RELATED: Iconic boat race returns
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It was an action-packed two days on the water for the inaugural South West Regatta over the weekend.
On Saturday, crews came from Tasmania, South Australia and across Victoria to contest the Victorian St Ayles Skiff Championships, while on Sunday, the Australian Whale Boat Championships made a welcome return to Warrnambool. Saturday’s event also included a wooden boat expo.
Warrnambool’s notoriously windy conditions may have slowed the times, but it didn’t deter the spirit of the teams taking part in the events on the Hopkins River.
In the skiff championships, crews of four and a coxswain rowed almost one kilometre from the jetty to the Hopkins Bridge and back again in three heats each. Winners from the day included The Berthas from Warrnambool in the women’s class, The Halls Gap Mountain Galaxiids in the men’s class and the Swift Skiffers took out the mixed competition.
In the whale boat championships it was a trio of wins for Portland teams. Portland Rotary claimed gold in the men’s event, Whaler’s Bluff won in the women’s and team PPMH (Promoting Portland Maritime Heritage) won the mixed final.
South West Regatta event co-ordinator Bec Elmes said there was a “great vibe” across the weekend.
“We’ve have got some novice rowers right through to some of the more experienced,” Ms Elmes said. “It’s been a great day for people of all abilities and levels to get involved. That’s the beauty of the event.”
St Ayles Skiff Community Rowing Association of Australia president Patrick Groot said it was a community movement and the more towns who hosted events would help to raise the relatively new sport’s profile.
“We’ve had a great time,” Mr Groot said. “There’s a complete gamut of people from new to experienced. I’m hoping we’re converting people to the sport. It’s all about activity and having a jolly good time socially.”
He said community members come together to build their own wooden boat. They form a group, fund-raise, build the boat using a kit and then race in events around the country. “It’s very much a community oriented project,” he said.
It was US resident Jackie Barron’s first time on the water with Adelaide’s Louise Checkley and Barb Donaldson who have raced about five times. “We’re novices but we’re keen,” Ms Checkley said.
“It’s a lovely thing and its a great thing to do together. There’s something interesting about every time you row.”
Living Boat Trust Tasmania committee members Tasmania’s Marguerite Porte and Lorrie Harrison said the St Ayle Skiff movement was growing in popularity and had a community focus.
“We’ve had a wonderful day,” Mrs Harrison said. “We came over because we want to part of the skiff movement. We didn’t come to race, it’s just something you do, but we came to be together with other skiffies and to help and promote it,” she said.