Endorsed by the Australia Day Council The 180th Australia Day Regatta The foundation of this great colony... is certainly an event which should ever be held in patriotic rememberence and it appears to me that it cannot be more appropriately celebrated than by a gathering like the present upon the waters of this beautiful harbour... The early years of the Anniversary Day Regatta (now the Australia Moments Dayfrom Regatta) were history well reported in the newspapers of the day Artificers and Labourers in the immediate Service of Government be exempted from Work on Monday next, in Honour of the memorable Occasion: and that each of them A regatta is a sport which all classes may receive an extra Allowance of One Pound of Fresh Meat as a enjoy, and yesterday persons of all ranks in Donation from the Government, which the Deputy Commissary society were to be seen afloat, the Governor, General is hereby directed to issue accordingly on that Day. judges, bishops, officers, merchants, tradesmen, Governor Lachlan Macquarie, in the Government Gazette issued mechanics, and labourers; it would be difficult for the first Anniversary Day celebration, 26 January 1818 to say which were the most happy; but perhaps the lower we descend in the scale of society, the more perfect was the enjoyment. Sydney Morning Herald, 1844 If New South Wales ever becomes a great nation, it must be by the agency of her maritime advantages. In former years every variety of amusement used to be brought into play on the anniversary, All round the eastern side of the harbour, thousands of gaily cricket matches, horse races, dances, dressed spectators were eagerly engaged in watching the shooting matches, and all sorts of fun: boat races, and such other amusements as suited their tastes. but the absorbing interest in the Regatta The numerous and picturesque islands of the harbour were has gradually led to the suspension of wakened from their wonted stillness by picnic parties and these less attractive sports during this one the “rocks and wild woods” became melodious with sounds day, and the harbour is the grand theatre of joyous music. The steamers plied busily through the of attraction to which citizens resort on harbour heavily freighted with living and hilarious cargoes, an anniversary. and the numberless skiffs dancing on the somewhat agitated Sydney Morning Herald, 1847 waves, filled a picture as animated and as picturesque as the imagination of the painter could desire. Sydney Morning Herald, 1851 The foundation of this great Hundreds of the representative people of the colony from his Excellency downwards were on board. Youth and beauty were in force. All the arrangements were in colony... is certainly an event the hands of the Regatta Committee, and the officers of The hour of midday reflection has now the ship had only the pleasing duty of looking after the arrived. Hundreds of luncheon-baskets comfort of the ladies on board. and hampers are produced. A fusillade which should ever be held in Bell’s Life of Sydney, 1859 of corks is well sustained. The short, thick couch grass which everywhere carpets the locality invites, and in a patriotic rememberence, and it miraculously short space the whole vast array of spectators are converted into one stupendous picnic. appears to me that it cannot be It is interesting to see how a crew will Sydney Morning Herald, 1871 get the utmost speed out of their small craft by crowding on all sail until the boat will barely balance by their individual more appropriately celebrated weight as they sit on the gunwales. The enthusiasm displayed by the large body of yachtsmen on race days is immense; and well may it be. than by a gathering like the The Australia Day Sydney Morning Herald, 1873 These extracts are from Regatta, available through NewSouth Publishing present upon the waters of this beautiful harbour... Come and join Above theall, Australia Dayfun! is a celebration and the Regatta is a vital part of that annual salute to our nation’s origins. We welcome all sailing boats and their crews to come out on the water to join the spectacular national birthday party. From crack ocean-racing yachts to centerboard dinghies, from elegant gaffers to radio-controlled model yachts, everyone is invited to share in the fun. The regatta has been held each year since 1837, making it the longest continually conducted sailing event of its kind in the world. In fact, the colony of New South Wales had been in existence for fewer than 50 years when what was then known as the “Anniversary Regatta” was first sailed. Its fortunes have waxed and waned over the intervening 180 years, but the spirit of joyful celebration never died. While Sydney Harbour has remained the centre of celebrations the festivities are not confined to Port Jackson. Today there are Australia Day Regatta events throughout coastal NSW and other inland and enclosed waters President Matt Allen (left) and Chairman Malcolm Levy including Botany Bay, Lake Illawarra, Lake Macquarie and Pittwater. Everyone with an active interest in boating is invited to take