A great boating spirit and good weather blessed the 2016 Narooma BoatsAfloat traditional boat festival. There were 54 traditional boats participating this year coming from around NSW, ACT and Victoria.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Saturday morning saw the boats sailing around Wagonga Inlet for a navigator’s challenge, followed by an afternoon of music, art and good times at the Narooma Marina on Forsters Bay. The Narooma Sport and Game Fishing Club hosted the dinner on Saturday night.
A brief squall preceded the grand parade on Sunday morning, but the sun came out and wind calmed just in time for the flotilla of traditional boats sail under the Narooma Bridge and along the boardwalk, lined by big crowds.
BoatsAfloat committee president Graham Peachey said the festival had been another big success with the participants having a great time on the water. He thanked the fishing club and marina for being great hosts.
Fishing club members gathered at club president Les Waldock’s house on Riverview Road that has a great view over the inlet and bridge, displaying banners saying “Wooden Boats Rock”.
Narooma Marina manager Ian Miller said the event had been great for the town and his marina and associated coffee shop. “We’re extremely happy and it’s been very well run.”
Winning the best boat in show award was the wooden boat named “Classic” owned by Tony Pollard of Sussex Inlet, who was assisted by crew members Mark and Paula Hanigan of Narooma.
The judging panel selected the 19-foot wooden vessel powered by a 5-horsepower, 2-stroke Stuart-Turner engine. It was built by Alan Graham in Queensland in 1986 with spotted gum used for the keel and ribs, the rest being marine plywood.
“It was built in the traditional way out of spotted gum and copper roves and nails,” Mr Taylor said
BoatsAfloat was also a chance for Narooma’s newest larger wooden vessel to participate, the 32-foot former crayboat the Glenn Robert that was brought to Narooma from Adelaide last month by owners Neil and Ruth Henderson.
“It’s been great,” Mr Henderson said, with the boat now looking ship shape after a new coat of paint and some time up on Taylor’s slipway.
Montague Arts and Crafts Society also ran a raffle of a selection of pelican photographs kindly donated by Peter Robinson, and the winner was local artist Val Tippins.
Over 150 viewers saw the exhibition housed at the Narooma Marina courtesy of Marina Manager Ian Miller and his team, who looked after us well. MACS looks forward to working with the BoatsAfloat Committee again next year to add to this great local event.
If you would like any of the photos in the gallery above, contact stan.gorton@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Stan Gorton
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
