An old Regatta renewed
Some of you may remember the Wooden Boat Regatta Associated with the Volvo Ocean Race melbourne stopover in 2006. The stars aligned, with the Commonwealth Games encouraging a fleet of Couta boats to make a rare trip north to Hobson’s Bay where they joined an eclectic group of craft,to see over 100 boats on the start line on all four days of the regatta.
The success of this event led to the formation of “The Cup Regatta” which has been held now for 16 consecutive years over the weekend before the great horse race. This year will be the 17th event.
In recent years, partly due to covid and partly due to an outdated format number have began to dwindle. In 2023 the organising body of the event, the Classic Yacht Association of Australia, has recognised the issues involved, and decided to invest considerable resources and time into reinvigorating the Regatta, and reinstating it as the premiere wooden boat sailing event in Victoria.
In conjunction with SWS the format has been reimagined to align more closely with the needs and wishes of the modern wooden boat custodian.
Some of the khe key changes that we hope will attract a diverse group of boats to the event are…
A warm welcome to racing and non-racing craft alike. Although the tussle on the race course will be as willing as ever, we hope to make non racing traditional boats feel welcome and included at every step of the way
With this in mind, RYCV will organise free, allocated berthing in and around the clubhouse and travel lift area over the duration of the regatta creating an atmosphere unrivalled outside the major interstate wooden boat festivals.
The racing will take place over both days of the weekend 4th &5th November (four races planned). The Monday will be left free for recovery or working and the prize giving will tie in with a celebratory Melbourne Cup Lunch on 7th November.
The welcoming event on Friday 3rd November will take place in and amongst the shavings, sawdust and classic craft of FJ Darley shipwrights, Williamstown, bringing the participants back to the roots of their passion, reminding us all of the joys, obligations and priviledge of custodianship.
If this sort of event appeals you can
register your interest here
Note this is not a commitment, just a way for the organisers to manage the many facets of the program. And it will also mean that you are kept informed developments such as the NOR, social activity bookings, and berthing plans.
You can download the Offical Information Brochure by clicking here
Planning and executing Wooden Boat events can be a chicken and egg situation. People will sign up if they know it will be a rousing event, and yet it will only be rousing if people sign up! We urge you to take a leap of faith.