25th Annual San Diego Wooden Boat Festival

25th ANNUAL SAN DIEGO WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL
SCHEDULED FOR FATHERS DAY, JUNE 20-21, 2015

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The 25th annual San Diego Wooden Boat Festival, featuring more than 70 classic crafts, seminars on traditional maritime skills and activities for kids, will be held June 20-21 at the Koehler Kraft boatyard on Shelter Island. 

The San Diego Wooden Boat festival is the premier annual event for Southern California traditional wooden boat enthusiasts and provides a rare opportunity for the general public to view these crafts up close.  From small rowing, sailing, and power boats to regal schooners and rugged workboats, all are open to the public.

 This year’s Wooden Boat Festival attractions and seminars will include:

• Visit some of San Diego Bay’s classic beauties: several large classic vessels will be in attendance and available for viewing, both above and below decks. Owners will be on hand to give the history of the boats. Some of the craft available for viewing at the festival this year include: Famed America’s Cup Skipper, Dennis Connor’s 40ft schooner, FAME, that was built in 1910. This vessel was completely restored at Koehler Kraft in three months time and was re-launched July 12^th  of 2010, her 100^th birthday.  Akamai a 1962, Kettenburg 50, that recently went through a full restoration at Koehler Kraft. Also featured will be a new re-construction project for Koehler Kraft, Siwash – a 1910 yawl built for the current owner’s grandfather’s high school graduation.  A returning favorite is C.F. Koehler’s own, Sally, a 1928, 10-Meter Class Sloop. Sally and Branta are the last two remaining hulls of 14 identical vessels originally built in Germany at the Abeking and Rasmussen. Sally has undergone a two year restoration at Koehler Kraft. The last two 10-Meters will be exhibited side-by-side at this years festival. 
• Sabot building demonstration.
• Free Steamboat Rides: Ride an authentic steam-driven boat for a short tour of the yacht basin. 
• Custom-made small boats: Handcrafted kayaks, canoes, dories and other small craft will be on display and their owners will be on-hand to discuss what it takes to build a small wooden boat.
• Sail Down Memory Lane: a photo museum celebrating excellence in craftsmanship from 1938 to present day.
• Vendor Booths: An array of booths featuring everything from sailing societies to marine chandlery.    
• Activities for children: There will be a children’s area where they can make a small boat, take part in gutter boat racing and collect fun temporary tattoos and an eye patch!
• Live music Saturday & Sunday.

Daytime activities at the 25^th  Annual San Diego Wooden Boat Festival run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Breakfast and lunch will be available at the festival for a nominal additional charge. On Saturday evening after the festival a special dinner will be offered for an additional charge and will include screenings of classic sailing movies.

Proceeds from the event go to benefit Challenged Sailors.  The volunteers and participants of Challenged Sailors San Diego have experienced the transformative nature of adaptive sailing personally. Some are very experienced sailors, some are beginners but all have seen a tremendous improvement in their lives through adaptive sailing.  Capt. Jack Sparrow - in Pirates of the Caribbean - said, “a sailboat is not just a mast or sails or a rudder; a sailboat is freedom”. For those with a disability that significantly limits their mobility on land, that statement is a reality. Challenged Sailors San Diego provides therapeutic and recreational adaptive sailing opportunities for people with disabilities to enhance their dignity, well-being, and independence.

For a complete schedule of events and for more information about the festival visit www.sdwoodenboatfestival.org. Koehler Kraft is located at 2302 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106.