Balandra’s launch and the Wooden Boat Festival

 

Murphy’s Law and South-East winds conspired to prevent Balandra’s launch until the very last opportunity on July 31st.

 
Photograph: Shendra Hanney


The one good omen was a rainbow that arched over Bargain Bay the evening before. Such a beautiful semicircle it was like a blessing for Balandra’s new journey.
Photograph: Shendra Hanney

 

In spite of a rising South-Easter, Balandra was safely launched and out to her mooring. I stayed with her all night, bailing as necessary as her planks took up water and sealed after two years on the dry.

It is a tribute to Collin’s building prowess that she was absolutely tight again after the second night.

Collin’s daughter, Corlynn, and I sailed her around Francis Point and into Pender Harbour to the Madeira Park wharf - where she ghosted between two lines of beautifully-crafted wooden boats to her place at the head of the slip.

Here Balandra held court for 2 and 1/2 days - 1000 people a day - all totally interested in her history and the 1945 photographs of her construction and launch.

 
Photograph: Colleen Fawcett

 

The Lorill A

Meanwhile, Corlynn is showing the Lorill A along with Allen Farrell's dory, Buttercup "on the dry" in the wharf parking area.

 
Photograph: Shendra Hanney

 

Balandra and the S.A.L.T.S. Connection at the Wooden Boat Festival

 

At the boat festival Balandra was in close proximity to the Passat – a beautiful newly-restored ketch which is featured in the August edition of Pacific Yachting.

Margaret and Martyn Clark, the Passat's owners introduced themselves. Imagine my astonishment when, upon sharing my intention to donate Balandra to S.A.L.T.S., Martyn commented "I founded S.A.L.T.S.!" (See Harbour Spiel article re: Balandra's future with the Sail and Life Training Society of Victoria)!

What an incredibly fortuitous coincidence!  And what a relief – for after the Boat Festival the next phase is to deliver Balandra to the Heritage Shipyard in Victoria.

PART 2 of Balandra's journey begins with her transfer to the Heritage Shipyard.

Please check in for Balandra's progress.

 

 

For information or to be alerted to updates to the site, please contact: Shendra Hanney

Return to Main Index

 

 

Site under construction,
Please come back soon!