Regattas were a big deal in open boat sailing all through the 19th Century and well into the 20th. Regional regattas attended by Sydney boats were a feature from the 1920s to the early 1950s and for a while became huge sailing and social events. The Gosford Regatta was one of the most popular of these.
A group of 16-ft skiffs preparing to race, Gosford Regatta Easter 1946.
In the early days of competitive sailing around Sydney regattas were the main activity for sailing and rowing, pre-dating the existence of any sailing clubs. The first was organised by naval officers in 1827 and involved 2 rowing races and a sailing race and the officers themselves put up the prize money. Quoting my own words in my book The Open Boat (see Books Page): “Setting precedents that would be followed right up to the early 20th Century local officials and worthies were invited onto the flagship, including their ladies, a brass band provided entertainment and dancing was almost continuous. Crowds gathered on vantage points at Dawes Point and Macquarie Fort, and the water was crowded with spectator boats.
“Other regattas followed in the 1830s, but not on a particularly regular basis. Not all were widely publicised, but a growing trade in boats, rowing and sailing equipment and buying and colourful regatta clothing suggests there was a large number of active participants”.
The first regatta to become an annual event was the Anniversary Day Regatta, first held on 26 January 1837. Others followed, including the Balmain Regatta first held in 1849. Others like the Pyrmont and Ryde Regattas continued for some years but only the Anniversary Day and Balmain Regattas continued into the 20th Century.
“Other regattas followed in the 1830s, but not on a particularly regular basis. Not all were widely publicised, but a growing trade in boats, rowing and sailing equipment and buying and colourful regatta clothing suggests there was a large number of active participants”.
The first regatta to become an annual event was the Anniversary Day Regatta, first held on 26 January 1837. Others followed, including the Balmain Regatta first held in 1849. Others like the Pyrmont and Ryde Regattas continued for some years but only the Anniversary Day and Balmain Regattas continued into the 20th Century.
The locals at the agricultural outpost of Gosford organised a regatta in May 1875 with both rowing and sailing events involving only local boats. It was not held again until Boxing Day in 1883 , then became an annual event until 1892 (except 1888 missed out). At some stage in this period some boats began to travel up from Sydney, attracted by the prize money. Two Sydney 18-footers attended in March 1891. It lapsed in 1893, but a new Regatta Club formed and held one in 1895. The next was the first time they held it at Easter time in 1897. Two new 22-footers EFFIE and VIGILANT sailed up the coast to join in, and were weather bound for a week in the Basin on Pittwater before returning. The Regatta was held again the next year, 1898 but lapsed in 1899. Up to this time it was always a one day affair
ABERDARE crew pose with the Brisbane Water Championship pennant, Easter 1946, which is held in the Bob Lundie Collection at the SFS. From left Bob Lundie, Wee Georgie Robinson, owner and SFS Hon Sec W J Anderson, Herb Robson, Charlie Robinson. Front: Albert Robinson and George Davis.
The Regatta restarted in 1902 and was attended by a large number of Sydney and Newcastle 10- and 14-footers, and these fleets attended regularly for the next decade. From 1908 to 1912 the Woy Woy Regatta was held on Easter Saturday and the Gosford Regatta was held on Easter Monday, and the visiting boats attended both.
I can find no records for 1906, 1913 or 1914, but the Gosford Regatta was held on Easter Monday 1915 and advertised £30 in prize money.
Postwar the Regatta was revived again in 1921 with much publicity, Sydney’s 18-footers and 16-foot skiffs were invited, and many 16s attended but the 18s didn’t. Several 18s attended the Port Macquarie Regatta which offered more prize money, and this arrangement continued well into the 1930s (see The Port Macquarie Regatta). The 16-ft skiffs however attended the Gosford Regatta in growing numbers each Easter until 1924. In 1923 it became a two day event for the first time (Easter Saturday and Monday), and that year some Botany Bay 14-footers also attended.
The Regatta was next held in 1933 and was again attended by a large fleet of Sydney and Lake Macquarie 16-foot skiffs. In 1938 it became a three day event. The Second World War stopped it after 1941, but it was revived in 1945.
I can find no records for 1906, 1913 or 1914, but the Gosford Regatta was held on Easter Monday 1915 and advertised £30 in prize money.
Postwar the Regatta was revived again in 1921 with much publicity, Sydney’s 18-footers and 16-foot skiffs were invited, and many 16s attended but the 18s didn’t. Several 18s attended the Port Macquarie Regatta which offered more prize money, and this arrangement continued well into the 1930s (see The Port Macquarie Regatta). The 16-ft skiffs however attended the Gosford Regatta in growing numbers each Easter until 1924. In 1923 it became a two day event for the first time (Easter Saturday and Monday), and that year some Botany Bay 14-footers also attended.
The Regatta was next held in 1933 and was again attended by a large fleet of Sydney and Lake Macquarie 16-foot skiffs. In 1938 it became a three day event. The Second World War stopped it after 1941, but it was revived in 1945.
Left: ABERDARE on the back of a truck for transport , I guess in Gosford main street.
In 1946 eight Sydney Flying Squadron 18-footers made the trip up (by road) to join fifty 16-ft skiffs and fourteen VJs. Thanks to Bob Lundie we have a number of photographs of that occasion. Bob sailed with his old mate Wee Georgie Robinson on ABERDARE which the Wee Georgie and his crew had begun sailing after the retirement in 1944 of BRITANNIA. ABERDARE won the Brisbane Water Championship race on Easter Monday, and the winners’ ribbon (see photo) is kept in the Bob Lundie Collection at the SFS. Billo Hayward won the 16-footers Championship in ADINA (St George club). Several handicap races were also held over the weekend. The waterfront park at Gosford was filled with tents, and it would have been a very social event
In 1946 eight Sydney Flying Squadron 18-footers made the trip up (by road) to join fifty 16-ft skiffs and fourteen VJs. Thanks to Bob Lundie we have a number of photographs of that occasion. Bob sailed with his old mate Wee Georgie Robinson on ABERDARE which the Wee Georgie and his crew had begun sailing after the retirement in 1944 of BRITANNIA. ABERDARE won the Brisbane Water Championship race on Easter Monday, and the winners’ ribbon (see photo) is kept in the Bob Lundie Collection at the SFS. Billo Hayward won the 16-footers Championship in ADINA (St George club). Several handicap races were also held over the weekend. The waterfront park at Gosford was filled with tents, and it would have been a very social event
The Regatta continued every Easter with between twelve and fourteen SFS 18-footers attending until 1951, with a reported total of 250 boats of all classes in 1950. After that it appears that only the 16s and the VJs attended for several seasons and newspaper reports end in 1954.
Thanks to John Stanley for drawing my attention to these photos from the Bob Lundie Collection at the Sydney Flying Squadron.
Others came by car and set up a tent city.
Thanks to John Stanley for drawing my attention to these photos from the Bob Lundie Collection at the Sydney Flying Squadron.
Others came by car and set up a tent city.
These couples are unidentified but most likely had something to do with the 16-ft skiffs behind them. Anyone?
Below: Four officials from the Sydney Flying Squadron attended. From left Frank Burrows (Judge and former crew of 18-footer AVALON), WF (Bill) Titchen (Handicapper and Hon Umpire), WJ (Bill) Anderson (Hon Secretary) and TO (Tom) Young (starter and former skipper of several 18-footers including ONDA).
