Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club Gaff Rig Regatta 2024
by Noosa Yacht & Rowing Club 19 Jun 18:25 NZST
8-9 June 2024
Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club Gaff Rig Regatta 2024 © Jane McMenamin
The 2024 Noosa Gaff Rig Regatta was held on the 8th and 9th of June in perfect Noosa winter weather: 23 degrees air temperature, 23 degrees water temperature.
The Saturday morning briefing prior to the race commenced at 12.00, it was clear and concise with some local knowledge, course and buoy information. A fall back plan was also discussed should wind conditions direction and strength alter.
Most importantly the regatta prizes were on display. The most sort after being the range of excellent Ronstan products and the Bundaberg Rum Barrels.
At the start line for Saturday's first race there were 20 Gaff or similar rigged yachts .
Some of them ranged from a 50 plus year old 10 foot timber Gaff Rigged skiff replica "Merle", with a crew of 3 and a healthy spread of sail, to a recently impeccably refurbished Couta Boat "Crystal".
There were a number of classic Gaff and similar rigged wooden dinghies, trailable wooden and glass Gaff yachts as well as modern Carbon Gaff rigged trailer sailors, Cygnet 20's "Bacchus, Dolphin and Dreamkumtrue". To add to the mix, we had the now classic Gunter rigged dinghies, Herons and Mirrors.
To keep such a mixed fleet of classic boats handicapped competitively there were 2 divisions. Division 1 boats over 18 ft LOA and Division 2 open boats under 18 ft LOA.
The conditions were challenging both Saturday and Sunday being medium to very light westerlies to South westerlies and strong run out tide. Despite this the sailing committee managed to conduct 2 races each day.
The boats on the river displayed a wonderful spectacle with the background of the Noosa Come Together Festival in the adjacent Lions Park on Sunday. noosacometogether.com.au
The Classic 10ft skiff "Merle" took Division 2 overall and "Petit Bateau", a converted Gaff Rigged O'Day Mariner took Division 1 overall. The Cygnet class was won by "Cygnet" and the Mirror class "Jumbuck".
In addition, prizes were on offer for placing both by Divisions and Class.
With further help from our very generous sponsors, The Bar @ NYRC, Bundaberg Rum, Ronstan, Noosa Boatman, Sotheby's Queensland Noosa Real Estate, Noosa Tourism, Burke and Smith Sails we were also able to run 3 raffles.
All funds raised from the Gaff Rigged yacht entry fees and our raffles go directly to NYRC Sailability for charity.
Next year's Noosa Yacht and Rowing Gaff rig regatta will be conducted on the 7th & 8th of June 2025. This event is growing each year and our expectations for 2025 is to have more Gaff Rigged or similar yacht that are in classes participate for Class prizes as well as overall. It would be great to have further Historic Gaff Rigged skiffs and classic dingy classes racing.
The Gaff Rig regatta could not happen without the help of all our volunteers and support of the media, our thanks to them all.
For more information on the 2025 event ring Valere on 0434 879 861.
The extensive gallery of images of the 2024 gaff rig regatta can be found at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.908246997982941&type=3