PHANTOM FLEET

Download the free LAYAR app for Apple or Andriod devices

A virtual fleet of phantom ships have anchored on Twofold Bay for the Eden Whale Festival! You can also see them at Merimbula, Tathra and Bermagui wharves.

See our album of pics

A feature of the exhibition program, the Phantom Fleet can be viewed and photographed from a number of whale watching lookouts and heritage locations in Eden.

To see it, you need to download the Augmented Reality application, Layar, to your smart phone or tablet.

1. Using your smartphone or tablet, download the free LAYAR App from iTunes or Google.

2. Open the app, open the menu, go to Geo Layers > Search Layers and search for Phantom Fleet (this is where you search for (Un)Seen Sculptures too)

3. Click the icon on the right of the screen, >Filters, >Range then adjust your slider to the maximum range of 5kilometres.

4. Follow the map and use your device to discover the ships the exhibition!

5. Tag #edenwhalefestival in your pics!

Gordon Beattie, project director said “The Phantom Fleet exists virtually and each ship is a three dimensional object that can be viewed from different angles, you can walk around them, or pass through them,”

“The technology allows them to be viewed in real time in the landscape. We did a trial run last week and I have to say I was very excited by the results.”

Gordon said the idea for the Phantom Fleet come about earlier this year during a collaboration which aims to build a to scale replica of Ben Boyd’s flagship yacht “Wanderer”.

“The Wanderer was a luxury cruiser designed to impress, entertain and form a base for operations.

It certainly did that as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1901 ‘Boyd came to Sydney in his yacht, the Wanderer, on the 18th July, 1842.’

“She was a beautifully-modelled and elegantly fitted-up schooner of 84 tons, mounting 10 guns and sailing under the flag of the Royal Yacht Squadron, which is the white ensign, as flown by the British Royal Navy.”

Ben Boyd’s arrival in Sydney on the Wanderer was the starting point for building his Australian empire.

The yacht symbolised a can do attitude which unfortunately was not reflected in his financial acumen and Boyd sailed out of Sydney in 1851 he disappeared while on an island in the Pacific.

The Wanderer returned to Australia and was wrecked trying to enter Port Macquarie on November 3 1851

“Great entry and an ignominious exit and the relics of Ben Boyd’s aspirations can be seen in Eden today with Boyd’s Tower and Boyd’s Town. Some might say the dreams go on,” Gordon said.

“We have an ongoing fascination with the ocean and playing with this idea the Phantom Fleet off shore evokes many things in an Australian context: exports, imports, explorations, owning your own tinny, escaping to sea and just being on the ocean.

“The fleet also represents memories of dreams and aspirations as well the escape from war, tyranny and fear.”

“From the shore think about who or what might be on those boats? Where did they come from?”

“Are the invading, fleeing or just passing by? Ask yourself the question why might you be on a boat and what does home represent.”

The Phantom Fleet is visible from Snug Cove, Warrens Walk, Eden Killer Whale Museum, Seahorse Inn and the Eden Lookout and includes an audio track which will play when you are near the fleet.

A second virtual exhibition titled (Un)Seen Sculpture can be viewed on the Lake Curalo Boardwalk.

To prepare, download the free Augment Reality App. When you open the app in Eden it will direct you on how to view the digital artworks.

Gordon Beattie – Concept and Soundscape Director
Warren Armstrong – Augmented Reality Actualisation
Sarah Chenhall – Location and Media Liaison