Raiding the Southern Ocean in a Whaleboat

-- tawe nunnugah raid 2023 -- Ten days of raiding, 100 nautical miles of Southern Ocean from Recherche Bay to Hobart, Tasmania... to exhibit our boats in the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.

“Small Boat Raids, Around the World”

An on-line presentation, in February 2022, the Worldwide Classic Boatshow program featured stories about five different raids around the world… We’ve loved sailing our cruising dinghy, LUNA, in the Barefoot Raid here in BC (and will do again), but, look, there’s one in Tasmania! Aren’t we going there for the Wooden Boat Festival next year?

And, they have boats you can join in on! How cool is that? Let’s sign up!
A year later, and 24 hrs of planes trains and buses…

...we land in Hobart, get some SIM cards and pick up a rented tent and sleeping pads

And we’re off to Franklin, by bus, about an hour south on the banks of the Huon River. Our first glimpse of the river is crossing the bridge in Huonville. (Huon Pine is the one of the worlds best boat-building timbers.)

The bus stop in Franklin is at the front door of the Living Boat Trust.

“The Living Boat Trust (LBT) is dedicated to keeping Tasmania’s marine heritage alive and to maintaining traditional boat building, repairing, rowing and sailing skills. We celebrate the history and beauty of this area (and its boats), strive for a sustainable way of life for all concerned and to be a vital part of our community (and the boats).”

They’re the organization that created the “tawe nunnugah raid,” and run it to align its finish at the start of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival (AWBF) in Hobart, early February every second year.

Next door to the LBT is the Wooden Boat Centre, Tasmania’s wooden boat building school. Between the two building, one hour and five minutes after leaving Hobart, I meet my ride for the upcoming adventure: the whaleboat SWIFTSURE II. Here’s her description from the AWBF listing, with a bit more from the LBT website:

“SWIFTSURE II is the flagship of the Living Boat Trust’s fleet which together represents many important aspects of Tasmania’s maritime heritage. She is a traditional Tasmanian bay-whaler which would have been used for harvesting the Southern Right Whale in the Derwent estuary.”

She was modelled to be launched from the beach in Recherche Bay, long and narrow, optimized for rowing offshore, chasing whales by oar and sail. Most whaleboats are designed to be carried on a ship, so quite different from this design.

“Grant Wilson went over to Christchurch, New Zealand, to get permission for the Trust to build a replica of Swiftsure, the last surviving Tasmanian whaleboat in the world, built in 1860, but sold to New Zealand in 1863, and donated to the Canterbury Museum at the end of her career in 1915. Grant brought the plans back, with detailed notes, and soon, a temporary workshop with a plastic roof was erected next to the Boat School and students from Geeveston High School began construction, supervised by a sequence of Boat School graduates and local boatbuilders….In 2003, Swiftsure II moved into the new [Living Boat Trust] shed, where she attracted increasing numbers of volunteers, every Monday night, led by a sequence of ex-student boat builders and teachers. She was eventually launched on 26th November 2004.’ – John Young (LBT and Wooden Boat Centre founder)

LOD: 31 ft (9.92 m), width: 5.6 ft (1.7 m)
Hull Timber: Huon Pine
Type of Boat: Whaleboat, standing lug ketch rig
State: Tasmania
Built: 2004

The LBT has three whaleboats, but only one trailer. It’s a bit of work to fit to each boat, and shuffle them one at a time to Recherche Bay for the start of the raid 1hr 40min south, where the road ends at the southern tip of Tasmania. Lucky we arrived early! Chris was put to work with the camp crew, and I got stuck into boat work.

LBT have a fleet of boats, perhaps about 20, of various types and sizes, the largest being the whaleboats. And, the boat school has a number of boats kicking around, too, so the Franklin riverbank is a delight to visit!

The next morning, the first official day of the raid, the crews bused, trailored, and drove down to the south end of Tasmania to meet fellow raiders that have already launched. The boat ramp is on the mouth of the Catamaran River... crossing the one-lane bridge on the dirt road was our first view of raid boats in the water.

