Wooden Boat Festival Starting Soon

Over 200,000 people are anticipated to come to the waterfront of Hobart to celebrate Australian Wooden Boat Festival (AWBF) of 2017.

The event takes place every two years, and it is the largest event of this kind in the entire southern hemisphere. The event attracts boats and visitors from all over the world.

The festival-goers who want to enjoy the event with safety can watch it from land (Arrangements have been made for that). And those who want to get in the water to have a more adventurous feel can step in vessels exclusively made for it.

The features of the 2017 edition of the festival are, the event will have an exhibition at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Parliament Lawns have been converted into children’s entertainment village. Moreover, a Dutch theme has been given to the event, recognizing 375 years, of its namesake.

The European coordinator of the festival Karen Merik said there will be eight traditional Dutch boats in the event and it will be accompanied by over 500 others boats.

She said, “It is a great way of organizing the event, both countries have a culture of maritime and we also have a heritage of shared maritime.”

Arthur Diephuis a skipper from the Netherlands has joined the event with his son. In the event both father and son will show the boat of Royal Dutch Family. Arthur said, He said 21st century values the historic craft and it will be a surprise for many.

He further added that “There are lots of sailors coming to the event who still want to sail wooden boats. And it shows that even the 200 year old boat is liked by people here. This is the reason that this festival is called as a wooden boat festival.”