Across NSW, ACT and Victoria the hulls are being cleaned, the paintwork is being brightened and the motors tuned up for the weekend of November 14-15 when the 10th annual Narooma BoatsAfloat Festival celebrates traditional boats on the waters of our beautiful Wagonga Inlet.
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“It's out 10th Anniversary festival,” committee president Smile Magill said.
“So we expect a bigger fleet than of boats than the 55 boats from as far as Smiths Lake near Forster and Yarrambat in Victoria which attended last year.”
There will be plenty of opportunities for the public to enjoy the spectacle as well.
Festivities will kick off in Forsters Bay at around 9.30am on Saturday, November 14, when all the boats head off for their picnic cruise of Wagonga Inlet.
From 10am, the third MACS-organised art exhibition - “Art in the Boatsheds” - will remain open all day in a boatshed on the water's edge near Quota Park in Forsters Bay.
The familiar festival sound of the boats putt-putting back from their morning cruise will happen from around 12.30pm.
Members of the public who would like to have a closer look are invited to have a stickybeak, meet the skippers and generally “mess about with boats”.
At 1pm the atmosphere gets even better as everyone enjoys live “Jazz on the Water” with The Jazz Pack till 3pm.
Sunday will feature the now famous and much anticipated “Grand Parade of Boats”.
From 10am the boats will circle Forsters Bay and at 10.30 the fleet will head across the inlet, cruise down the channel, and from roughly 11am motor under the bridge before circling in front of the Mill Bay Boardwalk until around noon for everybody's enjoyment.
The committee apologises in advance if strong winds cause the parade to be shortened or cancelled as happened one year, and hope the public understands we have to act in the interests of safety first.
The festival usually features visiting steam-powered boats with their unique whistles, as well as the classic putt-putt sounds of Blaxland engines, Stuart Turners, Simplexes as well as a variety of diesels, sailboats and rowing boat.
Many boats are now electrically powered as well.
Local and visiting boaties will enjoy a program of social events and cruises as well as the traditional festival dinner and fund-raising auction on the Saturday night.
“Our festival brings like-minded people together in this beautiful boating environment and showcases our town each year,’’ Mr Magill said.
‘’It has become a real part of the boating and tourism calendars.
“It also adds colour, character and business to the local community.”
Find out more at www.naroomaboatsafloat.com
