Australian Wooden Boat Festival set to grow even bigger

THE success of the 2013 Australian Wooden Boat Festival (AWBF) set a high benchmark for future events, but this year’s organising committee has announced it is up to the challenge.
In 2013, more than 200,000 people flocked to the Hobart waterfront to enjoy the 650 participating wooden boats and a series of dockside entertainment.
Festival director Paul Cullen said the biennial festival, which will next be held from 6 to 9 February 2015, would see the committee extend its footprint on the Hobart waterfront.
“We now have access to Castray Esplanade and the boardwalk between the esplanade and the Princes Wharf shed,” he said.
“This gives us much more flexibility when it comes to nautical displays and the very popular food courts.”
Mr Cullen said the festival was still able to operate as a free event through the support of sponsors including MyState, TasPorts, the Hobart City Council and the Tasmanian Government.
“Given that the event is able to retain its free admission policy, together with our enthusiastic and dedicated organising team and a fantastic corps of more than 350 volunteers, I am confident that the 2013 records are there only to be broken,” he said.
“With less than 11 months to go, interstate and overseas enthusiasts should start making their plans to visit AWBF 2015 if they want to be part of the excitement.”
Mr Cullen said that a large number of those attending the event in 2013 were tourists.
“This is testament to the excellent reputation that the festival is gaining worldwide.”