I’m not sure I have a good photo of every boat involved, but as I find the shots I’ll include what info I’ve found, mostly from the Wooden Boat Festival listings:

ALLECAT

Boat Owner: Rob and Judy Blackburn
Designer: Graham Byrnes
Builder: Eric Sandberg

Family owned camp cruiser built for trips on inside of Fraser Island. Great day sailor and Raid boat. Re-rigged as a Marconi yawl, with 320kg of water ballast.

LOD feet: 20"
Hull Timber: Pacific Maple Marine Ply and Jarrah
Type of Boat: Core Sound 20
State: NSW
Built: 2003

MONTY, LUGGER, TOSH, ELANDRA (under her boom tent), and SWIFTSURE, await their crews in the mouth of Catamaran River.

This is a World Heritage Area, providing recreational opportunities on the southeast tip of Tasmania. Next land south is Antarctica! (photo of park signage)

As the crews arrive, the camp at Moss Glen starts to take shape.

A smoking ceremony to welcome us... Danny Gardiner and his son Manala lit a small fire, told us a little of the area, and our need to join in the care of the land. Throughout the raid, Martin reminded us of the first peoples that looked after the territories we entered, and urged us to consider our responsibilities for the future. (photo by Nick, from “Black Boat” safety vessel)

GRACE, a fin-keel variation of the famous Herreshoff 12 1/2, anchored off Moss Glen.

Owner: Ben Healy
Designer: Chuck Payne (after Nathanael Greene Herreshoff)
Builder: Wooden Boat Centre, Franklin
Boat Type: Levant 15, sloop rig
LOA: 15ft 10in, LWL: 12ft 6in.

Next morning broke blustery, shards of rain first thing, and gusty winds most of the day.

The raid schedule specified a layover day, with a second night in the Moss Glen camp, so we could spend the day making sure our boats are seaworthy for this most exposed part of the journey. Those that had their boats sufficiently sorted made for Cockle Creek, due south and downwind from here, for a breezy shakedown and lunch on the beach.

But, SWIFTSURE was far from ready, and she didn't really like the thought of beating upwind back to the start point... so we took our time and did a proper job of making her happy.

SWIFTSURE is so basic she's like a kit of parts. As she's only sailed infrequently by a different crew each time, each new group has to make up the rig from the bits they find on board, the parts they scrounge from the common stores, and whatever they brought in their own bag.

It took us a good part of the day to get her sorted, bending sails, raising spars, rigging leads, one thing at a time with a bit of head scratching and starting over here and there.

After a short trial sail, to test our rigging decisions and fine-tune the sheeting lead positions, we declared her happy enough to take to sea!

That long oar sticking out the stern is her sweep for steering, and perhaps for moving her sideways quickly when a whale reacts the wrong way... ?!

One of the boats that didn't quite make the shakedown test was Rob Ballard's RED DEVIL, a CLC kayak conversion, which required resealing of the the front hatch. Behind her is "BLACK BOAT," a navy-surplus Zodiak, one of the four chase boats, brilliantly crewed by Mark and Nick.

Also happening on the Moss Glen beach: CAPRICORNIA is being fitted with an outboard motor, making her the Luxury Whaler!

CAPRICORNIA

Boat Owner: Living Boat Trust
Designer: Traditional
Builder: Jean Pierre Malagny and Pieter Lunstedt

Built by French immigrant carpenter Jean Pierre Malagny in 1986 as a day sailor for Darwin Harbour. Her shallow draught, flat bottom and good sailing characteristics made her perfect for this role. Restored and improved for Tasmanian conditions by Pieter Lunstedt, with the finishing work done at the Living Boat Trust. The Trust uses Capricornia, together with their other whaleboats, Swiftsure II and an ex-RAN Montague whaler, for long distance sailing/camping expeditions.

LOD feet: 29
Hull Timber: Hardwood
Type of Boat: Whaleboat, gaff sloop rig
State: Tasmania
Built: 1986

37 vessels registered to participate, including 4 high-speed safety boats and 6 “accompanying yachts” …over 120 people in total: the boat crews; the crew that will move camp 6 times while the boats are sailed to the next destination; and the catering crew to feed us all for the next 10 days. Truly a military operation, expertly organized by Martin Riddle, his partner in crime Deb van Velzen, chef Kate Hoorweg, a host of volunteers some of whom will sail on some days (including my partner Chris), and the full participation of every hand.

