200 in Derwent sail past

MORE than 200 boats, ranging from kayaks to ocean racing yachts, are expected on the River Derwent next Saturday for the opening day of the sailing season.

This tradition goes back almost 140 years and marks the start of summer sailing in Hobart.

The highlight of opening day is a colourful sail past across Sullivan’s Cove where Governor Kate Warmer will take the salute from the motor launch Egeria.

Opening day is a Combined Clubs event and this year the Commodore of Bellerive Yacht Club Graham Mansfield will lead the fleet in his racing yacht Black Magic, accompanied by the historic yacht Westward, marking the upcoming 75th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Many other Tasmanian sailing clubs traditionally hold their own Opening Day, including Tasmania’s leading off-the-beach club, Sandy Bay Sailing Club, on Saturday, October 19, which will also mark the launch of a history of the club A Sailing Club for Children, written by life member Peter Read.

“Many of Tasmania’s most successful sailors started their sailing at Sandy Bay Sailing Club, several going on to represent Australia at the Olympics, the America’s Cup and winning world championships,” Commodore Felicity Allison said yesterday.

“Many sailors, past and present, will remember the children’s sailing club on the sandhills at Long Point where they first ventured afloat and life member Peter Read has captured these memories in a history book crammed with the names of Hobartian sailors and includes the odd peccadillo.

“Copies of the book will be available for purchase on the SBSC website shop and at Peter Johnston Ship Chandlers, but we hope that many past members will join us for Opening Day and the launch of the book A Sailing Club for Children … which is what we are all about,” Commodore Allison added.