CONSTITUTION DOCK

Dropped your barrel of rum overboard? Grab a couple of ropes and have a go at parbuckling, a time-honoured maritime skill.

Meet Balinese boatbuilders as they bring a traditionally built jukung to life, demonstrating the craftsmanship, rigging and traditions behind this distinctive fishing boat. The celebration culminates on Sunday at 3:00 pm with a gamelan-led parade, blessing and ceremonial launch at Constitution Dock.

Gather at Constitution Dock for the official opening of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival, as we welcome our interstate and international visitors to Hobart’s waterfront. Tasmanian Indigenous boatbuilder Sheldon Thomas will launch Truganini, inviting visiting boats and Festivalgoers into Sullivans Cove and marking the beginning of four days of maritime celebration.

Take to the water and try a range of traditional and community vessels, from classic dinghies to Indigenous watercraft. Presented by the Living Boat Trust. Note: For safety reasons, there will be no rowing during Dragon Boat demonstrations on Saturday 10:30am-11am & 12pm-12:30pm.

Feel the power and precision as Dragon Boats Tasmania goes head-to-head in tug-of-war challenges and fast-paced short races.

See a traditional Japanese wooden boat launched at Constitution Dock, built using time-honoured techniques from Niigata Prefecture. The honryousen reflects a disappearing boatbuilding tradition, with hand-fitted planks, traditional tools and blacksmith-made fastenings bringing Japanese craftsmanship to the Hobart waterfront.

Join the young boatbuilders at Constitution Dock as they launch their very own wooden rowing boats for the first time, celebrating their hard work and a new generation of sailors.

Join the celebration as a gamelan performance leads the way to Constitution Dock, followed by the blessing and ceremonial launch of the traditionally built Balinese jukung.

Follow Parafang, a full-sized Amis bamboo sailing raft from Taiwan, as it makes its way from Shipwrights Village to Constitution Dock before being launched on the water. See traditional construction, binding and sailing techniques brought to life in this special festival moment.

Cheer on the teams as their freshly built boats make their way to Constitution Dock ahead of the final race.

Watch the challenge reach its chaotic finale as the homemade boats take to Constitution Dock and race under sail and oar.

See the Balinese jukung and Taiwanese Parafang sail out together from Constitution Dock, bringing two remarkable traditional watercraft onto the harbour as part of the festival’s closing celebrations.