Classic 1931 Dutch yacht 'Oranje' sets sail for Tasmania

The famous Dutch royal sailing yacht Oranje is now being shipped to the 2016 Australian Wooden Boat Festival. The eight-metre long yacht was recently sealed in a shipping container ready for transport to Hobart, Tasmania.

As well as signifying the close historical ties between the Netherlands and Tasmania, the royal yacht's send off was celebrated by Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Brett Mason, and Damen Shipyards Group CEO, René Berkvens.

Held first in 1994, and every two years since then, the Australian Wooden Boat Festival is a four-day event that attracts the largest numbers of wooden boats to Hobart.

The 2017 edition of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival will have a distinct Dutch theme. This is to celebrate the 375th anniversary of Dutch seafarer and explorer Abel Tasman’s discovery of what became known as Tasmania.

Meantime, shipping company Damen’s involvement in the forthcoming Australian Wooden Boat Festival is the sponsorship of a match race between the Oranje and a classic Tasmanian sailing boat design from 1910 that we're yet to identify.

The Oranje is a prime example of the Dutch ‘Regenboog’ class of wooden sailing boat. This eight-metre vessel design originates from 1917 and is actually the oldest class of sailing boat in the Netherlands.

For the Netherlands, the Oranje also has great cultural significance. The vessel represents the continuance of the Dutch tradition that involves the gift of a sailing boat to the Dutch heir to the throne.

The 1931-built Oranje was given to Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Máxima on the occasion of their marriage in 2002.

"The Netherlands and Australia enjoy a cooperative relationship with a shared maritime heritage," stated Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mr Mason.

"We will give the Oranje a warm welcome when she arrives in Tasmania – and we look forward to seeing her sailing there."

As well as the Oranje, four traditional Tjotters (Friesian flat-bottomed sailing boats) and two 12-foot dinghies were also prepared for shipment to Hobart. The Tjotters, with their characteristic leeboards, will perform traditional formation sailing manoeuvres at the festival.

Damen representatives visited Hobart earlier this year to finalise a construction contract with the Australian Government for a state-of-the-art Antarctic Supply Research Vessel. Once completed, Hobart will be this vessel’s home port.

Damen Shipyards Group operates 32 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 9000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 6000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide, it boasts.

More at the www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au.