Training THE BRIBIE ISLAND Classic Boat Regatta 2023

Island and the Pumicestone Passage like no other Moreton Bay event. The regatta participants alighted all along Toorbul Foreshore to a warm welcome from the Toorbul and Donnybrook Community Association who served lunch, which was sponsored by our local Councillor Brooke Savige and Moreton Bay Regional Council.

The afternoon saw all the colourful boats once again grace the Pumicestone Passage to alight at Pacific Harbour Marina, where carparks and side roads were overflowing as large crowds gathered to view and share a tall tale or two with the delighted boat owners sharing their beautiful boats with pride and joy. All of this was accompanied by the dulcet tones of a local legend saxophone player Leigh Thirlwell, accompanied by his talented nine-year-old granddaughter Lotus, who is a star in the making and commanded the stage with her impressive singing voice.

The Grand Parade, always the regatta highlight on Sunday morning, was a magnificent spectacle enjoyed by vast crowds lined up along the foreshores, as the boats made their way to the Sylvan Beach esplanade to be displayed amidst the happy hustle and bustle of classic cars, model boat displays, pop-up stalls, food and live entertainment

The 3 independent judges had been busy during the regatta deciding on who should be the winners this year of the beautiful hand-crafted perpetual trophies.

The 'Pride of Fleet' trophy went to Cairns for a boat named ‘Iona’ owned by Tom Sparks and Rodger Fryer and lovingly built by members of the Wooden Boat Association of Cairns between 2015 and 2021. The boat was designed by John Welsford, a New Zealander.

The boat design is known as a Navigator and is a centreboard yawl day cruiser -simply a beauty.

Best Classic Sailboat 2023 named ‘Mary Rose’ was won by a Brisbane boat builder Simon Paroz. It was a Clem Masters design and build in 1966 and is a timber-planked Carvel Sailing Sloop. The Best Classic Motorboat named “Moreton Maid” was also coincidentally a Clem Masters design built in 1964 and known as a Masters 31-footer.

This year for the first time we had a ‘People’s Choice Award”

This trophy was initiated and sponsored by the Member for Pumicestone Ms Ali King. Voting cards were given to the public and they responded in their droves. The boat that won known as ‘Baby Dolphin” was built by the owner Geoff Tyler from Wynnum and based on a 1928 American Hacker Craft.

It’s a 22-footer made from

By Cecilia (CC) Wilson President BACE (Bribie Aquatic Community Events Inc)

beautiful Brazilian Mahogany wood and was built in 2013. Three Swans a Green Island 15, designed by Mike Robers and built in 2005 got 2nd place. It is owned by Sandy Pegg here on Bribie and Sandy and their family enjoy our many beach camping opportunities, made easy because Three Swans is ‘Gunter rigged which allows for the mast and rigging to fit into the length of the hull for trailering.

In 3rd place was a classic boat with beautiful lines simply known as ‘A Classic’ and owned and designed by Alan Graham from Toorbul, who built it in his 80th year. This year also for the first time, we raffled off a new Joey Sailing dinghy made as a fundraiser for BACE by the Wooden Boat Association of Qld. It was won by a local from Bribie. He and his partner were thrilled. Having never owned a boat before, he said ‘We never win anything, this is amazing. Now I have something to do with the grandkids when they come to Bribie”.

Based on our counts a record 3000 people plus attended the regatta. This event has become a signature event for Bribie Island and Moreton Bay. It brought much-needed business and tourism dollars to Bribie and was enjoyed by the community who can take real pride and ownership of a Classic Bribie Island Event.

We, at BRIBIE PINK DRAGONS, thank the Bribie Classic Boats for inviting us to join their flotilla and parade on Sunday 21st May. The Bribie Pink Dragons is a breast cancer survivors club. Our participants, all in their trademark pink, have been paddling on the beautiful Pumicestone Passage since 2008.

This year we are celebrating our 15th anniversary with many past and present survivors and their supporters, families, and friends.

Snug in the bow of our boat,” MooraMoora”; thumping the drum to maintain timing to communicate pace and technique with the crew, is 89 years young, Joyce. Joyce had her birthday while competing as the drummer, at a very recent International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission Participatory Festival in New Zealand. She has been paddling for the past 12 years. Joyce is a continuing inspiration to all our members, and she and all our paddlers are proof, that dragon boat paddling is a perfect meawns of rehabilitation for breast cancer survivors.

In the Classic Boats regatta, BRIBIE PINK DRAGONS performed a “PADDLE TAP”. This is a ceremonial salute paddle, carried out on special occasions as a sign of respect.

The Sweep, Helm or Steer, is standing at the back of the boat with the oar. The sweep's role is to control the movement of the boat and is deemed the “Captain of the Boat”. Therefore, the sweep has responsibility for the safety of their boat, their crew and the boats around them.

Bribie Pink Dragons are on the water three times a week -amongst dolphins, dugong and turtles- on Saturdays and Mondays mornings, and Thursday afternoons. They are always looking for new members. So, if you are a breast cancer survivor or a man or woman who has been in close contact with a breast cancer patient, a family member, or a person with a like-minded ethos, then this is the club for you.

For further information, contact President, Maree, 0405550960.