More than 600 boats in Australia Day Regattas

by Peter Campbell on 23 Jan 2006 Whilst the 170th Australia Day Regatta will be held once more on Sydney Harbour next Thursday, 26 January 2006, Australia Day afloat will be celebrated on many waterways along the New South Wales coast and offshore.

Current indications there will be more than 600 sailing boats on the water. Up to 100 yachts will contest the world’s oldest continuous sailing regatta on the Harbour, with another 50 yachts expected to compete in the ocean race from Sydney Harbour to Botany Bay and return.

In addition, an estimated 500 more keel yachts, trailable yachts, multihulls, skiffs and dinghies will take part in Australia Day Regattas at Dobroyd, the Lane Cover River at Hunters Hill, the Parramatta River, Lake Illawarra, Botany Bay, Wangi Wangi on Lake Macquarie, Avalon on Pittwater and on Chipping Norton Lakes. A fleet of radio controlled yachts will race at Drummoyne.

The Australia Day Regatta Committee, with the support of regatta sponsors, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, has struck a new Australia Day Regatta medallion which will be presented to winners and placegetters in all regattas.

Whilst entries have officially closed for the 170th Australia Day Regatta, the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron may accept late nominations, and other clubs will take entries for their events over the weekend. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia will continue to accept late casual entries for the short ocean race to Botany Bay and return.

Ocean Race: CYCA Short Ocean and Ocean Pointscore event to Botany Bay and return, with casual entries accepted until next Tuesday, 24 January. A 40-50 boat fleet will start at 11:00am near Shark Island. Entries include Dick Cawse’s Vanguard, winner of the prestigious City of Sydney Sesquicentenary Cup last year, the maxi yacht Brindabella (George Snow), Loki (Stephen Ainsworth) and Michael Spies’ Sirromet Life Style Wine, winner of the recent Sailing South Race Week in Hobart.


170th Australia Day Regatta, Sydney Harbour: Handicap yacht classes, International Yngling and 5.5 Metre classes, Historical Skiffs and Modern Skiffs will be competing. Racing starts at 1.30pm from line north-east of Clark Island and near the flagship, HMAS Stuart, more than 100 boats expected to compete for class and perpetual trophies.

Pittwater: Avalon Sailing Club traditionally hosts a big Australia Day regatta on Pittwater and this year expects 65 dinghies and 20 yachts to compete.

Sabot Association Australia Day Event: Dobroyd Sailing Club, Iron Cove with 40 1-up and 30 2-up Sabots expected from many NSW clubs.

Lake Macquarie: Wangi RSL Amateur Sailing Club is expecting 50 yachts, 10 multihulls and about 25 dinghies to compete.

Lake Illawarra: Trailable yachts, dinghies (both seniors and juniors) and Access dinghies are expected to make up a fleet of more than 70 at Lake Illawarra Sailing Club.

Botany Bay: The big event is the Councillors’ Australia Day Challenge, a race for keel yachts conducted by Botany Bay Yacht Club in which representatives from the 11 councils that make up the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils will sail aboard yachts. A fleet of 30 boats is expected.

St George: At least 25 16-foot skiffs will race from St George Sailing Club.

Georges River: Skiffs and dinghies will make up a fleet of 45 boats racing from Georges River Sailing Club.

Lane Cove River: Hunters Hill Sailing Club has been a long-time supporter of Australia Day and Greenwich Sailing Club is joining with Hunters Hill this year. At least 30 skiffs and dinghies are expected to race.

Radio Controlled Yachts: Drummoyne Sailing Club will once again host the Australia Day Regatta for Radio Controlled Yachts, with 60 boats competing in seven classes. The club will be a great place for close viewing of the intense competition.

Other waterways: Australia Day regattas are also expected to be held at Manly Yacht Club, Greenwich Flying Squadron, Chipping Norton Lakes Sailing Club. Woollahra Sailing Club and Yarra Bay Sailing Club.