Business
24 January, 2025
Historic yacht rally returns
THERE’S plenty of history surrounding the Port Douglas Yacht Club with its very first meeting 40 years ago, back in 1985.
It wasn’t for another nine years, however, that the members eventually opened a proper club house.
After much fund raising, the club was able to move from the Tin Shed and was officially opened by Sir James Hardy on December 4, 1993.
Peter Hinchcliffe was the commodore at the time and with his team of helpers held all the negotiations to get their club house started.
Back then there were no employed staff, so volunteers worked in the kitchen and behind the bar. Eventually, all that changed and they employed a manager and opened Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week.
As the patronage has grown over the years, the club has had a few add-ons, one of the very first upgrades being a new roof over the side towards Closehaven Marina.
Today, when sitting under the iron roof, people are still able to see the names of the yachts whose owners donated $30 a sheet to make the extension possible.
Since those early days, there have been many other improvements, making the Port Douglas Yacht Club a much-loved venue for both members and visitors to enjoy.
The club has just recently announced the return of the famous, or should I say, infamous Australia Day Port Douglas to Low Isles Launch Rally, which is happening this Sunday.
This event has been made available to motor launches, motor yachts and sailing yachts. Those keen to get involved have been encouraged to smarten up their vessel, rustle up a crew and join in this heritage event.
The rally can trace its origins back to 1962, well before the yacht club was thought of.
Back then a couple of launch owners had a race around Low Island and subsequently, each year after that, it grew and finally became an important part of the tapestry that was life in Port Douglas.
The day actually became so popular, crowds lined the banks of Dickson Inlet to cheer on the boats.
Unfortunately, however, the rally was abandoned in 2014 because of the cost of insurance.
Eleven years on, apart from re-establishing the event, this year will be the 50th running of the Launch Rally and, as in past years, locals are encouraged to come along and cheer on those taking part. All vessel skippers are asked to decorate their yachts and dress up their crews to add to the atmosphere. Multiple prizes will be available, including the overall winner, best dressed crew and best decorated yacht.
Apart from the club hosting the event, this year the Queensland Fire Department will – if they are not attending to an emergency – create a wall of water near the start line. The day is also supported by the Maritime Therapy Group and the Tin Shed.
It is an interesting event as it is not a race, but more of a time trial, where skippers are given the distance to Low Isles in kilometres and the expected weather conditions.
They then nominate the speed they will average for the event in knots, plus their preferred starting time. All starting times are recorded, to the second, and there is even a prize for whoever starts closest to their allocated time.
For those keen to take a look, the first vessels will set off about 10am this Sunday.
I’m off to check the wind conditions, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.
Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au
