart from Adelaide for a familiarisation cruise in November. There are multiple opportunities to get aboard, for a visit, a day sail or a passage. See prices and sailing schedules here: Tenacious sailing

Just announced is the sensational news that the beautiful 1900 luxury steam yacht ENA will be with us in Hobart for the 2017 festival. Built for the wealthy Commodore of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Thomas Dibbs and designed by Walter Reeks, the vessel was intended to be the Rolls-Royce of Australian ship building, showcasing the finest engineering, design, materials and workmanship that the new nation could produce. Its career is a long one, including Royal Australian Navy service from 1917-1933. In 1940, the well-known Tasmanian maritime family the Roches bought the boat, re-christened her Aurore and put her to work in the scallop fishing industry. There she remained until being sold on in 1974 and temporarily sunk in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel before being recovered and undergoing a five-year restoration to her original glory. After a second restoration in the early 90s, she changed hands more than once until finding a new home and new owners in Sydney. The yacht is now a gleaming testament to old-school workmanship and expert restoration. We look forward to seeing her safely berthed in Sullivans Cove for the festival.

Steam Launch ENA at the ANMM