Royal Hobart Regatta

The Royal Hobart Regatta is a series of aquatic competitions and displays held annually in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia and is Tasmania's oldest sporting event. The regatta began in 1838.[1][2]

Royal Hobart Regatta
Royal Hobart Regatta in 1914
Also called'The Regatta'
Observed bySouthern Tasmania
TypeSouthern Public Holiday
SignificanceAustralia's Largest Aquatic Event
CelebrationsSea Farers
DateThree days, ending on the second Monday in February
2023 date11 - 13 February
FrequencyAnnual
First time1 December 1838
Started byGovernor of Tasmania - Sir John Franklin

The event runs for three days and incorporates a public holiday observed in Southern Tasmania on the second Monday in February.[3]

It is regularly well attended by the public in addition to local and interstate competitors

In its beginning the Regatta was well supported by the Royal Navy. In recent years the Royal Australian Navy, sends a warship to serve as flagship for the three day spectacle. The Royal Australian Air Force, also regularly aerobatic displays using military aircraft such as the RAAF Roulettes. The Australian Army's elite Red Beret parachute regiment has previously provided sky diving displays.

Royal Hobart Regatta Association

Governance of the Royal Hobart Regatta is executed by an association of the same name; The Royal Hobart Regatta Association.

The Association is controlled by a Board, Executive and Committee. The current president is Mr David Skegg.

History

On 1 December 1838, the first Hobart Town Anniversary Regatta was held in Hobart, Tasmania to celebrate the Tasmanian Anniversary of the 17th-century European discovery of the island by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who made the first reported European sighting of the island on 24 November 1642.[4]

It was decided that an annual anniversary regatta should be celebrated and include the wearing of a sprig of silver wattle blossom tied with British Navy blue ribbon.[5] A tradition instituted by Governor of Tasmania, Sir John Franklin.

Franklin provided free food and beer for all of the spectators, and the tradition of free entry continues to this day. The Monday was declared as a public holiday by the Governor and is now the oldest public holiday still continuing in Australia.

Since 1879 the regatta has been held in January or February, rather than December. The regatta of 6 February 1934 was the first to be called the Royal Hobart Regatta, the title being conferred by King George V.

Cancelled Events

It's noteworthy that the Regatta continued throughout World War I and World War II.

Significant Milestones
  • 5 December 1942 - commemorated the 300th anniversary of Abel Tasman's exploration, was held on 5 December
  • 11 February 1955 - 80,000 people attend the Regatta in a single day a number that represents 90% of the Hobart Population
  • 2013 - 175th Regatta [6]
  • 11 February 2023 - Will commemorate the 185th anniversary of the event

Royal Visits

The Royal Hobart Regatta has played host to 10 royal visits the most notably being a visit from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip in 1963 when they arrived aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. In preparation for the occasion the main grandstand was extended and accommodated the Royals who stayed for lunch before departing for Sydney in the late afternoon.

Location

Originally staged at Pavilion Point, the Regatta moved in 1856, to grounds near Macquarie Point known as the "Regatta Grounds" at the Queens Domain along the western side of the River Derwent. Records indicate the move was necessitated following a quarrel with Government House concerning broken beer bottles along Macquarie.

Access to the site is along McVilly Drive.

The grounds are shared with the Hobart Cenotaph, a war memorial to Tasmanian's fallen from global conflict. The primary Regatta structure on the site is the John Colville Memorial grandstand which pays tribute to members of the aquatic fraternity that fell in the first world war. A stone tablet was laid in 1942 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Regatta.

Events

A plethora of events take place each year and include;

There is also an Ambassador quest, and the regatta always has an official attendance ceremony by the Governor.

Trans Derwent Swim

Commencing adjacent Montagu Bay the 'Trans Derwent Swim' sees competitors cross the Derwent River Estuary, a distance of 1.5kms. In recent years a 'return' trip has been added as an extra race.

Two Bridge Kayak Race

This paddling event sees kayakers travel from the Tasman Bridge to the Bowen Bridge before returning to the finish line at the Royal Hobart Regatta grounds. A total distance of 15kms is covered.

Wood Chopping

Woodchopping sees axeman from across the state compete in various events and age divisions chopping and sawing blocks and wood.

Flagships

A Flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships and/ or the finest, largest, or most important one of a group of things.

Year Ship Class Type Registration
2023 HMAS Arunta (II) ANZAC Frigate Destroyer FFH-151
2022 HMAS Hobart Hobart Class Destroyer, Guided Missle DDG-39
2021 HMAS Hobart Hobart Class Destroyer, Guided Missle DDG-39
2020 HMAS Hobart Hobart Class Destroyer, Guided Missle DDG-39
2019 HMAS Choules Bay-Class LCVP Landing Craft L100
2018 HMAS Hobart Hobart Class Destroyer, Guided Missle DDG-39
2017 HMAS Choules Bay-Class LCVP Landing Craft L100
2016 HMAS Stuart ANZAC Frigate Destroyer FFH-153
2015 HMAS Sydney Adelaide Class Destroyer, Guided Missile FFG-03
2014 HMAS Tobruk Round Table Class Landing Ship, Heavy L50
2013 HMAS Sydney Adelaide Class Destroyer, Guided Missile FFG-03
2012 HMAS Melville Leeuwin Class Survey Vessel A 246
2011 HMS Lady Nelson Survey Vessel
2010 HMS Lady Nelson Survey Vessel
2009 HMAS Stuart ANZAC Frigate Destroyer
2008 HMAS Parramatta ANZAC Frigate Destroyer 154
1986 HMAS HobartHMAS CanberraHMAS Darwin Perth ClassAdelaide ClassAdelaide Class Destroyer, Guided Missile

Destroyer, Guided Missile Destroyer, Guided Missile

 D39

FFG-04 FFG-02

1963 HMAS Quickmatch G92
1960 HMAS Voyager D04
1955 HMAS Melbourne Majestic Class Aircraft Carrier R21
1953 HMAS Sydney Majestic Class Aircraft Carrier R17
1929 HMAS Australia D84
1906 HMS Encounter E-Class Destroyer H10

References
  1. Australian Geographical Society (1 November 1937), "The Hobart Regatta which celebrates its 100th birthday, February, 1938 (1 November 1937)", Walkabout, Australian National Travel Association, 4 (1), ISSN 0043-0064
  2. "Royal Hobart Regatta:175 years". LINC Tasmania. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  3. Hobart Regatta, Royal (2016). "Royal Hobart Regatta, Hobart, Tasmania". royalhobartregatta.com. Royal Hobart Regatta.
  4. "THE REGATTA". The True Colonist Van Diemen's Land Political Despatch, And Agricultural And Commercial... No. 800. Tasmania, Australia. 7 December 1838. p. 4. Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Classified Advertising". The Hobart Town Courier (Tas. : 1827 - 1839). Tas.: National Library of Australia. 23 November 1838. p. 4. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  6. "175th Royal Hobart Regatta underway on the River Derwent". Sail World. Retrieved 14 August 2021.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.