In 1997 Alan Graham, organised the first Bribie Classic Boat Regatta as a Putt Putt boat event. Alan, a traditional boat designer and builder, was a founding member of the Traditional and Vintage Boat Club from which the WBAQ (Wooden Boat Association of Queensland) grew.
Due to insurance issues, the regatta was suspended for a time, but from 2003, on the request of Boating Club member Paul Bird, the Bribie Classic Boat Regatta was resurrected by the Bribie Island Boating Club Inc. Commodore Doug Wilson asked Daryl Philips, the Vice Commodore, to organise the annual event and with members support, Daryl did this for ten years until he left the Island.
From 2014 Doug & Cecilia Wilson (as Chairs of the Bribie Island Boating Club) continued to organise the event until the Boating Club was disbanded. 
BRIBIE AQUATIC COMMUNITY EVENTS INC
In February 2021, BACE (Bribe Aquatic Community Events Inc.) was created by Cecilia & Doug to enable continuation of the Bribie Classic Boat Regatta.
BACE Inc. is a volunteer driven non-profit incorporated association.
BACE works collaboratively with other community organisations and members of the public assisting other events for example offering it’s wireless PA system and marker buoys for other events.
Bribie Island, in our City of Moreton Bay, is blessed with wonderful waterways and the picturesque Glasshouse Mountains form a natural backdrop to an island that is relaxed, full of charm and rich in cultural history. Thus, the emphasis on projects that have an AQUATIC element is a core consideration for BACE.
In 2020 the regatta was abandoned due to COVID restrictions in Queensland.
In May 2021 BACE hosted the Bribie Classic Boat Regatta for the first time. It was acknowledged as ‘the best regatta ever’, with a local newspaper headlining that “it had truly captured the public imagination”.
In 2022 the Bribie Classic Boat Regatta had to be modified unfortunately due to experiencing torrential rain for the first time in its history. However, with fine weather in 2023, BACE managed the biggest and most successful 24th Bribie Classic Boat Regatta with over 90 boats registered.
In 2024 the 25th Silver Anniversary Regatta used the Sandstone Point Hotel Oyster Bar for the Friday evening Meet and Greet and on Saturday night the Bribie Island Hotel for our Silver Anniversary Dinner and trophy presentation. Each was a great success.
The Saturday program included the Toorbul & District Community Association (TCBA) providing lunch sponsored again by Cr Brooke Savige and City of Moreton Bay.
There followed an enhanced afternoon activities for the public at Pacific Harbour Marina with Classic Cars and Boats on display in the carpark.
Sundays grand parade was the largest ever and the beach side displays were larger than previously.
HISTORY IN THE PUMICESTONE PASSAGE
David Tripcony’s Great Grandfather, 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.
POETRY CORNER
We’d like to share some poetry that provides some insight on 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
Bribie Island & the “Koopa”
