Above: Stuart F. Doyle. Commodore of RMYC in 1928. His Motor Launch was named 'Miramar'; craft he's in isn't the Miramar. Image No hood_06545, Courtesy State LIbrary of NSW. Below: Scene During The Race. Image No hood_06527. Both by Sam Hood.
Above: Two Yachts Racing. Image No.: hood_06544 by Sam Hood, Image Courtesy State Library of NSW. Below: A 21 foot restricted class yacht. Image No.: hood_06516. Both by Sam Hood. (Bushrangers Hill in Background)
References and Further:
More in File
EASTER CRUISE. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Friday 12 April 1895 p 6 Article ... yachts, all bound for that charming spot, The Basin, situated in a snug corner on the western shores gi Pittwater It bu beeil tne custom. lot «OBI« time post for the Sydney yachting fleet to rendezvous ... 254 words
EASTER CAMP. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 12 March 1904 p 12 Article ... EASTER CAMP. The committee of the P.A.Y.C. have decided that the club steamer shall leave Sydney on Thursday evening in lieu of Friday morning, to convey members» dunnage, skiffs etc, to the camping ground, the Basin, Broken Bay The commodore's
SAILING. PRINCE ALFRED YACHT CLUB. ANNUAL
CAMP. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Wednesday 3
April 1907 p 10 Article ... SAILING. PRINCE ALFRED YACHT CLUB. ANNUAL CAMP. With favourable weather the Prince Alfred Yacht Club's Easter camp, at the "Basin," Broken Bay, proved an unqualified success. Those who attended ... look Hie campera for a run round Pittwater in his motor yacht Meteor. The cricket match between
the ... 393 words
PITTWATER REGATTA. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 16 March 1907 p 16 Article
... PITTWATER REGATTA. The Pittwater (Broken Bay) regatta, which was to have been held to-day, has been postponed until Saturday day next.
PITTWATER REGATTA. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 23 March 1907 p 14 Article ... PITTWATER REGATTA The Pittwater regatta, which was postponed last Saturday, will be held to-day. The programme comprises five sailing, nine rowing, and one motor launch event, and as the entries are as numerous as the races are varied, a good day's sport is practically assured. ... 46 words
PITTWATER REGATTA.
Mr. T. Williams, president of the Pittwater Regatta Committee, occupied the chair at the annual meeting which was held at Mona Vale. The chairman congratulated the members of the committee, and declared that their regatta could justly take third place on the list of events held In New South Wales. Office bearers were elected as follows:-Patrons, Messrs, N.H. Murray and W. M. Marks; president, Mr: J. Williams (jun.); treasurer, Mr. W. Lawhort; secretary, Mr. J. Roche; assistant secretary, Mr. S, Greig. PITTWATER REGATTA. (1910, August 30). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15175802
SAILING. PITTWATER REGATTA. AUSTRALIAN'S GREAT RECORD. The second half of the yacht racing season will open on Saturday with the sixth annual Pittwater regatta, which provides a race for all comers' yachts, yachts one design, dinghies and auxiliaries. Given fine weather, this should prove a most successful fixture, as a large percentage of the yachts are camped in the vicinity.
Thelma and Rawbiti have remained in Port Jackson during the Christmas holidays, but intend joining the fleet at Broken Bay thisweek It is to be hoped that the Baltic stick with which the latter is being fitted will prove a good one If so considerable advantage will be gained on account of its lightness There is, however, a great uncertainty with regard to Baltic lower masts, which must be tested under stress of canvas before their true quality can be ascertained
As negotiations were proceeding in connection with the holding of a race for the Sayonara Cup at the time when the committee of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron drew up tire season's racing programme all dates in January were kept free, but, unfortunately, to no purpose.
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club will resume on the 13th Instant with, perhaps the most important race of the season-the Basin Cup-which will be sailed to Broken Bay and back, a course which In the days gone by was not infrequent On the 27th the Rawhiti Cup will be competed for, over the Manly-Pile Light course. The eighth annual regatta at Manly, on the 20th instant, and the Anniversary regatta(which has been held annually since 1837) on the 26th, will complete the racing, so far as the yachts are concerned, for this month.
SAILING. (1912, January 3). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 9. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15299675
PITTWATER REGATTA. The Pittwater Regatta, which annual fixture lapsed during the war, is to be revived, and for this purpose a meeting is to be held in the public hall, Mona Vale, on Saturday, October 9, at 7.30 p.m.
PITTWATER REGATTA. (1920, September 30). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16868386
PITTWATER REGATTA.