All the mod cons: the Booze Van (continously replenished); hot and cold running water; charging station (and a much larger generator for the kitchen, of course))

The next day dawned sunny and bright, with a projected following breeze and 2 metres of swell, perfect for an ocean voyage. Our destination is Southport, about 12 nautical miles to cover. We scarfed down our breakfasts, packed our lunches, had a skippers briefing and headed to the boats. But, not before every hand assisted in breaking down camp and loading the vans, truck, trailers and gear.

Now, let’s go sailing...

Our leaders, Martin and Deb, not only organize the tn23, they also sail it! I understand the name HOP THE WAG has something to do about skipping school. As a researcher, professor, and team leader with the Australian Antarctic Division, I suspect he's seen a lot of school.

HOP THE WAG

Boat Owner: Martin Riddle and Deb van Velzen
Designer: Matt Newland
Builder: Swallow Boats

Traditional looks conceal a clever modern design. Loading 300kg of water-ballast transforms her from sprightly performer to self-righting family boat.

LOD feet: 19
Hull Timber: Plywood
Type of Boat: BayRaider 20, gunter yawl
State: Tasmania
Built: 2008

Crewmates on SWIFTSURE, Will Hallinan tends the mainsheet, and David Paget is on helm with that massive sweep.

Peter Laidlaw is our skipper on SWIFTSURE, and, as a shipwright, was on the team that built her.

SWIFTSURE passing inside Southport Island. For this first day of voyaging the team takes it easy on me, like I'm just along for the ride! (photo by Martin Chambers)

In just under four hours, we drop our bow anchor off the white sand beach of Southport, and ease her up to the shore to disembark… a safe and beautiful voyage along the most exposed section of the Raid.

After David resets the stern anchor to hold her in position, we can return to shoreside duties, and check in with the other crews.

Gary Hardy seemed pleased with the performance of his little ship DERRY, although he had an issue with his lazy jacks. (He’s examining the setup on TOSH, Gavin Black’s Oughtred “Little Tern,” on the beach next to him.)

DERRY

Boat Owner: Gary Hardy
Designer: John Harris
Builder: Gary Hardy

The smallest boat in the fleet, “the Skerry design combines elements of traditional working craft of the British Isles and Scandinavia, with a little bit of American Swampscott Dory thrown in.”

LOD: 15 ft., Beam: 54 in.
Boat Type: CLC Skerry, balanced lug rigged
State: VIC
Built: 2019

Brett Doubleday and David Paget discussing the days voyage.

Gavan had a good day in TOSH.

Yours truly, sand in my toes.

The fleet at rest in Southport. It's quite shallow for some distance, so bigger boats are anchored farther off, or tied up at the jetty.

The next day’s wind forecast is to build to 30kts out of the south, and the morning broke wet and windy... no sailing today. We had a walk around the coastline of Southport (and then retired to the pub to shoot pool in an ad-hoc tournament).

Not such a pretty day on the Southern Ocean.

Recreational fishing information for the Bruny D'Entrecasteaux region. (signage at the boat launch ramp)

Crayfish traps (I think those of us from North America would call them “spiny lobster”, very tasty), stacked behind a commercial fisher’s house.

Looking across to Deep Hole, we can see all of our larger vessels re-anchored to avoid the forecasted southerlies.

Colourful algae washed up overnight.

Even on a rainy day, Southport is a stunning spot!

The boats that could be pulled out are are all up on the beach, anticipating a lee shore this evening. Here, we're looking at the stern of SWIFTSURE and can see the bollard or samson post the harpoon line or ‘warp’ was wrapped around, protruding through the forward edge of the aft deck. The warp was fed from the harpoon, through the notch in the top of the stem in the bow, and made secure back here. I assume that was so the force of the whale trying to pull away was transferred through the length of the boat. The crew had to pour buckets of water on that post to stop the warp from burning when they eased the line as the whale sounded!

