The News, Culture and Practice of Sailing woodenboats
in Australia, New Zealand & The South Pacific.
Cup Regatta ‘24 - Wrap Up
How do you quantify the feeling of six 40 plus ft craft, meters apart, with a combined age of 400 years, storming close-hauled through the Port Phillip chop towards a start line?
Cup Regatta 2024 - Entries and Ticketing Now Open!
After being revitalised in 2023, The Cup Regatta, organised by the Classic Yacht Association of Australia, is now looking to expand its reach, with a goal of having 50+ boats racing on the waters of Port Phillip on the first weekend of November.
Fast & Bonnie
So when you learn that here in little old Melbourne, there is a fully restored Fife 8m for sale, with immaculate provenance and a practical set up, for much less than the cost of a twenty year old, questionably constructed, production fiberglass floating caravan, then you should sit up and take notice.
The Lost Loot of Lima
The 25 mile trip down the bay from St Kilda is always a good time for contemplation. The views are not spectacular. There’s no harbour bridge to serenade you on your way, or dramatic cliffs to escape… just a thin diminishing and growing 360 degree strip of land, interrupted by the teeth of the city skyline, and the pimples of the You Yangs and Arthur’s seat.
An old Regatta renewed
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.
Victoria’s most successful keelboat… Could be yours!
The plan to restore YVONNE was never about becoming the long term custodians of this unique yacht. It was always focussed on saving her, bringing her home and ensuring that she has the opportunity to sail with the growing fleet of Tumlarens on Port Phillip for the next 50 years
A Very Couta Christmas
A recently discovered 1990’s documentary on the Couta Boats has been re-edited into 8 minutes of rich and fascinating history.
THE 2022 CUP REGATTA - A CLASSIC COMMUNITY
This was a weekend to celebrate the boats and the shipwrights who maintain them. The willingness to share information, answer questions and put in for each other is the way. While we like to sail well, winning races has small interest for this classic community.
A Small Boat on Port Phillip in 1802.
“Were a settlement to be made at Port Phillip, as doubtless there will be some time hereafter, the entrance could be easily defended. It is capable of receiving and sheltering a larger fleet of ships than ever yet went to sea, and the region has a pleasing and in many parts a fertile appearance.”
SWS IS A SURPRISING SUCCESS STORY
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