What is the Moreton Bay Classic?

The Moreton Bay Classic is an annual classic-boat regatta on Moreton Bay, in which a flotilla of classic and timber cruisers races across the bay to a rendezvous on Peel Island. It has quickly earned the nickname 'the race that stops the bay' for the size of the gathering it draws, both on the water and ashore.

What is the Moreton Bay Classic course?

The race covers about 10.9 nautical miles from Green Island, near Manly Harbour, across Moreton Bay to South West Rocks at Peel Island. Rather than a windward-leeward course, it is a passage across the bay that culminates in a gathering of the fleet on the Peel Island shore.

How did the Moreton Bay Classic start?

It began in 2022 from some good-hearted banter between the crews of two classic boats, Mohokoi and South Pacific 2, over which was the faster classic. That rivalry grew into an organised regatta for classic cruisers, complete with its own trophy, the Ron Jenyns Cup.

What kinds of boats race in the Moreton Bay Classic?

As the name suggests, it is a regatta for classic boats — older and timber cruisers rather than modern raceboats. The emphasis is as much on the community gathering and the celebration of classic yachts as on outright competition, which is part of its appeal.

Where does the Moreton Bay Classic finish?

The fleet streams across the bay to Peel Island, gathering at South West Rocks for a rendezvous on the shore and the presentation of the Ron Jenyns Cup. The island gathering, as much as the race itself, is what has made the event so popular so quickly.

Queensland

Moreton Bay Classic: The Race That Stops the Bay

The Moreton Bay Classic is a classic-boat regatta that streams a flotilla of timber and classic cruisers across Moreton Bay to a rendezvous on Peel Island — a young event that has quickly become 'the race that stops the bay'.

2 min read

The Moreton Bay Classic is a celebration of classic yachts that has become, in just a few years, one of the bay's most talked-about events — a flotilla of timber and classic cruisers streaming across Moreton Bay to a rendezvous on Peel Island. Nicknamed "the race that stops the bay", it is a reminder that not every great local fixture has to be a grand-prix contest.

What it is

The Moreton Bay Classic is an annual classic-boat regatta. The fleet — older and timber cruisers rather than modern raceboats — races across the bay and gathers on the shore at Peel Island, where the Ron Jenyns Cup is presented. The emphasis is on community and the celebration of classic yachts as much as on outright competition, and it sits within the wider home-waters scene covered in our guide to sailing in Brisbane and Moreton Bay.

The course

The race covers about 10.9 nautical miles from Green Island, near Manly Harbour, across Moreton Bay to South West Rocks at Peel Island. It is a passage across the bay rather than a series of laps, culminating in the gathering of the flotilla on the island shore — the social heart of the day.

History

The event began in 2022, sparked by some good-natured banter between the crews of two classic boats, Mohokoi and South Pacific 2, over which was the faster classic. That friendly rivalry grew into an organised regatta, and the Peel Island rendezvous quickly turned it into a fixture that draws a large fleet and crowd — remarkable for so young an event.

How to follow

As a community-run classic regatta, details are shared through the event's own channels and the Moreton Bay sailing community. If you are drawn to the heritage side of the sport, the Moreton Bay Classic is a wonderful counterpoint to the bay's competitive fixtures like the St Helena Cup and Brisbane Race Week (see the related races below). For the language of sailing, see the sailing terms glossary.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Moreton Bay Classic?: The Moreton Bay Classic is an annual classic-boat regatta on Moreton Bay, in which a flotilla of classic and timber cruisers races across the bay to a rendezvous on Peel Island. It has quickly earned the nickname 'the race that stops the bay' for the size of the gathering it draws, both on the water and ashore.
What is the Moreton Bay Classic course?: The race covers about 10.9 nautical miles from Green Island, near Manly Harbour, across Moreton Bay to South West Rocks at Peel Island. Rather than a windward-leeward course, it is a passage across the bay that culminates in a gathering of the fleet on the Peel Island shore.
How did the Moreton Bay Classic start?: It began in 2022 from some good-hearted banter between the crews of two classic boats, Mohokoi and South Pacific 2, over which was the faster classic. That rivalry grew into an organised regatta for classic cruisers, complete with its own trophy, the Ron Jenyns Cup.
What kinds of boats race in the Moreton Bay Classic?: As the name suggests, it is a regatta for classic boats — older and timber cruisers rather than modern raceboats. The emphasis is as much on the community gathering and the celebration of classic yachts as on outright competition, which is part of its appeal.
Where does the Moreton Bay Classic finish?: The fleet streams across the bay to Peel Island, gathering at South West Rocks for a rendezvous on the shore and the presentation of the Ron Jenyns Cup. The island gathering, as much as the race itself, is what has made the event so popular so quickly.

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