SWIFTSURE details: 1) a view of inside the boat, looking aft; 2) the harpooners bracing thwart in the bow, and the notch at the top of the stem for the harpoon warp to ride in once the iron was lodged in the whale; 3) normally there are six oars, plus the sweep, but we didn't have enough crew to man that many, so two oars are on the roof of a camp support vehicle.

WYVERN

Boat Owner: David Newell
Designer: Graham Byrnes - B&B Yacht Designs
Builder: David Newell

(from the designers description): The Core Sound 17 is one of B&B’s most recognized and revered designs. A shallow water friendly design with kick-up centreboard and rudder. She is quick and easy to rig and launch, easy to sail, self tacking, and open water capable.

LOA: 17ft, Beam: 5ft 10in
Hull Timber: Plywood
Boat Type: Core Sound 17, Cat Ketch
State: NSW
Built: ?

ROWBOB (the Welsford “Joansa,” in foreground) and IMAGINE (an Oughtred “St Ales Skiff”) are the two rowing-only vessels on the raid. There wasn't quite enough rowers registered to warrant bringing a 2nd St Ales Skiff, much to the chagrin of those that like rowing best.

(LBT has three of them, so come’on you rowers: 2025!!)

Jetty House, Southport, provided a beautiful setting for our camp.

SWIFTSURE, ROWBOB, and IMAGINE on the beach at dusk. This is the rowing fleet of the raid, haha... however we much prefer sailing SWIFTSURE!

What difference one day makes! This 5th morning of the raid (our 7th in Australia) brought sun and a projected southwesterly to build as the land heated up.

Chris and I take the tent down, and, after eating, and the day’s briefings, we all pack camp in preparation for the next move.

Destination: Dover, 13 nm to the north.

Repairs to her front hatch complete, RED DEVIL rejoins the fleet.

Once all the trucks are loaded, the boat crews carry the smaller craft back to the water, and then the crews on the larger boats are ferried across the bay to retrieve their vessels from their safe anchorages.

ROWBOB

Boat Owner: Martin Chambers
Designer: John Welsford
Builder: Unknown

(from Welsford’s Joansa description): She is an adaptation of a late 1800's Chamberlain Dory skiff, native to the inshore fishing industry of the north east coast of North America. Rows well, seaworthy, simple to build and maintain, and a nice looker. Light enough to car top, fast enough to win races, and carries enough weight to take three on a weeks camping holiday.

LOD: 15'6", Beam: 3'11"
Weight: 38kg, 85 lb
Hull Timber: Plywood
Type of Boat: Joansa, fixed seat rowing boat
State: WA
Built: Unknown

There will be some rowing before the wind sets in, but the crew on IMAGINE are happy with that (they'll row the whole way, of course!).

SWIFTSURE’s oars are so long and awkward to deploy we ready them before weighing anchor.

IMAGINE

Boat Owner: Living Boat Trust
Designer: Ian Oughtred
Builder: Women on Water & Peter Laidlaw

IMAGINE was completed by the Women on the Water (WOW) just in time to participate in the 2013 Tawe Nunnugah Raid, one hundred nautical miles of open water rowing along the Tasmanian south east coast. Since then she has been by far the most used boat at the LBT at her home on the Huon. Her success has prompted the building of many other skiffs in Australasia, which participate in regattas, excursions and expeditions, and the organisation of a national Skiff association.

LOD feet: 22
Hull Timber: Plywood
Type of Boat: St Ayles Skiff
State: Tasmania
Built: 2012

Celia Leverton joins SWIFTSURE's crew today, we have lots of fun talking about her life on an acreage.

We bail and pump SWIFTSURE often, she takes on quite a bit water around the centreboard, and perhaps elsewhere…?

Looking back, as we round Lomas Point into Port Esperance. (Recherche and Esperance are the names of the two ships the french explorer Bruny D'Entrecasteaux came into these waters with.)

Chris is out on a boat today, the Sea Scout boat ROBBIE EVANS. She's been volunteering as camp crew, also, so hasn't sailed much. The crew stuck her on helm for most of the day, and she had a blast.

ROBBIE EVANS

Owner: Living Boat Trust
Designer: ?
Builder: ?

LOD: 18ft, Beam: 6ft or more? (quite wide and stable!)
Hull Timber: GRP fiberglass
Type of Boat: Scout "Patrol Boat" Gunter sloop rig
State: Tasmania
Built: ?

