Wooden ships: club members set to launch second Denmark Classic Boat Show this weekend

The Denmark Rowers will host their second Denmark Classic Boat Show on Sunday from 10am to 3pm at Berridge Park in Denmark. The event has doubled in size since it first set sail in 2021 and this weekend’s event will feature a range of vintage, classic and retro boats from yesteryear, predominantly vessels made of wood. Denmark Rowers president David Cliff said one of the stars of the show will be Dai Thomas’ beautifully restored 1920s racing yacht Sweetheart. “Dai restored Sweetheart in his shed down here,” Mr Cliff said of the 18-footer. “It enjoyed a racing career in Albany in the 20s and then very quickly in the 30s it all ended and it was converted into a motor boat and it stayed a motor boat for the next 60 years.” The ship which also once served as an inlet ferry for Bibbulmun Track walkers was slowly rotting in a shed until it was rescued by Mr Thomas who has spent about four years restoring the boat to its former glory. Sweetheart’s sister ship Gloria will also be on show at the event along with historical displays, model boats, kayaks and recently built dinghies. Showgoers will have the opportunity to take a paddle or a sail themselves and with the Great Southern Classic Car Show also taking place in Denmark on Sunday vehicle and vessel lovers of all sorts will be in for a treat The day will conclude with a sundowner barbecue from 4-7pm featuring a sea shanty singalong with Denmark’s Salty Sea Dogs.