The Pittwater Regatta, to be held on Saturday, December 31, will be under Vice Regal patronage, as their Excellencies the Governor General and the Governor have consented to become patrons of this fixture.
Owing to the inadequate accommodation on the steamer Gosford, which was the flagship at the last regatta, the committee has for the coming event secured the steamer Namoi to act in that capacity, and has also arranged that this boat will take passengers to the regatta, leaving Sydney on Friday and returning on Saturday night. PITTWATER REGATTA. (1921, October 7). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15991238
PITTWATER REGATTA. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 23 December 1922 p 14 Article ... - PITTWATER REGATTA. The entries received from members of the Motor Yacht Club of New South Wales for the open races at the Pittwater regatta are for the following boats: Race for boats over 12 m.p.h.: Greyhound, Query, Idler, .vieta. Race for boats under 12 m.p.h.: Don, Rex, and Liberty. The ... 89 words
PITTWATER REGATTA. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Wednesday 19 November 1924 p 16 Article ... PITTWATER REGATTA. Progress is being made by the committee of the Pittwater Regatta, and most of the details have been arranged. Trophies to be won outright have been presented. Mr. F. Albert is the donor of a cup for the 21ft restricted class, JAt. II. J. Fitzpatrick ie presenting a trophy known ... 115 words
PITTWATER REGATTA Arrangements for the twenty-fifth Pittwater regatta which will be held on Boxing Day, December 26 arc well In hand Mr Charles Jacobs, who is commodore of the RM Y C of N S W, has accepted the office of president while Mr John Roche, who for 23 years was honorary secretary, has been appointed vice-president The present honorary secretary Is Mr C M Smith, 228 Pitt street Sydney (MA33B1) It has been decided to include in the programme this year a special race for cruising yachts. PITTWATER REGATTA. (1931, November 11). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 14. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16816752
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Pittwater Regatta Research.pdf Size : 141.344 Kb Type : pdf |
The First Pittwater Regatta 1888 or 1906 ?
Contention exists as to which regatta on our lovely estuary is actually the first. That which is listed first in newspaper records as a ‘Pittwater Regatta’ took place on January 2nd, 1888 and may have been a means to bring people and money into the area at this time. In September 1887 residents met at Bullier’s Hotel to organise an annual Regatta.
'Bullier' is actually 'Bulfin', a gentleman who would serve as a president of the Newport Progress Association, whose children were in the first intake of the Newport School, and who was one of the trustees for the Trafalgar Park when that was dedicated to the community through the 1880 Marine Township of Newport land sales.
The initial Notice reads:
AQUATICS. The residents of Pittwater and Broken Bay met on Saturday last, the 13th, at Bullier's Newport Hotel, Newport, for the purpose of establishing an annual regatta-the first to be held on Boxing Day, the 26th December. There was a large attendance, and the object of the meeting was warmly approved of. A considerable sum was subscribed in the room. Messrs. W. C. William and W. T. A. Shorter, solicitor, took an active part in the proceedings, the latter acting as hon. treasurer, and it is understood that the Hon. W. B. Dalley will, if his health permit, act as patron. There is every probability of some good sailing and pulling races, as the prizes should afford inducement for even Sydney competitors, and the harbour presents every natural advantage for the purpose, hardly lo be rivalled by that of Sydney. AQUATICS. (1887, September 15). The Sydney Morning Herald(NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13655348
MESSRS. JOHN SEE and Co. announce an excursion to Broken Bay to-day. The Australian and Wellington, leave tho Market Wharf, Market-street, at 9.30. There will be the Newport and Pittwater Regatta to witness. NEWS OF THE DAY. (1887, December 26). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28347662
The event was postponed by a week until the 2nd of January, 1888, perhaps due to a lack of entrants. The program of 8 events races included:
NEWPORT (PITTWATER) ANNUAL REGATTA. POSTPONED FROM BOXING DAY TO NEW YEAR'S DAY. PROGRAMME.
10 a.m.-Youths under l8 in Light Skiffs. Entrance, 5s. First prize, £2; second, 10s. Two miles. Three entries or no race.
10.15 a.m.-Girls in Dingies. Prize, by Mr. Owen, £1 Is. One mile Entrance, 2s 6d.
11 a.m.-Sailing Race. Boats 18ft. and under. Entrance, 10s. First prize, £1; second, £1. three entries or no race. Time allowance. Course: From flagship round boat off Barrenjoey back to flagship.
II.30 a.m.-All-comers in Light Skiffs. Two miles, handicap. First prize, £5; second, £2. Entrance, £1 Is.