Sea Scout troops in Tasmania have been sailing a fleet of wooden clinker-built boats for many years, probably ex-naval training boats, and this GRP version was taken from a mould off one of their best preserved samples. I'd like to know more about the history and the specifics of the boats... if you readers have info, please get in touch with me at to fill in the blanks!

The Scout boat ROBBIE EVANS tacking into Port Esperance.

The crews arrive at Dover in good spirits, mostly.

Unfortunately, SWIFTSURE's crew aren't so happy, we broke the steering sweep, tacking upwind into the harbour!

As a result of all our rig tweaking on the first day, we are able to point her into the wind quite well, but she makes a lot of leeway (going sideways as much as forward), as her centreboard is quite small and she has no rudder! It took quite a few tacks to get in, and, when we broke the sweep on a tack, we had to get the rig down and row the last mile or so... It could've been worse, imagine that happening father out in trying conditions!

Of course, we have a shipwright on board, so no worries. Pete took it to his shop that night, and met the fleet at the next port with a beautifully scarfed repair.

TOSH

Boat Owner: Gavan Black
Designer: Iain Oughtred
Builder: Ray Lilford

One of Oughtred's double-ended beach boats, Tosh is Iain's interpretation of a traditional Shetland boat style. Design name is Little (whilly) Tern.

LOD feet: 15
Hull Timber: Plywood
Type of Boat: Sailing Dinghy
State: VIC
Built: 1985

Scenes from a beautiful beach, Dover.

Members of the small boat fleet at anchor, off the beach in Dover

My regular ride, SWIFTSURE, was out of commission with a broken sweep, she will be towed to our next destination, so I was invited to sail on ROBBIE EVANS the Sea Scout boat the next day.

She’s been crewed faithfully so far on this voyage by Richard Orr, here on the helm, and Kirsten Liljeqvist, both from Sydney. It's a wonderful sailing craft, designed to be stable and robust enough to withstand the rigors of a bunch of young sailors learning the ropes.

Our forecast was for a Southerly, 10 to 15kts, with a 2 metre swell, so we elected to reach straight across the channel from Dover to lunch at "The Quarries", just inside Swifts Point on Bruny Island, before turning north and run to our next camp at Simpsons Point.

We had a wonderful reach across the D'Entrecasteaux Channel on a building breeze, with a bit of a squall thrown in for good measure. Here’s LUGGER leaving Port Esperance just before the rain slashed into us.

LUGGER

Boat Owner: Jim Stockton
Designer: John Watkinson
Builder: Not known

Drascombe Luggers have made a number of remarkable voyages, including from the UK to Australia.

LOD feet: 19
Hull Timber: Plywood
Type of Boat: Drascombe Lugger
State: VIC
Year Built: Not known

The fleet heads across D'Entrecasteaux Channel

The Quarries are in the lee of Swifts Point on Bruny Island, so it all looks calm and serene from here, but you can see the building whitehorses when you look north up the channel.

A very nice little spot for lunch, I could imagine making it a destination for a weekend outing if I lived in this part of the world!

Sandstone quarried from here was used in the construction of some prominent building in Melbourne.

ROBBIE EVANS at The Quarries. You can see her sliding Gunter yard. All spars are in alloy, as well as the centreboard plate, and her hull and furniture are laid up stoutly, if not heavily!

Back underway, the breeze was on! Richard on helm, Kirsten tending the main, and I’m on the jibsheet as well as movable ballast… trying to keep the boat flat, and catch the next wave! We had a brilliant sail to Simpsons Point in the Scout boat... thanks to her weight, stability and overall form. With two reefs in, gusting thirty, we surfed down the first wave and then didn't fall off the plane until we flew over several more. Multiple times.

What a ride!! Best ever!! (haha, some will recognize that as my daily saying, but this time it was true.) Considering the brisk conditions, the fleet did very well... only one capsize and the safety boat was there within minutes. Martin's comment at the next briefing was something along the lines of “planned for, expected, and, situation normal.”

