Eco-friendly yacht takes centre stage
at Classic & Wooden Boat Festival
A vessel employing ancient Micronesian sailing technologies but carrying up-to-the-
minute environmental equipment will be a feature at this weekend’s Classic & Wooden
Boat Festival in Sydney.
Built by Dutch Australian environmentalist and inventor Inigo Wijnen, the 71 ft (21.5 m)
dual-hull craft is intended to demonstrate that ocean-going vessels can travel free of fossil
fuels.
Wijnen put the finishing touches on the boat, Gaiasdream, just in time for the festival
which will be held all day Saturday and Sunday (16/17 Oct) at the Australian National
Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour.
Built at Urunga south of Coffs Harbour, this will be the first time Gaiasdream has appeared
on public display.
In design Gaiasdream is inspired by the traditional Micronesian proa, a vessel with two
parallel hulls of unequal length where one of the hulls, usually the shorter “outrigger,” is
kept to windward.
As with the traditional vessels, Gaiasdream “shunts” forwards and backwards to tack
across the wind; the helmsman steers from one end of the vessel and then the other.
But to augment wind power Wijnen’s vessel carries environment-friendly solar panels to
generate electricity and a diesel engine that he has converted to run on vegetable oils.
The inventor says Gaiasdream is big and powerful enough to carry 12 passengers or cargo
of up to 6 tonnes weight.
To demonstrate its capabilities he plans to deliver a 6-tonne cargo from Sydney to Lord
Howe Island on the vessel later this year.
More than 120 privately-owned vessels ranging from graceful yachts to tugs and
workboats – all in great shape and clearly enjoying the love and affection of their owners –
will be on display at the two-day Classic & Wooden Boat Festival.
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
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Traditional maritime tool display and expert demonstrations of blacksmithing,
ropework, caulking and sail making
The exciting Quick and Dirty Boat Building Competition
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 pm. For more information call (02) 9298 3777 or visit
Media Note: Inigo Wijnen will sail Gaiasdream from Pittwater to the National
Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, tomorrow (Thursday). He will set out at
approximately 8 am and, depending on wind and weather conditions, arrive at the
museum some time between 11 am and 1 pm.
13 October 2010 Media information, Bill Richards 0418 403 472
NEWS 
