Crown Series Bellerive Regatta - Production yachts join the party

by Peter Campbell on 4 Feb 2013 Crown Series Bellerive Regatta added a new Production Yacht division this year, enticing owners of Beneteau, Jeanneau, Bavaria and other production cruising yachts to compete in the popular regatta.

'There has been a notable growth in production yachts at southern Tasmanian yacht clubs and many of them compete in twilight races; we are now encouraging them to enjoy the ambience of taking part in a weekend of regatta sailing,' Bellerive Yacht Club Commodore John Mills said today.

'The Production Yacht division will race over courses more suitable to boats with smaller or family crews, either with or without spinnakers.

'However, this division will be not be just restricted to production yachts, but to any owners who would like to take participate in a more relaxed form of competitive sailing.

'Including divisions for these types of boats to participate in regatta competition proved very successful at the Geelong Festival of Sails over the Australia Day weekend,' the Commodore added.

Commodore Mills said comments had been made about declining numbers of keel boats racing on the Derwent. 'In fact, there are probably more than ever before, but they are spread over more events on weekdays and weekends and at more clubs,' he said.

'The Crown Series Bellerive Regatta was conceived by Bellerive Yacht Club to provide an opportunity for sailors to participate in a combined club weekend regatta on our harbour.

'The fleet size demonstrates the popularity of the concept and with additional facilities and the State titles for trailable yachts and sports boats, I hope for another large fleet and lots of post-race socialising.'

An additional draw card this year is that all participating skippers and crews, both keelboats and off-the-beach dinghies, will be eligible to go into the draw for a five night bareboat charter in the Whitsundays aboard Top Cat, a Seawind 1000XL catamaran, to be drawn after the racing on Sunday afternoon.