We came very close to capsize, once or twice. Or, somewhat close, anyway... Gybing was pretty hairy, I’m so accustomed to the unstayed mast on LUNA (our Welsford “Scamp”) I’ve become somewhat complacent in big-air gybes, but, when you’ve got those stays in the way, it’s another matter indeed.

Camp set up and waiting for us when we arrive at Simpsons Point. The camp crew had a somewhat trying day, also, with mechanical issues, a ferry transit, and a drive into the back of beyond... we sure appreciated the creature comforts provided. And that special van full of refreshments!

Because of the difficulties of the camp crew experienced getting everything to this location, the next day was determined to be a layover. We are camped on an acreage that encompasses a large part of Simpsons Point, privately owned, and graciously provided to us in support of the Raid.

Looking south from the top of the hill behind our camp, we can see The Neck, connecting South Bruny to North Bruny Island, and Adventure Bay beyond.

On this lay-day, Chris and I were invited to sail on Ian and Kris’ most amazing, trailerable JENNY VII to Great Bay, to visit the Bruny Island Cheese Company, and Get Shucked, the oyster bar just up the road at Bruny Island Oysters.

JENNY VII

Boat Owner: Ian Wright
Designer: Norman Wright Jnr
Builder: Norman Wright Jnr

(Description from her 2019 AWBF listing): Jenny VII was built by Norman Wright Junior for himself. His father Norman senior started the boat building business that still exists today and will be 110 years in 2019. Jenny resembles a 1950’s 18 foot skiff in hull form. Norman Junior, in the earlier Jennys won the Australian 18 footer championship 5 times and the World Championship once. He also navigated Gretel and Dame Pattie in the Americas Cup and won the Australian Dragon Championship in 1976 before retiring from competitive sailing.

Jenny was built out of cold molded Maple plywood over Silver Ash and Oregon stringers and Maple laminated frames. Deck and original cabin top were plywood. The original rig was one of Norm's old Dragon rigs modified to suit.

After finding her in a dry shed, and a 2-year refit, she was re-launched in 2010. We designed and built a new wider more practical doghouse and layout. Fitted a new diesel engine, fridge, heater, bathroom’ including toilet and black water treatment system. Replaced the rig with a new carbon swept spreader rig and sails and added a range of downwind sails. Also plenty of wine storage! Set her up for cruising and living aboard for extended holidays.

LOD feet: 26
Hull Timber: Queensland Maple Plywood
Type of Boat: centreboard sloop
State: Queensland
Built: 1988

Access from the beach to the Cheese Company is a bit awkward, there’s no signage or obvious place along the Bay that one could get up to the road. We ended up cutting through someone’s property and walking on the road for a kilometre or so, which was very unfriendly to pedestrians.

Bruny Island Cheese Co., on Great Bay, make a range of wonderful artisan cheeses from their own dairy herd. They also have a craft brewery operation, and serve local wines. We enjoyed a sampler platter, with beers and wines, and then set off for our next stop just up the road, the “Get Shucked” oyster bar at Bruny Island Oyster Co.

Eating well with Pip Stevenson, Jackie Lallemand, Kris Trott, and Chris Simonson at the Bruny Island Cheese Co, and then the Bruny Island Oyster Co, in Great Bay. So tasty!!

Feeling sufficiently stuffed, we walked back to our waiting ride on JENNY VII via the beach, much friendlier than that narrow road with all the cars in such a hurry!

Beach grasses on Great Bay.

Rounding the end of Simpsons Point on our return, we catch up with MONTY out on a daysail.

MONTY

Boat Owner: Living Boat Trust
Designer: Rear Admiral Victor Alexander Montagu
Builder: Royal Australian Naval Dockyard

Although many hundreds of Montagu whalers were built, very few remain on the water. This is the last Australian-built Montagu whaler still afloat in Tasmania, and is currently used as an expedition boat for the Living Boat Trust’s small boat Raids.

The Montagu whalers were a multi-purpose ship’s boat, able to be rowed or sailed for utility or rescue purposes. With the introduction of modern utility and rescue vessels, the Australian Navy distributed their wooden whalers to Naval Cadet Units for youth training purposes. This example had been with T.S. Mersey before being restored by the Wooden Boat Centre in Franklin and then transferred to the Living Boat Trust, where it is used as an expedition and training vessel.