12.30 a.m.-Sailing Race. All-comers. Boats from 20ft. to 21ft. Prize, £5; second boat saves entrance. Three entries or no race. Course: From flagship round boat off Barrenjoey and back to flagship. Entrance, 15s.
2 p.m-Dingy Race, boys under 15. First prize, pair of sculls, presented by Mr. Torrance; second, two pairs fowls. Three entries or no race. One mile. Entrance, 2s 5d.
2.30 p.m.-Local Boats under Canvas, from 18ft. to 22ft. First prize, £10; second, £2. Time allowance. Three entries or no race Course From flagship, round boat off Barrenjoey, and back to flagship. Entrance, £1.
3 p.m. Canvas Dinghies. First prize, £3; second, 10s. Three entries or no race. Course : From flagship, round powder hulk, and back to flagship. Entrance. 5s.
Entries will finally close at Newport Hotel, and at the Treasurer's Office, 118, Pitt-street. Sydney, for Sailing Races on SATURDAY, December 31, 1887. All other races 10 a.m., January 2.
W. T. A. SHORTER, 118, Pitt-street, Sydney, Hon. Treasurer.
WILLIAM BULFIN, Newport. Hon. Secretary.
NEWPORT (PITTWATER) REGATTA; NEW YEAR'S DAY.
EIGHT EVENTS. LARGE PRIZES.
Several Large Ocean Steamers will be In Attendance, Dancing on flagship. Luncheon and Refreshments on Board, and at Bulfin's Newport Hotel.
NEWPORT(PITTWATER) REGATTA. SPECIALLY POSTPONED RACE, SATURDAY, 7th JANUARY, 1888. All comers, in wager boats. Prize, £12. Three miles. Handicap. Entrance £1 Is. Additional entries will be received up to 3 p.m. on Friday, 6th January, either at Newport or Sydney. W. T. A. SHORTER, Hon. Treasurer, 118, Pitt-street. WILLIAM BULFIN, Hon. Secretary, Newport Hotel. Newport. Advertising. (1887, December 31). The Sydney Morning Herald(NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13665600
Newport (Pittwater) Annual Regatta takes place today.
A fairly good programme of events has been drawn up. The scenery in the neighbourhood of Newport is charming, and a large number of visitors will doubtless attend the regatta. BALMAIN SAILING CLUB. (1888, January 2). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28347253
OUTRIGGER RACE AT NEWPORT,
BARRENJOEY, Saturday.
An outrigger handicap race for £20, under the auspices of the Pittwater and Newport Regatta Committee, was decided yesterday at Newport. There were tour competitors, viz., the brothers Messenger, W. Anderson, and Green. It was a hard-contested race.
Anderson, after a hard struggle, won, with H. Messenger second. Owing to the fastening which secured C. Messenger's foot giving way he was out of the race. C. Messenger allowed 10 seconds to H. Messenger and Anderson, and 20 seconds to Green. OUTRIGGER RACE AT NEWPORT. (1888, January 9). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13667714
Mr Bulfin seems to have had the pioneering spirit and even a strong streak of rapscallion in his nature. He went through a rough trot in the intervening months and years (see below). While he was surmounting these personal ordeals the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron commenced a series of races at The Basin in 1892 as part of its Easter Cruises.
The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (formed 8th of July, 1862, Royal Warrant from Patron, Prince of Wales conferred 27th of June 1863) races at The Basin during Easter (See PDF File) set a standard for a new kind of regatta to be held regularly on the waters of the estuary.
The beauty of the area, tranquillity of the waters and good breezes brought the squadron back in intervening years and also attracted the members of the Prince Alfred Yacht Club, originally in Moore Street (now Martin Place) and formed in 1868. The name ‘Prince Alfred Yacht Club’ was chosen as Prince Alfred, in command of HMAS Galatea, was due to visit the colony in 1868. The prefix Royal was granted in 1911 by King George V. The Pittwater Division was formed as a result of a decision in 1919 to find an alternatives to racing on the increasingly congested Sydney Harbour. The original Green Point clubhouse, on the present site, was opened in 1938.
Others cite a race begun between Queenslanders and New South Welshmen in 1905 as the impetus for the annual regatta:
Pittwater Regatta came into being as the result of a private match, in December, 1905 between the Crouch brothers, of Queensland, and W. D. M. Taylor, who sailed the Carella, owned by Lord Forster, and Mr. John Roche, for 21 years honorary secretary for the regatta.
