Boating Festivals have been a long-time feature of Paynesville with Regattas held as early as 1880s where the local fishing boats competed in sailing races and recreational yachts competed for the Langford Cup. To reinvigorate the regattas of the past, fourth generation local, Peter Medling instigated the Rally proposal and formed the Rally Committee with several volunteers from Gippsland areas. With his knowledge of local boats and their owners, he was able to promote the event with an overwhelming support for the Rally events which included significant sponsorship by local and state marine businesses.
To provide suitable berthing and viewing for such a large contingent of boats, the Gippsland Ports requested berth holders in the Southern Harbours to vacate their berths for the lead up and post event, as did the Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club with their private jetty berths in McMillan Strait. The response was greatly appreciated by the Rally Committee.
Friday night was the final registration and briefing night held at the Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club Clubrooms, where the entrants were presented with participant bags, boat numbers, pennants and commemorative hats and stubby holders.
Saturday morning saw perfect weather for the first of the Classic Boat Rally events to get underway with a boating EXPO hosted by the Paynesville Cruiser Club in the carpark area of the Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club with an additional 30 boats on show and over 20 exhibitors promoting everything from restoration of classic boats to marine safety.
The feature event for the day was the inaugural Classic Boat Rally through McMillan Strait where over 130 classic boats participated, mustering in Lake Victoria and Newlands Backwater before a tiger-moth plane flew over to start the Rally. The Rally entrants were escorted by the Gippsland Water Dragons and Water Police boat north, through the strait’s and then returning to their allocated berths.
The classic boats ranged in size from ten foot sailing boats, 23 foot Gippsland Lakes fishing boats, 28 foot H28 yachts, to large classic cruisers and a 56 foot Ketch from Sorrento. Many of the boats were decorated with bunting and flags and when berthed at the jetties made a fantastic display from the water and foreshore.
The GLYC jetties were filled with H28 yachts moored at the southern jetty, traditional fishing boats in front of the club-rooms and recreational boats on the outer jetties including a Bull’s built section. Larger craft were moored along the promenade section from the GLYC to the Fishermans Wharf and the wharf filled with an array of classic boats. The Southern Harbours showcased classic boats from the smaller cabin cruisers to large cruisers on the outer sections.
On the Saturday afternoon the EXPO featured the GLYC, classic speed boats and sailing boats and Nicholson Model Sailing Club demonstrated their model sailing and motor boats from the GLYC shores. The marine businesses stalls at the EXPO also provided boating enthusiasts with the latest boat finishes, drives, cooling systems, insurances and boating safety with the CFA providing fire extinguisher servicing and Coast Guard catering. Paynesville Maritime Museum opened the museum for the afternoon to provide local maritime history for the Rally.
Awards to boat owners and crews were presented for the following;
Best in Show; ‘Marloo’ a 1944 H28 owned by G. Young,
Best Restoration; ‘Wanderer’
GLYC Flagship, Honourable Mention; ‘Kinross’ owned by E. Gleeson,
Best Bull’s Boat; ‘Enterprise’ owned by W. Saunders,
Best Dressed Boat; ‘Bogong’, M. Staughton,
Best Dressed Crew; ‘Siena’,
Best Sea Dog; ‘Tucker’ onboard ‘Minimbah’ owned by G. Ottaway
Lucky Boat Draw won by ‘Acorn’, B. Jones.
Saturday concluded with a maritime theme dance at the GLYC Clubrooms commencing with a local band Potatoes and Dragons followed by the main band, Soultanas whose talented acoustics had most up and dancing. Many patrons supported the maritime dress theme with several pirates, captains, sailors, maidens, two Vikings, a shark and many other great costumes in the clubrooms. Best nautical costume was won by the ‘man with the parrot on his shoulder’, G & A. Bonavia from Newlands Arm.
