In 2023 over 90 boats registered in the Regatta, a significant increase in numbers and our ‘Boatie’ buddies enjoyed a wonderful weekend.
So did the public.
687people voted in the “People’s Choice Award” and thousands witnessed the displays of Classic boats, Classic Cars and Model Boats and other demonstrations while enjoying the carnival atmosphere, good food and marine orientated stalls.
Over 180 enthusiasts attended the Saturday night Annual Dinner and Trophy presentation at Bribie’s award winning RSL Club.
24th REGATTA VIDEO – Courtesy of Shodai Shintani
THE 24th BRIBIE ISLAND CLASSIC BOAT REGATTA 2023
Report by Cecilia (CC) Wilson President BACE (Bribie Aquatic Community Events Inc)
When you bring together 91 beautiful classic boats from near and far, it can only be described as spectacular and with postcard perfect weather in S.E. Queensland the weekend of the Bribie Island Classic Boat Regatta with brilliant blue skies, glistening water, small boats, big boats and great old wooden cruisers, a blaze of colourful flags, polished teak, the shining heads of copper nails, joy on faces, children laughing, sounds of animated discussions you’ve got something very special indeed.
As the boats cruised along the Pumicestone Passage to Toorbul and Donnybrook it evoked memories of a rich maritime recreational past and truly showcased Bribie Island and the Pumicestone Passage like no other Moreton Bay event. The regatta participants alighted all along Toorbul Foreshore to a warm welcome from the Toorbul and Donnybrook Community Association who served lunch, which was sponsored by our local Councillor Brooke Savige and Moreton Bay Regional Council.
The afternoon saw all the colourful boats once again grace the Pumicestone Passage to alight at Pacific Harbour Marina, where carparks and side roads were overflowing as large crowds gathered to view and share a tall tale or two with the delighted boat owners sharing their beautiful boats with pride and joy. All of this was accompanied by the dulcet tones of a local legend saxophone player Leigh Thirlwell, accompanied by his talented nine year old grand-daughter Lotus, who is a star in the making and commanded the stage with her impressive singing voice.
The Grand Parade, always the regatta highlight on Sunday morning, was a magnificent spectacle enjoyed by vast crowds lined up along the foreshores, as the boats made their way to the Sylvan Beach esplanade to be displayed amidst the happy hustle and bustle of classic cars, model boat displays, pop-up stalls, food and live entertainment
The 3 independent judges had been busy during the regatta deciding on who should be the winners this year of the beautiful hand-crafted perpetual trophies. The
Pride of Fleet trophy went to Cairns for a boat named ‘Iona’ owned by Tom Sparks and Rodger Fryer and lovingly built by members of the Wooden Boat Association of Cairns between 2015 and 2021. The boat was designed by John Welsford, a New Zealand boat designer. The boat design is known as a Navigator and is a centre-board yawl day cruiser – simply a beauty.
Best Classic Sail Boat 2023 named ‘Mary Rose’ was won by a Brisbane boat builder Simon Paroz. It was a Clem Masters design and build in 1966 and is a timber planked Carvel Sailing Sloop.
Best Classic Motor Boat named “Moreton Maid” was also coincidentally a Clem Masters design built in 1964 and known as a Masters 31- footer and owned by Jacob Oxley.
This year for the first time we had a “People’s Choice Award” This trophy was initiated and sponsored by the Member for Pumicestone Ms Ali King. Voting cards were given to the public and they responded in their droves. The boat that won known as ‘Baby Dolphin’ was built by the owner Geoff Tyler from Wynnum and based on a 1928 American Hacker Craft. It’s a 22- footer made from beautiful Brazilian Mahogany wood and was built in 2013.
‘Three Swans’ a Green Island 15, designed by Mike Roberts and built in 2005 got 2nd place. It is owned by Sandy Pegg here on Bribie and Sandy and family enjoy our many beach camping opportunities, made easy because Three Swans is ‘Gunter rigged which allows for the mast and rigging to fit into the length of the hull for trailering.
In 3rd place was a classic boat with beautiful lines simply know as ‘A Classic’ and owned and designed by Alan Graham from Toorbul, who built it in his 80th year.
This year also for the first time, we raffled a new ‘Joey’ Sailing dinghy made as a fundraiser for BACE by the Wooden Boat Association of Qld. It was won by a local from Bribie. He and his partner were thrilled. Having never owned a boat before, he said ‘We never win anything, this is amazing. Now I have something to do with the grandkids when they come to Bribie”
Based on our counts a record 3000 people plus attended the regatta. This event has become a signature event for Bribie Island and Moreton Bay. It brought much needed business and tourism dollars to Bribie and was enjoyed by the community who can take real pride and ownership of a Classic Bribie Island Event.
