Vintage Yacht Regatta celebrates fifty years of timber yachts and tradition
by Queensland Cruising Yacht Club 9 Jun 09:27 BST
18-20 July 2025
Vintage Yacht Regatta © Queensland Cruising Yacht Club
The Queensland Cruising Yacht Club (QCYC) will host the 50th Vintage Yacht Regatta from 18 to 20 July 2025 at Shorncliffe, celebrating five decades of timber yachts, traditional seamanship and spirited racing on Moreton Bay.
Affectionately known as The Gaffers, the event is one of the longest-running classic yacht gatherings in the country. It attracts a wide range of timber vessels from around Queensland and interstate, from beautifully restored dinghies to ocean-going ketches over 60 feet, with some crews representing the third generation of their family to take part.
The regatta will feature Around the Cans racing for yachts and Navigation Trials for motor yachts, held over two days on a triangular course off the Shorncliffe headland. Entries are open to timber vessels that meet the eligibility criteria.
"This regatta continues to be a showcase for noted Australian marine architects and builders including Alan Payne, Ron Swanson, Clem Masters and the Hartley business," said event organiser Charlie Jeays. "Their international equivalents are represented by Herreshoff, Alden, and Sparkman and Stevenson. It's a rare chance to see these boats not just on display but out doing what they were built to do."
The weekend includes a full racing and social program, with trophies awarded across rig types, classes and presentation categories. Prizes include the Ted Rice Shield, the Deagon Slipways Trophy and the Australiawide Boat Sales Trophy.
Spectators can enjoy views of the racing from the Shorncliffe headland and foreshore or take in the marina views from the QCYC Clubhouse while enjoying a meal or drink from the Club's bar and restaurant.
QCYC was founded in 1948 and is one of Queensland's oldest sailing clubs. The Vintage Yacht Regatta has been a fixture on its calendar since 1976, starting with just six entries and growing steadily over the years.
"This event is about more than racing," said Jeays. "It's about the heritage, the craftsmanship, and the shared respect for these vessels and the people who keep them sailing."
QCYC gratefully acknowledges the support of Husk, who have generously provided in-kind support in the form of Husk Rum prizes for the event. Husk Rum will also be available for purchase across the bar throughout the weekend.
Entries are now open via the QCYC website.