The 175th Royal Hobart Regatta is over and we hope everyone had a great time.
The 175th Royal Hobart Regatta saw three days of fantastic continuous activity on the Derwent River and Queens Domain.
All of our main water events - sailing, rowing, power boats, Trans Derwent Swim and jet skis put on a great show for the 175th.
We brought back some of our traditional features such as the Greasy Pole and Tug of War which were a lot of fun and also gave regatta patrons a chance to join in.
The Guiness World Record canoe/kayak event exploded in numbers in the few days leading up to the Regatta with 426 craft lined up on Bellerive Beach.
The sailpast from the Australian Wooden Boat Festival fleet was stunning and the beautifully prepared classic wooden power boats brought back wonderful memories of regattas from the past.
The three-day stage in front of the grandstand provided continuous entertainment, along with the crate climb and other fun activities on the lawns.
And of course our regatta ground rides brought some new excitement as well as the old favourites.
The Royal Australian Navy, Airforce and Army gave great support to the Regatta with HMAS Sydney, helicopter display, Roulette aerial display and Army and Navy Bands entertaining us.
Stan Tilley gave us another great aerial acrobatic display and the woodchoppers worked hard chopping and sawing under the hot sun.
Our thanks to all of our volunteers, sponsors and participants who have helped to make the 175th Royal Hobart Regatta a success.
Results will be added progressively over the next few days as they are verified by the various event organisers, and passed on to us.
Guinness World Record attempt - canoes and kayaks
Our Tasmanian kayakers and canoeists were trying for a Guiness World Record for the most number of kayaks and canoes launched simultaneously. The successful launch of 426 kayaks and canoes took place on Bellerive Beach on Saturday 9th February 2013 at 10:15am.
The plans to paddle to a start line in front of the Regatta, race towards the Tasman Bridge and then return to finish in front of the Regatta, had to be abandoned due to strong North Westerly winds blowing down the Derwent. We hope everyone had fun - and a special thanks from the Royal Hobart Regatta committee to every participant who made it such a great success.
There were a few capsizes after the launch, but the jet skis who came to provide safety support, did a great job helping them back onto their craft.
Thanks also to the other support vessels large and small who helped out on the day, the adjudicators and the large team of volunteers who helped out on the beach to check craft, photographing and certifying each participant.
It will take some time to confirm the record with Guinness World Records so we'll cross fingers that the technical aspects of the craft involved and the launch itself see us across the line. Certainly our numbers of 426 canoes and kayaks is well in excess of the previous record of 303 so which ever way you look at it, the participants took part in one of the biggest ever canoe/kayak events.
Rowing feature program
Our thanks to the Rowing Tasmania team who organised a special program of wooden boat racing for Saturday - which couldn't be rowed due to the strong north westerly winds.
Conditions for Monday's rowing were perfect and a full program of coxed quad, single scull, Rec/Vet and octuple, quad scull, double scullracing culminated in the spectacular handicap eights.
Australian Wooden Boat Festival Sailpast of wooden boats and tall ships
This sailpast was a showcase of wooden boats and a great spectacle in front of the Regatta Grounds. Paul Cullen and his team for the Australian Wooden Boat Festival, as well as all of the particpants, put on a great show for Regatta patrons that will live long in our memories of the 175th.
Classic wooden speedboat demonstration run
from Royal Hobart Regatta to Australian Wooden Boat Festival took place at 11am on Monday, following a display alongsdie the pontoon at the Regatta foreshore.
These beautifully restored wooden powerboats certainly brought back memories from the past - and made a great sight rounding a mark in front of the Regatta and proceeding around to a finish line at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival
Sailing spectacular
The yachting program started with the the Bruny Island Race in front of the Regatta Ground at 9:30am on Saturday, disappearing quickly down the Derwent with a stong North Westerly blowing.
Peoples Day on Monday will brought a large keelboat fleet out again on a course that keep the combined clubs fleet within sight of the Regatta Ground, bringing the biggest display of sials at the Royal Hobart Regatta for many years - all competing for the prestigious Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy.
And right in the middle of the river in front of the Regatta Ground the smaller yachts put on a great showcase of sails - to give Regatta patrons a great spectacle of sail.
At 6pm in the evening on Monday, the Geilston bay Boat Club ran a twilight keelboat race starting directly in front of the Regatta Ground. This was spectacular for Regatta Patrons - keelboat racing closeup.
Thanks to the many participants and clubs who brought this all together and put on such a great display.
Power Boats action
The power boats program was moved to Sunday morning to allow an earlier.
Juniors started the program, followed by scratch and handicap races for inboard, pro stock, 1000cc and culminating with the 6 fastest boats handicap competing for the Ikin Memorial Trophy.
They put on a great display of close racing, and if you like speed and spectacular action of the noise of high powered motors, you would have enjoyed the racing.
Jet Skis - a special mention
The Tasmanian Jet Ski Sporting Club brought a team of jet skis to the kayak Guinness World Record on Saturday for rescue duties and then put on a great display of time trials and also public rides to the Regatta on Sunday.
These craft and drivers gave great support for the kayakers and also a very professional display following the power boats on Sunday, and we greatly appreciate their efforts.
Click here for the full program of events