Hobart is hosting the bi-annual Australian Wooden Boats Festival this weekend.

There was a spectacular show on the River Derwent this afternoon as the Tall Ships arrived and were escorted into the city waterfront by a couple of hundred smaller crafts.

I’m so glad that I took the afternoon off work to join the spectators before enjoying the view from our balcony.

I  then went to see the ships up close on the waterfront.

Some of these ships spent ten days sailing from Sydney or Melbourne. It’s hard to imagine the months that the first Europeans spent at sea, as they journeyed to the far side of the world. This year celebrates 375 years since Abel Tasman visited this island that now bears his name.