The Inverloch Classic Wooden Dinghy Regatta Committee, a Sub-Committee of the South Gippsland Yacht Club, has been restructured and its membership increased, but more importantly more expertise is now on board. Wayne and Andrew were previously the Regatta coordinators and although they are still very involved the committee now has a more formal structure to match the scale of the event. Committee Chairman Keith Cousens brings considerable sailing knowledge and experience and Secretary Rob McNair brings not only sailing experience but good organizational Knowledge and experience. The others who have joined the committee also bring a range of expertise that we did not previously have and this will help the Regatta to grow into the future.
Australia Day 2016 falls on a Tuesday so we are planning a four day weekend. This coming Regatta will have a different focus from the previous years as each year we try to make it more interesting and better for people bring boats along and people coming to see them. There will be invitation races on Saturday and Sunday combining with the Club’s youth series and this will mean that people can get in a good weekend sailing. Sailing on Monday will be entirely dedicated to classic wooden dinghies and in addition to the display on the beach there will be a main Regatta race in the afternoon.
As a part of the local heritage component Marion has done an excellent poster on the history of Burt Munro and Indian Motocycles in Inverloch. The display in the park on the Tuesday will include Classic Dinghies and classic Indians Motocycles. As well as live music and a range of food vendors.
The Regatta is now getting widespread traction in yachting circles. This website features classic wooden dinghies and interestingly our Regatta is named, by Rod, “The Australian 2015 Classic Wooden Dinghy Regatta”. The website is operated by Rod Mincher, 1981 Glencrest Lane, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, USA.
The Bosham Yacht Club in UK run a classic wooden boat regatta which is very similar to what we do. In fact, some of the boats are the same, ie Fireball, Jack Holt dinghies and Jolly Boats. they have sailing apparel and even the event race documents which are similar. This is the link http://classicboatrevival.co.uk/