Royal Hobart Regatta
Royal Hobart Regatta in 1914
Also calledThe Regatta
Observed bySouthern Tasmania
TypeSouthern public holiday
SignificanceAustralia's largest aquatic event
CelebrationsSea farers
DateThree days, ending on the second Monday in February
2023 date11 - 13 February
FrequencyAnnual
First time1 December 1838
Started byGovernor of Tasmania - Sir John Franklin

The Royal Hobart Regatta is a series of aquatic competitions and displays held annually in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia and is Tasmania's oldest sporting event. The regatta began in 1838.[1][2]

The event runs for three days and incorporates a public holiday observed in Southern Tasmania on the second Monday in February.[3]

It is regularly well attended by the public in addition to local and interstate competitors.

In its beginning the Regatta was well supported by the Royal Navy. In recent years the Royal Australian Navy, sends a warship to serve as flagship for the three day spectacle. The Royal Australian Air Force, also regularly performs aerobatic displays using military aircraft such as the RAAF Roulettes. The Australian Army's elite Red Beret parachute regiment has previously provided sky diving displays.

Royal Hobart Regatta Association

Governance of the Royal Hobart Regatta is executed by an association of the same name, The Royal Hobart Regatta Association.

The Association is controlled by a board, executive and committee. The current president is Ross Doddridge.

History

On 1 December 1838, the first Hobart Town Anniversary Regatta was held in Hobart to celebrate the anniversary of the 17th-century European discovery of Tasmania by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who made the first reported European sighting of the island on 24 November 1642.[4]

It was decided that an annual anniversary regatta should be held and include the wearing of a sprig of silver wattle blossom tied with British navy blue ribbon,[5] a tradition instituted by Governor of Tasmania, Sir John Franklin.

Franklin provided free food and beer for all of the spectators, and the tradition of free entry continues to this day. The Monday was declared a public holiday by the Governor and is now the oldest public holiday still continuing in Australia.

Since 1879 the regatta has been held in January or February, rather than December. The regatta of 6 February 1934 was the first to be called the Royal Hobart Regatta, the title being conferred by King George V.

Cancelled events

The Regatta continued throughout World War I and World War II.

Significant milestones

  • 5 December 1942 - commemorated the 300th anniversary of Abel Tasman's exploration
  • 11 February 1955 - 80,000 people attend the Regatta in a single day, a number that represents 90% of the Hobart population
  • 2013 - 175th Regatta[6]
  • 11 February 2023 - commemorated the 185th anniversary of the event

Royal visits

The Royal Hobart Regatta has played host to ten royal visits, the most notable being a visit from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip in 1963 when they arrived aboard HMY Britannia. In preparation for the occasion the main grandstand was extended and accommodated the royals, who stayed for lunch before departing for Sydney in the late afternoon.

Location

Originally staged at Pavilion Point, the Regatta moved in 1856, to grounds near Macquarie Point known as the "Regatta Grounds" at the Queens Domain along the western side of the River Derwent. Records indicate the move was necessitated following a quarrel with Government House concerning broken beer bottles along Macquarie.

Access to the site is along McVilly Drive.

The grounds are shared with the Hobart Cenotaph, a war memorial to Tasmanian's fallen from global conflict. The primary Regatta structure on the site is the John Colville Memorial grandstand, which pays tribute to members of the aquatic fraternity that fell in World War I. A stone tablet was laid in 1942 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Regatta.

Events

A plethora of events take place each year, and include:

There is also an Ambassador quest, and the regatta always has an official attendance ceremony by the Governor.

Trans Derwent Swim

Commencing adjacent Montagu Bay the Trans Derwent Swim sees competitors cross the Derwent River Estuary, a distance of 1.5km. In recent years a return trip has been added as an extra race.

Two Bridge Kayak Race

This paddling event sees kayakers travel from the Tasman Bridge to the Bowen Bridge before returning to the finish line at the Royal Hobart Regatta grounds. A total distance of 15km is covered.

