Craftsmanship on display at annual Wooden Boat Festival

Thousands of boating fans celebrated the craftsmanship and history of wooden vessels Saturday during the third annual Wooden Boat Festival at the Balboa Yacht Club in Corona del Mar.

Visitors admired more than 50 wooden power and sailboats crafted in various parts of the world.

The Wooden Boat Festival, billed as one of 25 shows of its kind in the nation, started in 2014 after Balboa Yacht Club member Ralph Rodheim approached Harbor Commissioner and BYC Commodore Doug West with the idea of hosting a world-class wooden boat exhibition modeled after the automotive Concours d’elegance at Pebble Beach.

The featured attraction at this year’s festival was the Wild Goose, once the pride and joy of late actor and Newport Beach resident John Wayne, who converted the 136-foot former World War II minesweeper into a yacht.

“What’s so fun about this event is it attracts true boating enthusiasts and owners of all ages due to the beauty, love and romance of these wooden boats,” event Chairman David LaMontagne said in a statement.¿