The Wooden Boat Centre partnered with Colony 47 and Huonville High School to undertake the restoration which provided a training environment for a diverse group of women, men and high school students. Cody Horgan, a very experienced shipwright from the Australian National Maritime Museum guided the restoration. Jon Vey-Cox and the Living Boat Trust also worked to complete the restoration for relaunch 2017.

LOD feet: 27
Hull Timber: Kauri
Type of Boat: Montagu Whaler, Standing Lug Yawl rig
State: Tasmania
Built: 1953

Back to our Camp at Simpsons Point, South Bruny Island.

When we returned to Simpsons Point from our cheese and oyster feasting, we ran into Mat Conboy in his Gig Harbor Scamp SEA DOG (a production fibreglass version of our John Welsford-designed boat, LUNA). In a brief discussion, as we were being ferried ashore, Mat told us the previous owner imported the boat from America.

Looking across D'Entrecateaux Channel to mainland Tasmania, from the top of Simpsons Point.

Wallaby on Simpsons Point

As the afternoon eases into happy hour everyone is looking relaxed…

A few random views of the social scene at the camp

After two lovely nights at Simpsons Point it’s time to get moving… next port of call is Quarantine Bay, about 12 miles away. There’s not a lot of wind as we set out…

FALA, one of three BayRaiders on the Raid.

Boat Owner: Andrew Bochenek
Designer: Matt Newland, Swallow Yachts
Builder: Andrew Denman

Water ballasted 2 masted yawl. Can be sailed single handed or with crew of 4. A perfect Raid boat yet with high performance and planing ability.

LOD feet: 19
Hull Timber: West System Epoxy Ply
Type of Boat: Gunter Yawl
State: WA
Built: 2017

FAIRWIND (Drascolme Longboat).

Boat Owner: Stef van den Hoek
Designer: John Watkinson
Builder: Michael Elton

The Drascombe Longboat was only ever built under licence in Australia, unlike it’s smaller cousin, the Lugger, which was available to buy as a kit or built from plans. FAIRWIND is the 4th of 9 longboats built by a Sydney-based builder.

As third owner, FAIRWIND and I have spent almost every summer together since I bought her, exploring up and down the east coast from the Whitsundays to Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury, Myall Lakes, Port Stephens, Gippsland Lakes, Bateman’s Bay, Sydney Harbour, and Port Phillip. I plan to take her home to the West coast some time soon, there’s just been so much to explore on the east. That brings me to this summer, on the east coast of Tasmania and this year’s Tawe Nunnegah Raid. Great boat for some fabulous adventures. (Written for the 2019 AWBF listing, FAIRWIND’s done at least two raids now.)

LOD: 21 ft.
Hull Timber: Marine Ply
Type of Boat: Drascombe Longboat , gaff yawl rig
State: Victoria
Built: 1996

WYVERN (Core Sound 17) and LUGGER (Drascombe Lugger)

AJAX is such a sweet looking vessel, unfortunately I don't have any specs on her. She's sure a classic!

DERRY (CLC Skerry) arriving in Quarantine Bay

Our anchorage in Quarantine Bay

By the size of the midden, this has been an important location for many thousands of years.

Our fearless leader, Martin Riddle, provides the next morning briefings, and Kevin Robson has the weather forecast. Today’s destination, once camp is dismantled and loaded, is Arms End, about 14 miles to the north.

BOXER crew on duty for breakfast dishes.

The BOXER crew come with their own mothership, AKAMA, one of our accompanying yachts.

BOXER

Boat Owner: Chris Tyquin
Designer: Norman R Wright
Builder: Jones McKinnon Regan and Eastgate

Designed originally for netting the banks of Moreton Bay with a crew of 2 or 3 using 16 foot oars when there wasn’t enough breeze and used for the odd weekend race with a crew of 10 to 12. Boxer is of significance to the maritime history of Moreton Bay and early Brisbane, in that she is the only boat of her type to exist.

