- On the Water 2026
The plan is for students from Huonville Primary School to particate in this program on February 18, 25, March 11, 18, 25 and April 1. There is a gap between Feb 25 and March 11 (school camp) and we will be working with 3 separate groups of 20-24 kids, each group getting two days on… Read more: On the Water 2026 - Monday night BBQ coming up
We are getting towards the end of the first month of 2026 with SOS26 looming, but we just have time to squeeze in a BBQ. Bring along your favourite grill food, plus a plate to share, something to drink and $5 for the kitty. - Thank you Landcare!
It was heads down bums up around our little native garden as the Landcare group ripped out the weeds. It looks much the better for it. - Looking for borrowed LBT stuff
Organisation for the Sail Oar Safari is well underway, and Endra O’May in particular is getting everything in hand for the catering – precooking, and checking our collection of plates, cutlery and other necessities for eating. It seems that our stock of plates in particular has diminished. If you happen to notice something on your… Read more: Looking for borrowed LBT stuff - Tidal Bore Warning
Martin RIddle writes: Richard’s use of Huon river data from a single day to conclude that to refloat Gretchen there was no need to get up before the time of high tide predicted for Port Huon does not stand-up to scrutiny. While having the appeal of simplicity, it doesn’t explain real world observations or the… Read more: Tidal Bore Warning - Monday night curry night
Last Monday was perfect for al fresco dining on the lawn – warm enough, with a bit of a breeze to move the midgies along. Lets hope for a repeat. Bring your dish, a bottle, and $5 for the kitty after 6pm. - Movie at the Palais 1st Feb
The first Sunday night movie for 2026, and it is >>Hidden FIgures<<. ‘As the United States raced against Russia to put a man in space, NASA found untapped talent in a group of female African-American mathematicians that served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in U.S. history. Based on the unbelievably true… Read more: Movie at the Palais 1st Feb - Payment for the Sail Oar Safari (SOS26)
On January 6th all those who are registered to participate in this event (not including volunteers) should have received an email requesting payment. If you did not please contact president@lbt.org.au – we need to ensure that everybody can communicate. If you intend participating and have NOT paid you can do so online now at >>the… Read more: Payment for the Sail Oar Safari (SOS26) - Reminder: Castle Forbes Festival Jan 17-18
Art and music on the beautiful Castle Forbes Oval >>here<<. Here are some details about the workshops. WORKSHOPS – Free for children – $5 for adults Sat 17th Jan – Tom Davidson – Screen Printing – 11.30am -1pm The screen printing workshop will allow people of all ages to have a chance to screen print a shirt… Read more: Reminder: Castle Forbes Festival Jan 17-18 - Tide heights on the river
Last week Martin Riddle suggested that the tides he observed at Franklin didn’t match predictions – that on the third of January high tide was at 6.55am rather than 7.35am. His explanation was that there might be a tidal bore. Here is a bit more fat to throw on this controversial fire. Tide prediction graphs,… Read more: Tide heights on the river - Monday night Mediterranean
Lots of fresh produce coming from the gardens at the moment, which should suit salad and vegy recipes from the Med. See you at the Shed after 6pm with your plate to share, $5 for the kitty and a something to drink. Pic from Wikimedia - Planning a visit to NZ?
You might want to consider taking in the boat festival in Auckland, 13th – 15th March. - Boat building ‘compass’
Peter Laidlaw recently unearthed the device shown in the picture below. It was made by Adrian Dean when he and Peter were building a boat, and is designed to be used in conjunction with a half model. You simply roll the ‘compass’ around the boat at the station you are interested in and stop when… Read more: Boat building ‘compass’ - Building a new Grebe
Nice article in the >>latest ‘Afloat’ magazine<< about the plans for a new Grebe build at the LBT with Franklin School and the Wooden Boat Centre. ‘Afloat’ is available all around Australia at ship chandlers and other boating businesses and organisations, or online – scroll through to page 6 if you use the link above.… Read more: Building a new Grebe - Huon tidal bore?
Someone from the Huon who talks endlessly about the details of tides or an interesting natural phenomenon? The 1.39m spring tide early on Saturday, 3rd Jan provided us with the best opportunity to refloat Gretchen for months. If we missed it, we would either have needed mechanical assistance to get her back in the water… Read more: Huon tidal bore? - Yukon farewell party
We are looking forward to a great 2026 at the LBT, but this is of course also a time to reflect on years past and people who are no longer with us. Martin Kell was delving around in the dingy archives of a backup disk and came up trumps with this great video of >>the… Read more: Yukon farewell party - Hans Sipsma is in town
Hans was a very active member of the LBT until a couple of years ago when he and Margaret moved to Queensland. If you want to catch up with him come to >>38 Chittys Rd Franklin<< at 5pm Friday evening January 2nd with a plate to share, something to sling on the BBQ and a… Read more: Hans Sipsma is in town - First LBT dinner for 2026, and it is British
Having announced the 5th of January as the first dinner for 2026 lets by true to our word. Looks like we will have a warm evening for it, so after a heavy Christmas of puddings, fruit cakes etc maybe it is time to go light and some of us can dig out appropriate British salad… Read more: First LBT dinner for 2026, and it is British - More holiday viewing
The sight of the super yachts scudding past the Iron Pot and into Sullivan’s Cove to finish the Sydney to Hobart race was pretty impressive. Even more so is the documentary of the 1956 race >>Hard to Windward<<, when boats were wooden, speed was measured with a log line, navigation was by compass and sextant… Read more: More holiday viewing - Using the summer hols fruitfully
Des Power recommends learning how to build a wooden warship – see >>here<<. Seems one of the problems they had to overcome in the late 18th century was that they had cut down all their old growth forest. We’d never make that mistake, would we?
Old News
A list of all posts, including older ones, can be found here.
At the end of 2021 the LBT upgraded its website. News from the old site (2013-2021) can be found here.
