Balmain Regatta heralds return of summer sailing to Sydney

by Balmain Sailing Club on 24 Oct 2010 After a cold, wet and windy winter, upper Sydney Harbour sailors are looking forward to the start of the 2010-11 summer sailing season with the traditional season opener: The Balmain Regatta.

The 2010 Balmain Regatta, to be held on Sunday October 31, is the major regatta west of the Harbour Bridge, and heralds the return of good sailing weather and an active and enjoyable sailing season, said Neil Hamilton, chair of the Regatta.

'The Balmain Regatta has a proud history, having been first held in 1849, and is closely aligned to the traditions of wooden boats which are synonymous with the Balmain waterfront,' he said.

'It was the Wooden Boat Association which worked actively with the newly reformed Balmain Sailing Club in order to re establish the Balmain Regatta as an annual event in 1997.

'While most yachties today have gone to the ‘dark side’, adopting fibreglass and other composites as their boat building material of choice, the Balmain Regatta is a chance for the wooden, ‘plastic’ and other boats to meet in good clean fun in a wonderful display of sail and sailing skills.

'We still have a very active group of traditional and classic wooden skiffs, yachts and dinghies sailing on the upper harbour – including the Balmain Sailing School’s training boat ‘Intrepid’,' said Neil.

'These boats, along with some of the latest sports boats, cruising boats, day sailors and dinghies will all be on the water on October 31, celebrating this wonderful harbour of ours, and Sydney’s – and Balmain’s – maritime history.
'It will be a colourful, fun-filled day of sailing, entertainment, food and refreshments on the Balmain peninsula,' he said.

'It’s also an ideal opportunity for sailors to catch up with each other for the new sailing season – plus the club would like to issue a warm welcome to anyone – individuals, families and other groups – who’d like to come along and see what sailing on Sydney Harbour is all about, as well as joining us in our celebrations.'

Classes will range from classic yachts through wooden skiffs to modern yachts, along with sports boats, which will be represented by the Flying Tiger 10 metre class yachts with their distinctive large red spinnakers.

'There is a class for every yachtie at the 2010 Balmain Regatta and we expect more than 200 boats to be entered involving up to 1000 crew – along with many more spectators lining the shores around the Balmain Sailing Club and the peninsula,' said Neil.

Races and events featuring throughout Balmain Regatta day include:

• The local Pub Challenge, with Balmain pubs sponsoring (and providing crew for) various yachts provided and skippered by BSC members
• Local putt-putt motor boats race and display
• Vintage skiff racing
• Vintage wooden yachts, including vessels from the Australian Maritime Museum
• Modern yachts, in three separate divisions
• Modern dinghies (including Inter-club challenges)
• Tender races (including a 'blindfolded' event) – which aim to engage youngsters and the local community while the fleet racing is happening
• A demonstration of off-shore yacht safety equipment and rescue systems

The Balmain Regatta Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and Entry form are available from the club website.

The Notice of Race has also been distributed as an invitation to sailing clubs throughout Sydney Harbour and its tributaries.

For more in information, please go to: www.balmainsailingclub.com.au

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