BOXER was built over 8 years under the watchful eye of Bill Wright (Norman’s grandson and head of Norman R Wright and Sons). She was launched in 2002 and is used for picnics, camping and racing. Her interior incorporates several discreetly placed creature comforts and mod cons including a drop leaf Mahogany dining table that seats six, ice boxes, toilet , double sink, lighting, stereo, a demountable galley, electronic navigation and bench sleeping for six. In racing configuration she can hoist over 1500 square feet of sail that includes gaff mainsail, topsail, spinnaker,balloon jib, ringtail (extends off the boom) and watersail (extends under the boom).

LOD feet: 23
Hull Timber: Australian Red Cedar
Type of Boat: Gaff sloop
State: Queensland
Built: 2002

BOXER sports significant sail area. The crew was just hoisting the ringtail (adding more area to the aft edge of the mainsail) but the wind shifted and they dropped it back into the boat.

SWIFTSURE crew setting off from Quarantine Bay: Pete on helm, and Celia, Dave, and Brett midships, sorting out poles to set up for a downwind run in a light breeze.

I.O. (one of the fleet of "accompanying yachts," she towed SWIFTSURE the day we had the repairs underway to her sweep.)

Boat Owner: Jack Witte
Designer: William Atkins
Builder: John Ray

Originally built as an expedition boat for southern Tasmania waters, current use live on board by current owner based at Franklin.

LOD feet: 34
Hull Timber: Swamp Gum
Type of Boat: Gaff Motorsailer
State: TAS
Built: 2014

MERLYN, another of the “accompanying yachts” in our fleet

Boat Owner: Kevin and Sandra Robson
Designer: Philip Myer
Builder: Gill Albutt & Phillip Myer

One of the larger Couta boats ever built, she is fully equipped for extensive cruising, with a traditional large open self draining cockpit, 5 berths, and a dinghy in davits. Built of Kauri, with bruised edge planking (no caulking) over laminated Celery Top frames, she is enormously strong and seaworthy. The deck is Queensland Beech. The 7 foot long bent Mahogany bowsprit give her a stylish appearance.

She has twice circumnavigated Tasmania, attended the Geelong Wooden Boat Festival, and cruised both the Furneaux group and Victorian coast. She is a pleasure to sail and exhibit. She underwent a minor refit in 2012.

LOD feet: 33
Hull Timber: Kauri
Type of Boat: Couta boat
State: Tasmania
Built: 1988

The whaleboat CAPRICORNIA crosses tacks with the tall ship ENTERPRIZE. The start of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival is only a day away, and we see a number of vessels on their way to Hobart to attend.

SWIFTSURE heading for Arms End (yours truly on the helm). —photo by Dean Turner

ROWBOB landing at Arms End, South Arm.

Camp assembly at Arms End, South Arm. As this was our last night of camp, it was decided to not erect the cook tents or the big dining marquee. The next morning dawned damp and somewhat bittersweet, however, we were excited to join the Parade of Sail into Hobart for the start of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival. The closer we got in, the number of converging vessels increased until we were soon surrounded by every sort of ship, from small to tall.

This shot of SWIFTSURE coming into Hobart clearly shows the scarfed repair to her steering sweep! —photo by Jilly Archer

As we landed at Constitution Dock, a fellow asked us what we'd been doing… turns out he was a reporter! —Afloat Magazine, March 2023, No. 395. Photo by Kevin Green.

The Tawe Nunnugah fleet had its own mooring field within the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.

ELANDRA

Boat Owner: Jean-Pierre Scheerlinck
Designer: Francois Vivier
Builder: Jean-Pierre Scheerlinck & Cody Hogan, with students of the Wooden Boat Centre, Franklin

This boat was designed and built for dinghy cruising and can sleep 2 using a boom tent.

LOD feet: 15
Hull Timber: Huon Pine
Type of Boat: Ilur dinghy, lug sloop rig
State: TAS
Built: 2021

IMAGINE, the St Ayles Skiff, and the whaleboats CAPRICORNIA and SWIFTSURE.

It’s somewhat difficult to summarize our experience of participating in the Raid. It suited our interests and preferences in so many ways… a wonderful group of people, magnificent scenery, human-powered adventure in very cool boats, and highly-organized chaos! Loved it! I’m certainly hoping to return in 2025.