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

Flotsam & Jetsam 5.9.25

It’s about time we settled on a name for this page. I’ve found over the last few months that we come across many interesting snippets and links that might be of interest to the readers, but probably aren’t worth a full, stand alone article. So we started a news page, rounding up wooden boat and related stories from the past few days.

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

Visual Inspiration

The text was short and to the point. “My late father fresh out of the Navy after WWII, courting my mother by taking her sailing on a 90ft wooden schooner on the coast of Maine.”

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

Forms of Carbon

So while diamonds glitter on distant exoplanets and sparkle in alien skies, wood tells a deeper story. It is the rarest treasure because it is born from life. A simple stick on Earth is more precious than an entire planet of diamonds when viewed through the lens of the universe.

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

A Pastime For the Posh

These days I don’t sail often. I live in London. My career and my group of non-sailing friends take up most of my time. I often pine after cheap Scandi 30ft keel boats on Instagram and imagine a life up a Norwegian fjord, but then I have to rush off to a meeting and a pint of Guinness and my nautical notions fade.  

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

Wooden Shorts

“Our reference to the “inaugural Trans-Tasman Yacht Race” was specifically meant to describe the CYCA’s inaugural running of this event and not to imply that it is the first Trans-Tasman race in history. At the CYCA, we truly value and honour the legacy of offshore sailing.”

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

You Are What You Eat

The soft rush of water past the planking by your head carries you swiftly away to never-never land. Stepping up on deck, hot mug in hand, you cast an eye over the weather horizon as the just-risen sun pierces bright beams through low clouds over grey-blue water. The morning watch is reluctant to leave the helm. She has entered a state of harmony with the rushing water, the sighing breeze, the easy motion, the expanding light. Passing her the hot mug you go below to pour yourself another from the old copper kettle.

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

Development Victoria Eviction!

Participation in the discussion was broad, ‘animated’, lively, inclusive and positive. For the first time since the DV eviction notification, members of the HF were able to actually discuss the challenge of eviction, the specific needs of each project as well as any shared concerns in relation to the eviction threat to include developing a coordinated HF response.

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

Matches and Dispatches

When Jim saw the article we published last week in SWS entitled “A Final Stitch Through the Nose” he wrote to us asking to remind the readers, that here in Melbourne we have a beautiful historic vessel that is ready and waiting, in survey, and most importantly very experienced in handling the most important and emotional moments of your family’s journey.

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