The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania today announced ‘The Showdown' – an exciting new regatta that promises to be Tasmania's biggest and best annual sailing annual event, targeted at all classes from the smallest dinghy to the largest yacht sailed in the island state.
Based at the RYCT's Sandy Bay clubhouse in Hobart and sailed on the broad waters of the River Derwent, ‘The Showdown' will be a three-day event, starting with a twilight race for keelboats on the evening of Friday, 30 October.
The keelboats will be joined by one-design yachts, sports boats and off-the-beach dinghies and multi-hulls in racing on Saturday, 30 October and Sunday, 1 November.
Officially launching ‘The Showdown' at the RYCT today, the Minister for Infrastructure Graeme Sturges said the concept was to provide Tasmanian sailors with a highly competitive regatta at the beginning of the season. “The timing of this regatta will be perfect for those classes gearing up towards national championships over the summer,” the Minister added.
Regatta chairman and RYCT Vice Commodore Murray Jones said the Sabot dinghy class, for example, would be using the regatta as part of their selection series for the nationals.
“We expect up to 50 Sabots over the weekend,” he said, adding: “Keelboat fleets are also increasing in Hobart and we expect good entries from Divisions 1, 2 and 3, along with Farr 40s, J24s, Dragons, multi-hulls and sports boats.
“We have been assured of the active support of the major clubs racing on the Derwent in providing the highest level of race management and courses for all competitors,” Jones adds.
The last weekend of October has been chosen for ‘The Showdown' as this is a long weekend in Northern Tasmania, making it attractive for sports boats, trailable yacht, dinghy and catamaran class owners to travel south for the regatta.
As an indication of support, the Tamar Yacht Club and Port Dalrymple Yacht Club are not scheduling any races at their own clubs on the River Tamar during the long weekend.
Vice Commodore Jones has written to all clubs in Tasmania and he expects strong entries of Sabots, Optimists, Cadets, 420s, Lasers, Mirrors, Herons, Flying 11s, 29ers, B14s, Sabres, Moths and 2.4s as well as off-the-beach catamarans. Three races are planned on both Saturday and Sunday.
Keelboat classes will include Division 1, 2 and 3, Farr 40s, the 9m class, sports boats, multi-hulls and trailable yachts, with one Friday evening twilight race, three centre river course races on Saturday and two on Sunday.
A huge program of onshore entertainment is planned at The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania on each evening of ‘The Showdown' as well as family activities during the day in the club grounds.
Major sponsorship has already been received from Hartz Mineral Waters and National Pies, along with a range of supporting sponsors.
For further information about ‘The Showdown' phone RYCT Sailing Manager Nick Corkhill on (03) 6223 4599 or email: sailing@ryct.org.au
– Peter Campbell
