BRIBIE AQUATIC COMMUNITY EVENTS INC.

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BRIBIE AQUATIC COMMUNITY EVENTS INC.

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The Story of BACE

There are a few names deserving of  acknowledgement as we share the story of how BACE and the Bribie Classic Boat Regatta came about.

Firstly, the Bribie Classic Boat Regatta was started by Mr. Alan Graham in 1997.  Trained as a boat builder, Alan was a founding member of the Traditional and Vintage Boat Club from which the WBAQ (Wooden Boat Association of Queensland) grew.  From 2003 the Bribie Classic Boat Regatta was maintained by the Bribie Island Boating Club.  Mr. Daryl Philips oversaw the event for a further ten years, and it was at this time Dr. Doug Wilson became involved. From  2014, Doug has been overseeing the event ensuring its presence was maintained not only in Queensland’s calendar of aquatic events, but in Australia’s.
 
In February 2021, BACE (Bribe Aquatic Community Events) formed as a volunteer driven non-profit incorporated association. With the objective of serving the community positively, BACE’s continued vision is to host aquatic events that celebrate and develop the valued
contributions of communities to the social, cultural and economic life of our region, particularly on Bribie Island.
 
Bribie Island in the Moreton Bay region is blessed with wonderful waterways and the picturesque Glasshouse Mountains forming a natural backdrop to an island that is still ‘cruisey’,  full of charm and rich in cultural history. Thus, an emphasis on projects that have an AQUATIC element is a core consideration for BACE.  
 
With a small core team, BACE hosted the Bribie Classic Boat Regatta in May 2021 for the first time. It was acknowledged as ‘the best regatta ever’, with the local newspaper headlining that “it had truly captured the public imagination”.  BACE is busy working collaboratively with other community organisations and members of the public on developing other much desired events as it goes forward.
 

Trophies at the Bribie Classic Boat Regatta

An important fun-element of our event are the trophies.  We award these, sometimes in earnest and sometimes in jest and they include the First Registrant of the Year,  the Best Sailing Boat and more.  

pride of fleet

Pride of Fleet

Best Sailing Boat

Best Motor Boat

Con Tripcony’s boat PNJ  was used to transport oysters from Pumicestone Passage to Brisbane in the late 1800s. It did not have an engine. The trophy for the Bribe Classic Boat Regatta award category of ‘Best Sailing Boat‘ is modelled on the PNJ.

What is a Classic Boat?

Historic: A boat built up to and including 1918. 

Antique: A boat built between 1919 and 1942. 

Classic: A boat built between 1943 and 1975. 

Late Classic: A boat built 1976 to the year 25 prior to the current year. 

Contemporary: A wooden boat built within the last 25 years

Poetry Corner

We’d like to share some poetry that gives us a glimpse of the story of the beauty of Bribie Island and Toorbul. These poems are from Roy W. Bliss.  Builder of ‘Blisscraft’, Roy was involved in the early days of the Bribie Classic Boat Regatta and a friend of the original founder, Alan Graham.  We hope you enjoy his beautiful words. More poetry from Roy Bliss can be found here.

Toorbul Days

Story of Toorbul

Bribie Island and the 'Koopa'

Poem and story by Roy Bliss