Davistown Putt Putt Regatta and Wooden Boat Festival
Watermen, grab your boater, stoke the fire, and make for Brisbane WaterThe annual Davistown Putt Putt Regatta and Wooden Boat Festival kicks off on Sunday, October 18, on the shores of the namesake village in Brisbane Water. A feast of fetching putt putts from local and nearby waterways, with onshore food and entertainment, makes for a truly memorable Sunday’s boating.
The event kicks off with boat registrations between 7.00-9.15am at Putt Putt Regatta Headquarters, 1 McCauley Street, Davistown (former Old General Store on Central Wharf).
Then the judging begins from 8.30am and runs till 10am. The categories include Best Open Putt Putt (glass over), Best Half Cabin Putt Putt, Most Original Putt Putt, Best Gentleman’s Launch, Best Kettle Class (Steam), Best Diesel, Best Dressed Crew, Best Novelty Boat & Crew, Best Boat (five years & under), Putt Putt Challenge (Petrol) and Putt Putt Challenge (Diesel).
THE PUTT PUTT CHALLENGE
The famous Putt Putt Challenge starting 10.15am is for skippers who believe their petrol-powered putt putt is the fastest. Competitors are limited to a maximum boat length of 18’6” with single or twin putt putt engines. Minimum crew is two. The Diesel Challenge is held at 10.30 with the same rules but diesel donks.
The famous Putt Putt Regatta is the big event of the day. A flotilla of putt putts led by the Roads and Maritime will gad about the Brisbane Water to the delight of spectators and landlubbers. To reduce wash from spectator craft, support vessels will follow the flotilla as it departs at 11.15am and returns to the Davistown waterfront at approximately 12.30pm.
Live commentary from the Central Coast Moorings barge will provide spectators with vessel provenance, program information, and a call of the Putt Putt and Diesel Challenges, and Putt Putt Regatta procession. Then the prizes are handed out at 1pm. Dragon boat racing is at 3:00pm.
RACE HISTORY
The genesis of the Davistown Putt Putt Regatta and Wooden Boat Festival was a social and competitive gathering of local putt putts by the early builders, residents and boating enthusiasts of the district.
Regattas were often held at Davistown in the early 1900s. Challenges between boat owners/builders were designed to determine who had the fastest putt-putt, or who could row the quickest.
In addition, on-shore celebrations were held with music and fun for the whole family.
WHAT IS A PUTT-PUTT?
Many putt-putt boats are still in use on Brisbane Water today. In the Davistown area alone, more than 30 of the classics can be seen swinging on their moorings.
Putt-putt boats usually range in length from 14-18 feet and are powered by either single or twin-cylinder 2 to 10hp Blaxland/Chapman, Simplex or Clay inboard petrol driven engines all of which make the vary familiar putt-putt exhaust sound.
Reintroduced as an annual event via a quorum of enthusiasts in 1996/1997, the Regatta is now one of the principal events on the Gosford City calendar.
The Davistown Putt Putt Regatta & Wooden Boat Festival attracts a huge amount of quality putt putts from as far as Queensland and the ACT. The 10th Anniversary event in 2007 attracted a field of over 100 Putt Putts and almost that many join in the festivities today.
Entry is free. More at www.davistownputtputt.com.
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