Tetsuya afloat

This morning, well-known Sydney chef Tetsuya Wakuda took delivery of his lovely new Huon Pine boat, which was built at the Wooden Boat Centre here in Franklin. Crowds and TV crews gathered on the Franklin foreshore in the grey fog to see her put into the water. As you'll see in the series of photos below, a crane lifted her over the wharf and into the water, before her name "Belle" was revealed and the champagne corks popped. The engine fired up and Belle made her first short trip on the Huon before returning to the wharf. Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings officiated at the launch. Tetsuya sounded quite emotional as he thanked the many people involved in building his new pride and joy. People here like him a lot, largely for the long-term support he has given to Tasmanian food producers - firstly by using their produce, and also promoting it whenever he gets a chance. He was made a Tasmanian brand ambassador in 1994.

If you get a chance, take a look through the Wooden Boat Centre to see how they do it. And if you have plenty of $$$, why not get their experts, volunteers and students to build a beautiful wooden boat for you? They are looking for a new commission!