part. It is a wonderful way to show pride in our nation and have an enjoyable day’s sailing with family and friends at the same time. None of this happens without the generous support of many individuals and organisations. Our thanks go to the scores of sailing and yacht clubs that take on the task of staging the individual events – from the start boat teams to the person who remembers to put on the tea urn. The Australian Defence Force makes a huge contribution on the day, including the provision of a Flagship for the Regatta. And special thanks must go to our advertisers. The foundationThe Australia Day Regatta attracts huge media coverage of this great and offers a unique opportunity to be part of an event that celebrates our national history and achievements in colony...a characteristically Australianis way.certainly Just add water! an event We look forward to seeing you out there. Matt Allen Malcolm Levy OAM whichPresident should Chairman ever be held in Entering is easy! patrioticFor events on Sydneyrememberence, Harbour go to and it australiadayregatta.com.au appearsFor local to events, enter me through your localthat sailing club. it cannot be more appropriately celebrated Cover: James Milson’s ‘Mischief’ winning the first-class race in the Anniversary Regatta of 1856, from ‘Enchantress’ and than by a gathering ‘Challenger’.like Royal Sydneythe Yacht Squadron Text: Extract from 1837 newspaper report is the first to explicitly link the staging of a regatta on Sydney Harbour with NSW Anniversary Day. present upon the waters of this 1 beautiful harbour... Australia Day Regatta Schedule of Events Botany Bay – Saturday 16 January 2016 1200-2030 Navigators’ Cup short ocean race conducted by Cronulla Sailing Club, start off Kurnell. Div 1 to Bondi and then Port Hacking. Div 2 to Wedding Cake Island and then Port Hacking. Narrabeen Lakes – Saturday 23 January 2016 1300-1700 Sabot Association, Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club. West Harbour, Sydney – Saturday 23 January 2016 1300-1600 Yacht Regatta, Greenwich Flying Squadron. Tuesday 26 January 2016 1100-1800 City of Sydney Sesquicentenary Trophy short ocean race, Sydney Harbour to Botany Bay and return, conducted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. Starts north of Shark Island and finishes south of the Flagship moored off Rushcutters Bay. 1315-1800 180th Australia Day Regatta, Sydney Harbour, conducted by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron on behalf of the Australia Day Regatta Inc. Open to all classes of keelboats, old and new, fast and slow, small and large, spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions and includes boats from the RSYS, SASC, SFS, CYCA, RPEYC, MHYC, GSC and RANSA fleets. 1430-1800 Lord Mayor’s Cup for modern 18-footers – Australian 18-footer Sailing League. 1300-1700 Centreboard Regatta, Rose Bay – Woollahra Sailing Club. 1300-1700 Botany Bay – Botany Bay Regatta and Councillors’ Challenge – Botany Bay Yacht Club, Georges River Sailing Club, Kogarah Bay Sailability, Kurnell Catamaran Club, St George Sailing Club and Yarra Bay 16ft Sailing Club. 1900-2000 Botany Bay – Families Afloat Flotilla. 1350-1600 Brisbane Waters – Gosford Sailing Club. 1000-1600 West Harbour, Sydney – NSW Radio Yacht Association Regatta, Drummoyne Sailing Club. 1300-1600 West Harbour, Sydney – Centreboard Regatta, Greenwich Sailing Club. 1300-1700 West Harbour, Sydney – Keelboat Regatta, Parramatta River Sailing Club. 1300-1700 West Harbour, Sydney – Centreboard Regatta, Hunters Hill Sailing Club. 1400-1700 West Harbour, Sydney – Centreboard Regatta, Dobroyd Aquatic Club. 1230-1630 Lake Illawarra – Centreboard, Sailboard and Trailable Yacht Regatta, Illawarra Yacht Club 1300-1600 Lake Macquarie – Centreboard, Multihull, Keelboat and Trailable Yacht Regatta, Wangi Wangi RSL Sailing Club. 1130-1400 Manly – Sailability Regatta, Manly Yacht Club. 1300-1700 Pittwater – Keelboat and Dingy Regatta, Avalon Sailing Club. 1300-1600 Chipping Norton Lakes – Centreboard Regatta, Chipping Norton Lakes Sailing Club. West Harbour, Sydney – Wednesday 27 January 2016 1700-2000 Twilight Yacht Regatta, Greenwich Flying Squadron. West Harbour, Sydney – Sunday 31 January 2016 1300-1600 Junior Dinghies and Senior Lasers, Greenwich Flying Squadron. 2 Advisory Other Australia Day Harbour Events 0630 P&O Cruises’ impressive cruise ships, Pacific Council Aria, Pacific Eden, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl to Sydney to join the celebrations on Australia Day. Patron 0730 Indigenous Morning Ceremony – The His Excellency General ceremony features the raising of the Aboriginal The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), flag with the Australian flag on the Sydney Governor of New South Wales Harbour Bridge. Advisory Council Members 2015-2016 0830 The Great Australian Swim Series Final in Mr Matt Allen (President) Farm Cove. Mr Malcolm Levy OAM (Chairman) 1100 Ferrython – starts at the Sydney Opera House, around Shark Island and finish under the Mr Phillip Black Sydney Harbour Bridge.