Port Esperance Race Weekend set for Easter

by Steven Harrison on 17 Jan 2007 Since 1862 boats have raced on Dover’s Port Esperance in the Dover Regatta, now known as the Huon Tasmanian Salmon Port Esperance Race Weekend, and this Easter will again see yachts heading far south.

The regatta will be held over the Easter weekend, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 April 2007.

The established three-race Port Esperance Series for Keel Boats (including the innovative Little Watch Shop Skipper’s Dinghy Race) will again be held. The other races in the series are the Dover Pharmacy Distance Race out into the d’Entrecasteaux Channel and the Driftwood William Jackson Cup.

This year will see the introduction of a three race Bay Chandlery Series for Off-the-Beach dinghies and catamarans. There will be one race on Saturday afternoon and two races on Sunday including the BK Price Trophy race sponsored by Tasmanian Private Realty. Other sponsors include the Dover Beachside Tourist Park and Dover IGA Supermarket.

'This is a very flexible event,' said PESC Vice Commodore Steve Harrison, 'sailors can choose to enter the whole series or if they are pressed for time they can enter just the signature William Jackson Cup and BK Price Trophy races,'

To bring boats to Dover a feeder race will be held from Kettering on Friday 6 April with assistance of the Kettering Yacht Club and sponsorship from Ocean Wave Hair and Beauty.

The William Jackson Memorial Cup race will be the last race in the series for the Athol Walter Huon Challenge Trophy awarded to the best performed yacht in the three Huon Regattas at Port Huon, Cygnet and Dover. Last year the trophy was won by WWW, Lisa Blackwood’s J24 from the Derwent Sailing Squadron.

'Last year we had a great regatta with a good mix of breezes,' said Steve Harrison, 'It’s a great place to sail and it’s not that far away.'

Port Esperance is 80 km by road and 36 nautical miles by sea from Hobart.

Last year’s Port Esperance Series was dominated by Mick Rowley and Todd Sproule’s Huon 10 Planet X and the BK Price Trophy for dinghies was taken out by Ben Price for the second year running.

The regatta is not just about sailing and competitors, visitors and locals alike can be assured that the usual quality of fine food and entertainment will be maintained. There will be food on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and breakfast on Sunday morning. A band will be playing on Sunday night.

For more information and Notice of Race please contact Steve Harrison on 0413 403 326 or email steven.harrison@education.tas.gov.au. Entry forms are also available from the Bay Chandlery in Sandy Bay.