The Batt Family and Tasmania’s Early Yacht Racing Success

By Kenn Batt

Yachts on the Derwent in the 1930s

In the 1920s and 1930s, Tasmania began to compete regularly in interstate yacht races, achieving remarkable success. Much of this achievement can be attributed to William Percy “Skipper” Batt and his younger brother, Harry Batt.

A major boost to interstate yacht racing came in 1921, when the Governor-General, Lord Forster, presented a perpetual trophy for interstate 21-foot yacht racing between Tasmania and the mainland. The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania appointed a committee to design a yacht, and in 1924 Tassie I was launched. Skipper Batt took the helm, with his brother Harry as crew. Early victories in local races brought immense pride to Tasmanian sailors and supporters alike.

In 1926 the Forster Cup was held in Perth. Tassie I competed in eight races, winning seven and taking home the cup. The following year, when the Forster Cup was raced in Adelaide, Tassie again triumphed. News of the victory was celebrated in Hobart, with the result announced in cinemas and greeted by thunderous applause. Not one to rest on his laurels, Skipper Batt soon designed and built Tassie Too.

Tassie Too

Both yachts competed in Sydney for the 1928 Forster Cup. At the helm of Tassie Too, Harry Batt won the cup, beating Tassie I by just 48 seconds. At the same regatta, Harry’s 14-year-old son, Tasman, won the under-14-foot dinghy race — a proud moment for the Batt family. A special concert at Hobart’s City Hall later honoured Skipper Batt for his achievements.

The Batt family’s success continued. Tassie won again in the 1929 Brisbane race, and although Tasmania briefly lost the cup in 1930 in Victoria’s squally conditions, Skipper Batt responded by designing a twin-hulled boat, Tassie III, for the 1931 race. With Batt once more at the helm, Tasmania reclaimed the trophy in 1931, 1933, and again in 1937.

These victories not only cemented the Batt family’s legacy but also elevated Tasmania’s reputation as a centre for competitive sailing. The Tassies’ success helped establish the River Derwent as a premier racing venue, inspiring improvements in race organisation and yacht design across the island.

From the Mercury, 15th February 1938

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