Wood chopping

Woodchopping sees axemen from across the state compete in various events and age divisions chopping and sawing blocks and wood.

Flagships

A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships and/ or the finest, largest, or most important one of a group of things.

Year Regatta Ship Class Type Registration
2023 185 HMAS Arunta (II) ANZAC Frigate Destroyer FFH-151
2022 184 HMAS Hobart Hobart Class Destroyer, Guided Missile DDG-39
2021 183 HMAS Hobart Hobart Class Destroyer, Guided Missile DDG-39
2020 182 HMAS Sirius Fleet Replenishment Vessel O 266
2019 181 HMAS Choules Bay-Class LCVP Landing Craft L100
2018 180 HMAS Hobart Hobart Class Destroyer, Guided Missile DDG-39
2017 179 HMAS Choules Bay-Class LCVP Landing Craft L100
2016 178 HMAS Stuart ANZAC Frigate Destroyer FFH-153
2015 177 HMAS Sydney Adelaide Class Destroyer, Guided Missile FFG-03
2014 176 HMAS Tobruk Round Table Class Landing Ship, Heavy L50
2013 175 HMAS Sydney Adelaide Class Destroyer, Guided Missile FFG-03
2012 174 HMAS Melville Leeuwin Class Survey Vessel A 246
2011 173 HMAS Parramatta ANZAC Frigate Destroyer, Guided Missile FFH 154
2010 172 HMS Lady Nelson Survey Vessel
2009 171 HMAS Stuart ANZAC Frigate Destroyer FFH-153
2008 170 HMAS Parramatta ANZAC Frigate Destroyer 154
2006 168 HMAS Stuart ANZAC Frigate Destroyer FFH-153
2005 167 HMAS Melbourne Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigate FFG-05
2004 166 HMAS Kanimbla Kanimbla Class Amphibous Landing Platform L 51
2003 165 HMAS Manoora Kanimbla Class Amphibous Landing Platform L 52
2002 164 HMAS Melbourne Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigate FFG-05
2001 163 HMAS Brisbane Perth Class Guided Missile Destroyer D41
2000 162 HMAS Hobart Perth Class Guided Missile Destroyer D39
1999 161 HMAS Perth Perth Class Guided Missile Destroyer D38
1998 160 HMAS Torrens River Class Destroyer DE-53
1997 159 HMAS Torrens River Class Destroyer DE-53
1996 158 HMAS Torrens

HMAS Swan

 River ClassRiver Class Destroyers DE-53

DE-50

1995 157 HMAS Torrens

HMAS Hobart

 River ClassPerth Class Destroyer

Destroyer, Guided Missile

 DE-53

D39

1994 156 HMAS Newcastle ANZAC Frigate Destroyer FFG-06
1993 155 HMAS Ardent Attack Class Patrol Boat P87
1992 154 HMAS Jervis Bay Cargo Ferry GT-203
1991 153 HMAS Jervis Bay Cargo Ferry GT-203
1990 152 HMAS Perth Perth Class Guided Missile Destroyer D38
1989 151 HMAS Jervis Bay Cargo Ferry GT-203
1988 150 HMAS Stalwart Maintenance Ship D-215
1987 149 HMAS Hobart Perth Class Guided Missile Destroyer D39
1986 HMAS Hobart

