Media invitation
Big birthday cake for 100-y-o yacht
at Classic & Wooden Boat Festival
Sunday, 17 October at 10.30 am
Australian National Maritime Museum
A special historic yacht will celebrate its 100th Birthday at the Classic & Wooden Boat Festival in Sydney this
weekend (16/17 Oct).
Graceful Weenè, the first ‘One-Design’ fixed keel yacht built in Australia, was launched in Hobart one
century earlier to the day… on 17 October 1910.
A ‘one designer’ is one of a number of yachts built from the same set of plans… all the same in size, shape
and design. In a race the yachts start equal and first across the line wins.
Before ‘one designers’, all fixed keel sailing races were contested by yachts of different sizes and shapes,
and they all had to be handicapped for a fair result.
In Hobart Weenè (10m long) was quickly joined by six ‘sister’ yachts, all built in Tasmania around 1910-11,
and this historic little fleet was the first to contest ‘one design’ races in Australia.
There are now vast numbers of ‘one design’ classes contested locally, nationally and internationally,
including many at the Olympics.
Surprisingly perhaps, all seven of the original Tasmania One Design fleet still exist, spread out around the
Australian coast in ports from Perth to Brisbane. One of Weenè’s six ‘sisters’, Gannet (launched Nov 1911),
will be with her at this weekend’s Classic & Wooden Boat Festival at the Australian National Maritime
Museum, Darling Harbour.
To celebrate Weenè’s 100th the museum will cut a special Birthday Cake on the pontoon beside the yacht at
10.30 am on Sunday morning. Present will be the owner, Ben Stoner, and past owners Kenn Batt (whose
family owned Weenè 1911-1963), Paul Conde (1979-1985) and Jeff Gordon (1985-1993).
Weenè and Gannet will be among 120 notable privately-owned boats on display at the two-day (Saturday
and Sunday) Classic & Wooden Boat Festival. The others include everything from graceful old pleasure
cruisers to classic wooden speedboats, workboats and tugs.
Other features of the festival will include
Four tall ships: the HM Bark Endeavour replica, James Craig, Soren Larsen and Southern Swan
A Tall Ships Forum (Sunday afternoon) – where you can meet the masters of the four tall ships and
hear what it’s like to sail on them
Children’s arts and crafts themed around Sindbad the Sailor
Traditional maritime tool display and expert demonstrations of blacksmithing, ropework, caulking
and sail making
… / 2
The exciting Quick and Dirty Boat Building Competition
Heritage talks and presentations
The famous, hotly contested Deckhand Line-throwing Contest
Heritage vessel rides on Cockle Bay
Giant model boat and marine artists displays
Festive marketplace for all things nautical plus food stalls and live music
Tickets are $18 per adult, $9 per child or $40 for a family. The festival will be open both days 9.30 am to 5
15 October 2010 Media information, Bill Richards 0418 403 472
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