An unusual course was chosen, being from Pittwater, where the flagship was moored on Saturday, around Lion Isle and back, a distance of 18 miles. The Crouch brothers won.
Local residents became enthusiastic as the result of this match, and the first regatta was held in February, 1906. It catered for local sailing and rowing boats, but there were only six starters for the first motor launch race.
Both the entries and prize money have increased annually. This year there were 107 sailing boats. 57 heavy boats, and eight events under New South Wales Rowing Association conditions, with crews totalling 80 rowers There were also three races for Navy League Sea Cadets. PITTWATER. (1928, January 2). The Sydney Morning Herald(NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 4. from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16431002 (Full PDF of 21st Annual Pittwater Regatta Article on page on Page contains all the results too).
The second 'official' Pittwater Regatta took place on the 23rd of March 1907, as part of Easter Events;
The postponed Pittwater regatta will-be held to-morrow. The hon. secretaries (Miss Gladys Roche, and. Mr. J. Roche), and the committee have done a lot of wort. Nearly a' hundred entries have been received for the various rowing, sailing, and motor boat races. The first event is timed to start at 11 a.m. and is for local boats 14ft to 18ft, for which fifteen entries have been received. For the all comers' sailing skiff race the following are the handicaps :,—
Native (H. Rodrick), scr; Dart (J. Sharp), 3min Rainbow (J. Hanson), 8min; Mat (W. Riddle), 9min;..Rio- (A. Robey), 13min; Myrtle (J. Crouch), --.16min. The entries for the ladies' single sculls are:— Mrs. Wilmot, Mrs. Jackson, Miss G. Lloyd, and Miss L. Arter. The other events also include three in which ladies may join and the sailing races cater for all classes of local craft. The steamer will be the flagship. Special coaches and motor 'buses will leave Manly for Bay View wharf at 9.15, 10.15, and 11.15, returning immediately after the last race is completed. SAILING. (1907, March 22). Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115224482
Pittwater REGATTA The Pittwater regatta, which was postponed last Saturday, will be held today. The programme comprises five sailing, nine rowing, and one motor launch event, and as the entries are as numerous as the races are varied, a good day's sport is practically assured. PITTWATER REGATTA. (1907, March 23). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 14. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14853312
By 1908 the Programme for the Regattas races was scheduled for February 1st;
SAILING. PITTWATER REGATTA. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Thursday 16 January 1908 p 10 Article ... SAILING. PITTWATER REGATTA. The programme for the Pittwater annual regatta on February 1 contains no fewer than 14 important sailing and rowing events. There is a champion 16-footer 1 footer race, for the winner of which there is a cup valued £10 10s, and £12 added money; handicaps for boats….
By 1910 it formed part of the first week of January’s Pittwater festivities and there it stayed as part of the Sailing Calendar; PITTWATER REGATTA. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 17 December 1910 p 19 Article ... PITTWATER REGATTA. The the committee of the Pittwater regatta, which is to be held on January. 7, has arranged for the course of or the yacht race- to be from Fort- Denison (Sydney), down to and round flagship in Pittwater, thence round a three-mile triangular course inside the bay.
The Regatta was suspended during WWI and WWII and again returned as one of the premier events on and the best way to open the New Year weeks and enjoy summer in Pittwater; PITTWATER REGATTA. The Pittwater Regatta, which annual fixture lapsed during the war, is to be revived, and for this purpose a meeting is to be held in the public hall, Mona Vale, on Saturday, October 9, at 7.30 p.m. PITTWATER REGATTA. (1920, September 30). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16868386
As the years went by the Regatta was dedicated to raising funds for various necessary community requirements; PITTWATER REGATTA The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Monday 27 December 1954 p 8 Article ... PITTWATER REGATTA -. The annual Pittwater regatta to-day has received a record number of sailing and motor cruiser entries. Proceeds of the regatta will go to building a children's wing at the Manly District Hospital.
Annual Balls held on the various Flagships or at RMYC (from late 1920’s) also sought to raise funds to put towards worthwhile projects that build community, people and infrastructure. The Pittwater Regatta annual event ceased to be in 1979.
If you do want to see a Pittwater Regatta’s beginnings you may attend the start of the Pittwater to Coffs Annual Race and Regatta which starts from our own Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club on…yes…January 2nd, 2012 !
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Above: 'Gwydir' 1933 Flagship of the Pittwater Regatta and property of the Newcastle Steamship Company. Image Courtesy of State Library of NSW.
Pittwater Regatta, Broken Bay, Hunter River Steamship Co.'s SS "Gwydir" as flagship. Image No: hood_06534, courtesy State Library of NSW