Entries open for the 21st Banjo's Shoreline Crown Series Bellerive Regatta 2025
by Jane Austin 22 Jan 12:05 GMT
21-23 February 2025
Expect close racing across the fleets in the Banjo's Shoreline Crown Series Bellerive Regatta © Jane Austin
The River Derwent will be brimming with colour and sailing action when Tasmania's sailing community gathers at the Bellerive Yacht Club (BYC) for the Banjo's Shoreline Crown Series Bellerive Regatta.
The Banjo's Crown Series, as it is affectionately known, is Tasmania's largest annual sailing regatta drawing entries and interest from across the state for the three-day event which starts on Friday February 21, 2025.
The event is open to a wide range of sailing classes including International Cadets, Optimists, ILCAs, WASZPs, Sailboards, Sabots, and racing and performance cruising keelboats.
This year, sailors will gather to celebrate the 21st anniversary of this spectacular regatta which will incorporate two new sailing events that have been added to the 2025 regatta program.
In a first for the BYC, the 2025 regatta will include the highly competitive 2025 SB20 Australian Championship, with the fleet including world champion sailors fresh from the 2025 SB20 World Championship which is currently under way in Singapore.
This year also marks the first of a four-year arrangement between Australian Sailing and the BYC to host the inaugural Tasmanian Yachting Championship within the regatta.
The Tasmanian Yacht Championship will be determined by the IRC and ORC divisional series results of racing groups one and two and will be a hotly contested event.
Intrigue, skippered by Tasmanian sailing stalwart David Calvert and winner of Division 1 on ORC and IRC in last year's Crown Series will be highly fancied in the inaugural event, but competition will be tough with a few scores left to settle for some crews following the Australian Yachting Championship which was held earlier this year in Hobart.
New BYC Commodore Hughie Lewis expects another fun-filled weekend of entertainment and an action-packed sailing program including the two new sailing events.
"We are thrilled to have these important events included in the sailing program, which is testament to the high regard in which the BYC is held within sailing administration in Tasmania.
"I'm excited to continue the proud tradition of this regatta which has become a highlight for sailors near and far.
"The event combines competitive racing on the beautiful River Derwent with the warm hospitality and lively atmosphere our Club is known for," said Lewis.
SB20 Australia President Scott Glanville, who is currently competing in Singapore, is looking forward to the event and expects interest in SB20 sailing to grow as a result.
"Australian SB20 sailors are world class - having the 2025 Australian Championship as part of this year's Crown Series adds another layer of interest and excitement for the Bellerive community and spectators onshore and on the water.
"We know the BYC is building their SB20 fleet, so this is a great opportunity to showcase this one-design class," said Glanville.
This popular regatta is the final major event on the Tasmanian summer sailing program and combines top class sailing with an entertaining onshore program for the local Clarence community featuring local musicians, great food and entertainment.
"Whether you're racing an ocean yacht, an SB20 or any other keelboat or off the beach class, the regatta offers an exciting challenge for all participants," said Lewis.
"We are especially grateful to Banjo's Shoreline whose decade-long partnership as our major sponsor has been vital to the success of this regatta, and all of our ongoing sponsors who help us take the regatta to new heights every year," said Lewis.
More information on the regatta, sailing documents and online entry can be found here.