Derwent River set to become alive with sail

10:59 AM Wed 28 Jan 2009 GMT

'Yachts racing oon the Derwent River off Victoria Esplanade, Bellerive. Photo: Andrew Viney - Crown Series - 2009 Bellerive Regatta' . Click Here to view large photo

Bellerive and the Derwent River will become alive with sail over the weekend of 20-22 February when up to 250 keelboats, dinghies and off-the-beach catamarans compete in the Crown Series - 2009 Bellerive Regatta.

The regatta is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the Bellerive waterfront to watch the spectacular sailing and enjoy other events over the weekend, including the Clarence Jazz Festival on the Bellerive boardwalk.
As a sailing event, the Crown Series - 2009 Bellerive Regatta is the largest in Tasmania and ranks fourth in size among annual regattas in Australia. As a combined regatta for keelboats and centerboard classes, it is among the biggest in the nation.

Regattas in Kangaroo Bay at Bellerive date back 150 years, with the concept revitalized when the first Crown Series Bellerive Regatta was first held in February 2005 as a result of an idea by then Vice Commodore Robin White and Stephen Keal.

In the first event there were 39 dinghies and 60 keelboats and the series has expanded each year under the management of the Bellerive Yacht Club which conducts the regatta in conjunction with the Lindisfarne Sailing Club and the Bellerive Regatta Association. Bellerive YC runs the keelboat racing, Lindisfarne the centreboard racing.

Entries for the Regatta close with Bellerive Yacht Club on Saturday, 7 February, with organisers expecting at least 110 keelboats, including all the Farr 40s and most IRC racing boats that race regularly on the Derwent.

Hobart's Farr 40 fleet and most of the expanding IRC fleet are expected to compete in two days of intense round-the-buoys racing.

Dinghy and off-the-beach catamaran entries are expected to increase to more than 140, including the high performance B14s, 49ers and 29ers, along with Sabots, Flying Elevens, Lasers, Herons, Mirrors, International Cadets, Sharpies, Sabres, 420s, NS14s and Moths.

The Crown Series - 2009 Bellerive Regatta will open with a non-spinnaker Twilight race for keelboats, starting off Victoria Esplanade at 5.45pm on Friday evening 20 February.

Serious racing will be held on Saturday and Sunday, 21-22 February, with back-to-back races for keelboat and trailable yacht divisions starting from 10am on each day. Racing for the dinghy and catamaran classes will be start at 11am each day, with up to seven races planned over the two days.

An extensive social program has been planned at Bellerive Yacht Club, with the presentation of prizes being held on the Lower Deck after each day's competition, with the series prizes being presented late on the Sunday afternoon.

The Crown Series - 2009 Bellerive Regatta will bring a weekend of exciting yacht racing among all classes of sailing boats together with a fun filled and enjoyable social program providing an opportunity for the whole Eastern Shore community to share some involvement in the sport of sailing.

The regatta has attracted excellent sponsorship with major supporters being Petrusma & Partners, Bundaberg Rum, Cascade, Nautilus Marine insurance group joining the team.

by Peter Campbell

Newsfeed supplied by

#News #Sailing

Derwent River set to become alive with sail

Sports/News

Weather Forecasts & Live Reports

Buy & Sell/Classifieds