HMAS CanberraHMAS Darwin

 Perth ClassAdelaide ClassAdelaide Class Destroyer, Guided Missile

Destroyer, Guided Missile

Destroyer, Guided Missile

 D39

FFG-04

FFG-02

1985 147 HMAS Jervis Bay Cargo Ferry GT-203
1984 146 HMAS Hobart Perth Class Guided Missile Destroyer D39
1983 145 HMAS Jervis Bay Cargo Ferry GT-203
1982 144 HMAS Torrens River Class Destroyer DE53
1981 143 HMAS Swan River Class Destroyers DE50
1980 142 HMAS Stalwart Maintenance Ship D215
1979 141 HMAS Swan River Class Destroyer DE-50
1978 140 HMAS Stalwart Maintenance Ship D215
1977 139 HMAS Duchess Daring Class Destroyer D154
1976 138 HMAS Duchess Daring Class Destroyer D154
1975 137 HMAS Duchess Daring Class Destroyer D154
1974 136 HMAS Swan River Class Destroyer DE-50
1973 135 HMAS ANZAC Battle Class Destroyer D59
1972 134 HMAS ANZAC Battle Class Destroyer D59
1971 133 HMAS Sydney (III) Majestic Class Aircraft Carrier R17
1970 132 HMAS Stalwart Maintenance Ship D215
1969 131 HMAS Paramatta River Class Destroyer DE46
1968 130 HMAS Vendetta Daring Class Destroyer D08
1967 129 - Cancelled HMAS Derwent River Class Destroyer DE49
1966 128 HMAS Paramatta River Class Destroyer DE46
1965 127 HMAS Sydney (III) Majestic Class Aircraft Carrier R17
1964 126 HMAS Gascoyne River Class Destroyer K354
1963 125 HMAS Quickmatch River Class Destroyer G92
1962 124 HMAS Voyager Daring Class Destroyer D04
1961 123 HMAS Swan River Class Destroyer DE-50
1960 122 HMS St Brides Bay Bay Class Anti Aircraft Frigate K600
1959 121 HMS Cossack C Class Destroyer R57
1958 120 USS Blue Allen M. Sumner Class Destroyer DD-774
1957 119 HMAS Sydney (III) Majestic Class Aircraft Carrier R17
1956 118 HMAS Arunta Tribal Class Destroyer I30
1955 117 HMAS Arunta Tribal Class Destroyer I30
1954 116 HMAS Quadrant Q Class Destroyer G67/D17
1953 115 HMAS Sydney Majestic Class Aircraft Carrier R17
1952 114 HMAS Condamine River Class Destroyer K698
1951 113 HMAS Latrobe Bathurst Class Corvette J234/M234
1950 112 HMAS Bataan Tribal Class Destroyer I91
1949 111 HMAS Australia County Class Heavy Cruiser D84
1948 110 HMAS Australia County Class Heavy Cruiser D84
1947 109 HMAS Quickmatch River Class Destroyer G92
1946 108 HMS Bermuda Fiji Class Cruiser 52
1945 107 S.S Marosa
1944 106 HMAS - HDML 1321 Harbour Defence Motor Launch 1327
1943 105 Sch. Abel Tasman
1942 104 Sch. Kermandie
1941 103 Sch. Alma Doepel
1940 102 S.S Talune
1939 101 HMAS Hobart Leander Class Light Cruiser D63
1938 100 HMAS Canberra (I) Country Class Heavy Cruiser D33
1937 99 HMAS Canberra (I) Country Class Heavy Cruiser D33
1936
1935
1934
1933
1932
1929 HMAS Australia D84
1906 HMS Encounter E-Class Destroyer H10

References

  1. ↑ Australian Geographical Society (1 November 1937), "The Hobart Regatta which celebrates its 100th birthday, February, 1938 (1 November 1937)", Walkabout, Australian National Travel Association, 4 (1), ISSN 0043-0064
  2. ↑ "Royal Hobart Regatta:175 years". LINC Tasmania. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Hobart Regatta, Royal (2016). "Royal Hobart Regatta, Hobart, Tasmania". royalhobartregatta.com. Royal Hobart Regatta.
  4. ↑ "THE REGATTA". The True Colonist Van Diemen's Land Political Despatch, And Agricultural And Commercial... No. 800. Tasmania, Australia. 7 December 1838. p. 4. Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Classified Advertising". The Hobart Town Courier (Tas. : 1827 - 1839). Tas.: National Library of Australia. 23 November 1838. p. 4. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "175th Royal Hobart Regatta underway on the River Derwent". Sail World. Retrieved 14 August 2021.

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