A Sailing Boat Which Carries a Four Corned Mainsail.
The recently concluded 2025 NOOSA YACHT AND ROWING CLUB GAFF RIG REGATTA, recieved this email following the event.
“Thank you, NYRC Gaff Rig Regatta
If you could adjust records to show that Merle's Skipper was (77 yr old) Bruce Legg. I am a boat manager and forward hand. Our third crew (Mainsheet hand) is always filled by a NYRC member, just to share the fun and local knowledge, Scott.
We were just lucky to have light winds for most races. Race 5 was challenging, almost capsizing at the top mark, and having some adjustment problems on the big rig.
The club members and public were very supportive and helped us wherever we needed a hand launching etc. (not easy for 3 + busted types).
We always encourage like-minded sailors to participate in the Noosa Gaff Rig regatta and hope numbers will grow and include more Historic Gaff 10ft Skiffs,18ft Skiffs and other Skiffs
I would like to contact the club's Photographers to purchase the regatta photos.
If the regatta committee would allow me to contact the wooden cup trophy manufacturers, I would like to purchase 2 more cups for the whole crew to share our win. I hope that the manufacturers could supply similar cup trophies for our Club trophies/events.
As you can appreciate, old wooden boats sailed by iron sailors are not the easy option for many modern, younger sailors, but it is part of our great maritime heritage, any public recognition mentioning historic skiffs is always appreciated.
Once again, thank you for all your assistance in running another great and unique sailing event.
Respectfully yours.
Paul Neville Schaffer
(Merle)
PS we don't have sail numbers as per the regatta sailing instructions because skiffs using characteristic unique symbols out date sail numbers. The public and race bookies could identify skiffs at greater distances during races on Sydney Harbour during 1he 1880's."
I shared the above because I think it says a lot about this years event conducted by The Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club. It was the 6th annual Gaff Rig Regatta and was held over the first weekend in June 2025.
A Gaff Rigged yacht as defined by the Club as “a sailing boat which carries a four corned mainsail.” The boats can be made of any material and be of any age or design.
Entries for the Regatta came from Eastern Australian yacht clubs.
In Victoria and New South Wales, the weekend was the Kings Birthday Holiday, this made it possible for yacht in these states to travel to Noosa for the regatta.
The yachts consisted of boats over 70 years old, made of wood, fiberglass, modern composites and sailed by a range of sailors from 10 years old to those older than the oldest yacht.
Many of the yachts were sailed by family combinations, husbands / wives, fathers’ daughters/ sons etc.
To keep the racing exciting and competitive the Noosa Yacht handicapper calculated handicaps with “results being based on performance handicap on the day”.
Early on Saturday afternoon there was a briefing to all skippers and crew where they were advised subject to weather conditions there would be 3 races Saturday and Sunday.
The Saturday 2 races (due to light winds and time available) were conducted in light breezes less than 10 knots with a strong outgoing tide which made tactics and sailing challenging.
That night the NYRC organised a dinner for competitors where the days racing was discussed at length and plans laid for the Sunday races.
Sunday mornings race started with a promising forecast of 15 to 20 knots but again in the morning the breeze was around 10 knots. As the day progressed the breeze built to around14 knots with the occasional stronger bullets.
Each day the ambient temperature reached a sunny mid 20’s with the water temperature just slightly less, typical Noosa Winter conditions.
At the conclusion of the Regatta on Sunday there was a presentation to the trophy winners.
The Regatta Trophies and Raffle prizes were provided by our very generous sponsors, Bundaberg Rum, Bottles of Rum and Run Casks, Ronstan yacht fittings, sailing watches and sailing attire, Jules Magic Photography, Noosa Boatman, Noosa Tourism, Noosa Deep Sea Fishing Charters and the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club.
Our thanks for making the regatta a success goes to our Club volunteers, the fantastic sponsors and most importantly the friendly atmosphere created by the competitors.
All funds raised from the regatta entries, sponsors and raffles go directly to the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club Charity, Sailability.