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When 14 people sat down to plan a trailer yacht race from Tin Can Bay to Hervey Bay on April 18, 1980, they began a sailing saga that became the biggest event of its type in Queensland- and second only in Australia.
The Meeting venue was Andy Postan's house - also in the planning team were Ivan Barnes, Noel Glanfied, Jim Lyall, Greg Clifford, Doug Young, Bevan Brown, Jim Alfleck, Bob Maslen, Trevor Cecil, Jim, Chris and Cynthia Wicklund and Allan Bowan. The belonged to the Hervey Bay Sailing Club.
A two day race format with a stopover at Garry's Anchorage, Fraser Island, was decided on as the 87km course was considered rather long for a one day race.
Race Secretary at the time, Ivan Barnes, said the Committee expected 30 entries for the first event in May 1981. They were overwhelmed when 114 boats turned up for the historic start! That meant an influx of about 500 people to the small town of Tin Can Bay.
Strong south - easterlies sent the fleet bowling along at a merry pace. Some gear failure, including broken or bent masts, meant a few withdrawals but the inaugural Bay to Bay, chiefly sponsored then by the radio station 4MB, was voted an absolute success.
Rockhampton sailor, Rob McWatters took out the line honours that year in his seawind 24 catamaran. Fastest race time was set by Hervey Bay sailor, Bob Maslen, in the catamaran 'Bob Cat', which has been a familiar sight in the annual event in years passed.
The race now sees an average of 180 starters each year.
The organisers have coped with conditions varying from heavy winds with resulting gear failure, to light winds with shortening of the course, to torrential rain flooding the Maryborough bridge and preventing competitors getting their cars and trailers to Hervey Bay until the last minute, and rain showers at Garry's - dampening all but the sailors spirits.
The Hervey Bay Sailing Club is situated on a beautiful 7 km white sandy beach, facing North, in the delightful City of Hervey Bay, three and a half hours North of Brisbane. It's protected by the magnificent Heritage listed Fraser Island, making for an excellent sailing venue, that has been utilized by the Club over the last 40 yrs.
Since it's infancy in 1968, Hervey Bay Sailing Club started as a tent on the beach,with a small number of enthusiastic sailors, sailing a Gwen, a Heron, Moth, P class and a sabot, for the first couple of years, till the members built their own purpose built two story club house, and the number and diversity of boats grew. It has become a popular venue for Club racing, social functions, and Regattas over the years, including Cobras, Herons, Lasers, Nacras, Hobies, Taipans, A-Class and sabots, just to mention a few. Many who have visited the Club comment on it's excellent position for viewing the racing, or just taking in the wonderful scenery.
These waters are also home to the famous "Bay to Bay Yacht Race", held every year since 1981, into it's 31st Year, in 2011, and proudly sponsored by the Hervey Bay Boat Club. This race has attracted as many as 300 trailerable yachts in the past, and promises to be a special event in the sailing calendar of all on the East Coast in 2011.
