Feature Presentations At Geelong Wooden Boat Festival
Sunday, 10th March 2024
9:30am – 10:10am
Peter Harris & Ferdi Darley
The Alma Doepal - A feature presentation from Peter Harris and Ferdi Darley
Hear about the restoration of a 120 year-old, Australian built, 3-masted topsail schooner; the last of her kind.
Sail & Adventure’s Restoration Director Peter Harris and Ferdi Darley from
F.J.Darley Traditional Shipwrights Pty. Ltd. will tell a compelling story:
• The unique Australian history of Alma Doepel from build to rebuild
• The obstacles encountered and overcome during the restoration
• Why the project was worth starting and how it was planned and funded
• The mix of traditional and modern crafts being applied by shipwrights and volunteers
• The future of the ship in our changing times
10:30am – 11:10am
Stephen Moss
The Build Of The Endeavour II - A feature presentation from Stephen Moss
The RAN is currently well advanced in the construction of a replacement tall ship for the Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour. The acquisition of a replacement ship was conceived over 15 years ago and Project SEA1788 was stood up 2018. Fabrication of the new vessel started in 2023 in an Australian shipyard in Port Macquarie. This presentation explains why a new vessel is needed, the role and function of the new ship and the long process taken to gain the necessary support and approval for its construction. The talk also provides an update on progress made so far, as well as the design specifications of the ship www.youngendeavour.gov.au
About Stephen Moss
Stephen Moss is currently working for the Naval Construction Branch as the Project Management Representative for Project SEA1778 – Young Endeavour Replacement. He is a member of the Resident Project Team based on-site at the Port Macquarie shipyard, Birdon Pty Ltd. Previously, as a Maritime Warfare Officer in the RAN, he had a long and distinguished career prior to his appointment as the Executive Director of the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme, a position he held for over 18 years. In 2002 Stephen was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in recognition of his contribution to Navy’s amphibious and afloat support capability. Stephen is a keen sailor and can be seen regularly on Sydney Harbour as a crew member of the Sydney 36, Peregrine, racing out of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.
11:30am – 12:10pm
Nick Granger
The Voyage Of The Aegre: From Scotland To The South Seas In A Shetland Boat
In The Voyage of The Aegre Nick tells of how a plan to sail a little fishing boat from the Highlands of Scotland down the coast to England turned into a trans-oceanic odyssey for his partner Julie and himself. It was the 1970s and their simple engineless wooden boat was equipped with none of the aids modern yachts enjoy. Navigation was by sextant and compass, food cooked on a Primus, and weather forecasting by guesswork. Diligent preparation before they set sail eventually saved their lives in the storms and dangers they encountered. Their capsize at night in a brewing cyclone southwest of Tahiti and subsequent survival makes a gripping climax to the story.
About Nick Grainger
Nick Grainger grew up near Cambridge, England. In 1971 he worked at the John Ridgway Adventure School in NW Scotland and later sailed across the Atlantic and much of the Pacific in a Shetland boat.
He subsequently sailed and was employed in the recreation industry in New Zealand until moving to a management role in ICI NZ, later transferring to Australia and work in IT with PPG Industries.
In 2003/4 he sailed around the world from Scotland via Cape Horn on the Save the Albatross Voyage with adventurers John and Marie Christine Ridgway.
The Voyage of The Aegre is Nick’s first book. His writing has previously appeared in Sea Spray magazine (NZ), Boating NZ, and Classic Boat magazine. He has two daughters and lives in Melbourne with his wife Tomoko.