The News, Culture and Practice of Sailing woodenboats
in Australia, New Zealand & The South Pacific.

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

Warm Weather and Warm Hearts-North of the Equator

Driving south on a family holiday, our road rounded a point to open a view over Kahana Bay - a shallow open bay protected from the south-east winds which were currently blowing at 25 knots. Working its way back and forth across the bay was a small craft with what appeared to be a lateen sail.

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

No Joy Here

Its alway sad to see pictures such as this, but it’s important we put it out there….”They were seen heading out from their mooring at Flinders and around the point.”

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DINGHIES, FLOTSAM Mark Chew DINGHIES, FLOTSAM Mark Chew

Branding the Cloth

A couple of weekends ago, while covering the Inverloch Classic Dinghy Regatta for SWS, I was struck by the history and beauty of retro design encapsulated in the cloth badges of the sailmakers from the 1950’s 60’s & 70’s.

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

Even Number years at the AWBF

There is a varied and enriching selection of events on offer, that brings to live the wooden boat building and associated crafts of the Huon Valley and the Channel Region South of Hobart.

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

Dead in the Water in 1866

The wind fell away, stalling the ship in irons, the limp sails useless in the dead calm. The prevailing southwest current and a long swell relentlessly drifted GENERAL GRANT shoreward, then to her doom.

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

Eight Bells: James Wharram

James was a trailblazer, a fighter with great determination and vision. From a young age he followed his passions – to roam the hills – for fair politics – for intelligent women – to sail the seas – to prove the Polynesian double canoe an ocean worthy craft – to become a Man of the Sea.

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FLOTSAM, JOBS Mark Chew FLOTSAM, JOBS Mark Chew

Wanted! -Hidden Talents

Have you cooked lunch for the Queen aboard a super yacht? While backpacking around Europe did you happen to spend a summer working in a lighthouse in the Scilly Isles? Perhaps you’ve worked as a rigger on a tall ship or have an unusual story of restoring a Viking Longship for a museum in Oslo.

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