For those who managed to surface early on Sunday morning, there was a superb breakfast barbecue prepared by the Paynesville Primary School before the classic boat viewing and the Marine Expo continued throughout the day. A traditional sailing regatta was run where many classic sailing boats jostled in McMillan Strait before a flare fired from the ferry at 11am signalled the start of the regatta. The regatta, organised by James Frecheville, was again held in perfect sailing weather and the sight of traditional gaff and lug rigged fishing boats recreated sailing scenes from early bygone regattas. From the smallest single sails to the headsails of the larger schooners, they headed south past the large crowd on the foreshores of McMillan Strait and into Lake Victoria before turning at a marker buoy and heading under full sail back to Paynesville. First Classic sailing boat over the finish line was ‘Siena’, an International Dragon Class Keelboat. She was built in 1967 and was skippered by owner, Jaime Wilson and crew.
The traditional Classic Fishing Boat event organised by Robert Young was under way at 1pm from the shores of the GLYC with twelve boats lined up in the shallows in a traditional ‘one person in the water start’, before a flare on board the Gippsland Water Police boat signalled the start of the event. In this event, speed is not a factor as once the boat has steamed ahead, the throttle remains set for the entire event. All boats were directed into Lake Victoria and after several minutes turned to port before heading back to the shore at the yacht club. The race home also had additional entertainment with an impromptu water fight between some entrants. First home was a traditional Gippsland Lakes Fishing Boat, ‘Alfreda’ owned by Trevor Robinson and D Goodman. Trevor’s Grandfather Ted Robinson built the boat in 1922 and ‘Alfreda’ won the same event in the mid 1950’s.
Saturday concluded with a maritime theme dance at the GLYC Clubrooms commencing with a local band Potatoes and Dragons followed by the main band, Soultanas whose talented acoustics had most up and dancing. Many patrons supported the maritime dress theme with several pirates, captains, sailors, maidens, two Vikings, a shark and many other great costumes in the clubrooms. Best nautical costume was won by the ‘man with the parrot on his shoulder’, G & A. Bonavia from Newlands Arm.
For those who managed to surface early on Sunday morning, there was a superb breakfast barbecue prepared by the Paynesville Primary School before the classic boat viewing and the Marine Expo continued throughout the day. A traditional sailing regatta was run where many classic sailing boats jostled in McMillan Strait before a flare fired from the ferry at 11am signalled the start of the regatta. The regatta, organised by James Frecheville, was again held in perfect sailing weather and the sight of traditional gaff and lug rigged fishing boats recreated sailing scenes from early bygone regattas. From the smallest single sails to the headsails of the larger schooners, they headed south past the large crowd on the foreshores of McMillan Strait and into Lake Victoria before turning at a marker buoy and heading under full sail back to Paynesville. First Classic sailing boat over the finish line was ‘Siena’, an International Dragon Class Keelboat. She was built in 1967 and was skippered by owner, Jaime Wilson and crew.
The traditional Classic Fishing Boat event organised by Robert Young was under way at 1pm from the shores of the GLYC with twelve boats lined up in the shallows in a traditional ‘one person in the water start’, before a flare on board the Gippsland Water Police boat signalled the start of the event. In this event, speed is not a factor as once the boat has steamed ahead, the throttle remains set for the entire event. All boats were directed into Lake Victoria and after several minutes turned to port before heading back to the shore at the yacht club. The race home also had additional entertainment with an impromptu water fight between some entrants. First home was a traditional Gippsland Lakes Fishing Boat, ‘Alfreda’ owned by Trevor Robinson and D Goodman. Trevor’s Grandfather Ted Robinson built the boat in 1922 and ‘Alfreda’ won the same event in the mid 1950’s.
The old Floating Tin Shed built by Bernie Ryan was on the water for both days providing music onboard to entertain those onshore and was used for special commentary of the classic sailing boat regatta.
The Paynesville Classic Boat Rally Committee was extremely pleased with the response from local boat owners and the support shown by the community, sponsors, local businesses, Expo exhibitors, Gippsland Ports, emergency services and volunteers for making the event such a success. A very special mention to the Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club for their support and making available the Club Rooms and jetties for the rally events. Plans are already underway for the organising and staging of the Paynesville Classic Boat Rally in 2018.
For more information about the Classic Boat Rally visit the classic boat rally website or find them on Facebook.
Andrew Bould
Paynesville Classic Boat Rally Committee
