OPENING EVENTS TIMETABLE – FRIDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2025
| TIME | EVENT | PROGRAM / ACTIVITY |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 - 13:00 | Parade of Sail | Starts John Garrow Light, Sandy Bay and finishes at Sullivans Cove |
| 13:00 - 17:00 | Docking of Parade of Sail Vessels | Sullivans Cove |
| 16:45 - 17:15 | Festival Welcome | Constitution Dock |
| 17:30 - 18:30 | Boat Owners Welcome | Ironhouse Waterside Tavern |
| 18:30 - 20:30 | We are the Ocean | Theatre Royal Hobart |
Parade of Sail and Docking of Vessels
A magnificent fleet of 11 tall ships and over 200 wooden boats will sail up the Derwent River and into Sullivans Cove to kick off the 2025 Festival. Catch the spectacle from prime viewing spots along the river, then head to the Hobart waterfront to ogle at the controlled chaos as the vessels settle into their berths across the Festival site.
Festival Welcome
Foremost Tasmanian Indigenous boatbuilder Sheldon Thomas launches watercraft Truganini in Constitution Dock, inviting boats and Festivalgoers to Sullivans Cove. Joined by traditionally carved NZ waka taua Te Karangatahi, we welcome visitors from across the Pacific and the world.
FORUM
We are the Ocean: Voyaging and the Pacific
Theatre Royal, Hobart
Fri 7 February 18:30-20:30
Price: $35 / $30 concession
Suitable for ages 14+
Join historian Dame Anne Salmond, artist Michel Tuffery, and waka captain Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr in conversation with Professor Kate Fullagar as they investigate the epic stories of the original Pacific explorers and the powerful connection between people and the ocean. Featuring a performance by the Māori cultural troupe Ngā Mātai Pūrua.
