Please select your home edition
Edition
Ovington 2021 - ILCA 3 - LEADERBOARD

165TH AUSTRALIA DAY REGATTA Ocean Racers return

by Peter Campbell on 25 Jan 2001
Tomorrow's 165th Australia Day Regatta in Sydney has drawn one of the biggest and best fleets in years. Hundreds of yachts, dinghies, catamarans and skiffs will compete in the main regatta on Sydney Harbour, the traditional ocean race to Botany Bay and return, and in Australia Day regattas on many other waterways in New South Wales.

Among the guests watching the 165th Australia Day Regatta on Sydney Harbour and the many other spectacular events on the water and in the air will be Australian Olympic sailing gold medallists Jenny Armstrong, Belinda Stowell and Mark Turnbull and bronze medallist Michael Blackburn.

Armstrong and Stowell won gold in the 470 women's class, Turnbull crewed with Tom King in winning the 470 men's class while Blackburn finished third in the Laser dinghy class at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

They will join the Governor of New South Wales, the Honourable Gordon Samuels AC, aboard the Regatta Flagship, HMAS Kanimbla, in what will be the Governor's last year as Patron of the Regatta.

The 165th Australia Day Regatta on Sydney Harbour is not only the oldest continuous sailing regatta in the world, but this year's 100th regatta since Federation will be marked with special medallions for winners and placegetters in the Harbour and other regattas tomorrow.

The medallions have been struck from a Federation of Australia gold medal won in the 1901 Regatta by a member of the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club.

The Overall Winner of the 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, SAP Ausmaid, will return to local competition in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's short ocean race from Sydney Harbour to Botany Bay and return, with the finish in Farm Cove in front of the Sydney Opera House.

Most Sydney-based competitors in the recent race to Hobart will also be competing in the race to Botany Bay, for the City of Sydney Sesquicentenary Trophy.

The Danish yacht Nokia, holder of the Sydney Hobart Race record, will compete with the Division 1 fleet in the 165th Regatta on the Harbour which also includes, for the first time, several International Etchells one-design keelboats.

A feature of the 165th regatta is the number of Classic Yachts and Traditional Skiffs entered, including well-known former Sydney to Hobart racing yachts Fidelis, Struen Marie and Caprice of Huon.

The Historical skiffs are restored or replicas of the gaff-rigged skiffs that raced on Sydney Harbour in the early 1900s; they continue to carry such famous early 18-footer names as Australia, Aberdare, Tangalooma, Query and Ajax.

The Botany Bay ocean race will start between Clarke Island and Shark Island at 1100 hours, with the 165th Australia Day Regatta starting in divisions from 1300 hours from a line adjacent to HMAS Kanimbla.

Before the Regatta, Sydney Harbour will be full of activity with the colourful Ferrython followed by an Historic Fleet Parade and the Tall Ships Race. In the air, the Defence Forces show will begin with the flyover at 1300 hours by the RAAF's F/A-18s, followed later in the afternoon by an aerobatic display by the Roulettes and a parachute jump by the Army's Red Beret parachute regiment, landing astern of the Flagship.

Further information: Peter Campbell - 0419 385 028 or email - peter_campbell@bigpond.com

Related Articles

Foiling Sport Congress gathers global players
To shape the Future of Foiling Last week, Malcesine hosted the first-ever Foiling Sport Congress — a by-invitation event organised to foster an in-depth discussion on the current state and future developments of foiling across all disciplines.
Posted today at 5:59 am
Noble Marine Streaker Nationals Preview
One of the front runners has sent us his take on the runners and riders... anonymously! Over 100 Streakers are on a pilgrimage to Rutland Water this week for the Noble Marine Streaker Golden Jubilee National Championship. One of the front runners has sent us his take on the runners and riders... anonymously!
Posted today at 4:57 am
2025 Swallow Nationals at Bembridge
18 teams sail from Itchenor to take part in the event It was great to be able to welcome eighteen Swallows from Itchenor to Bembridge over the weekend for their 2025 National Championship. In fact there were a couple more entries but two boats remained at Itchenor because of the strong wind forecast.
Posted today at 4:41 am
Miracle Southern Area Championship at Whitefriars
A weekend of close racing and varied weather Eleven Miracles arrived at Whitefrairs Sailing Club for a weekend of close racing and varied weather, where they were joined by a fleet of 14 Mirrors.
Posted today at 4:27 am
Vintage and Classic I14s at Blakeney
Competitors from Cornwall, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Norfolk Blakeney Sailing Club welcomed five Classic and two Vintage dinghies for the annual open. Such is the reputation of this prestigious event that it attracted competitors from Cornwall, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Norfolk.
Posted today at 4:19 am
OK Dinghy Europeans at Warnemünde day 2
Charlie Cumbley leads at the half-way stage Britain's Charlie Cumbley holds a two-point lead at the half-way stage of the 2025 OK Dinghy European Championship in Warnemünde, Germany, after two more races were held on Monday.
Posted today at 4:14 am
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 3
The best female wave sailors in the world showcase their skills on the global stage After the men had taken centre stage for the opening two days of the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup, today was the day for the best female wave sailors in the world to showcase their skills on the global stage.
Posted today at 4:11 am
Phantoms at Hollingworth Lake
Third event in the Northern Series sailed alongside the Solos Three visitors joined two boats from the home club for the Northern Series Phantom Open at Hollingworth Lake SC on Sunday 6th July. This was the third event in the Northern Series and was once again shared with the Solos for their Northern Championship.
Posted today at 4:07 am
Transpac Onboard Episode 4
Anything Can Happen at Sea All Transpac 2025 competitors are now at sea and actively racing to Hawaii. We take a look at the Pasha Live Race Tracker and talk about the significant wind hole confronting a contingent of competitors.
Posted today at 3:06 am
Stops & re-starts in first two legs of AEGEAN 600
A tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades After a beautiful breezy start yesterday, but a tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades, at the end of today's daylight the AEGEAN 600 fleet is back on the move.
Posted on 7 Jul