Ahoy me hearties!

The Melbourne Regatta and Blessing of the Fleet returns to Docklands to celebrate Melbourne Day!

Thanks to the City of Melbourne, Lend Lease, Melbourne Day Committee, Docklands Chamber of Commerce, MAB, GPT Group and the Melbourne Passenger Boating Association who once again have made this event possible.

Sunday, August 30 is Melbourne Day for those who are unaware. That’s right, Melbourne’s 180th birthday. We are one of the few cities in the world which can pin-point the time, date and the people who founded their city. The Melbourne Regatta was first held on August 30, 1838, making it the first regatta ever held in Australia.

Australia is “girt by sea” and settlers have arrived by sea for centuries. In recent times - 180 years recent - settlers from Tasmania arrived by sea on board the Enterprize to open up new pastures and effectively squatted on Crown Land in 1835.  Three years later a regatta was held to commemorate the event. And again, 180 years later we will celebrate in style!

These days we not only want to remember Melbourne’s rich maritime heritage and celebrate our seafarers but we also want to recognise the traditional owners of the land.  So there will be a formal Welcome to Country by the Wurundjeri people to acknowledge their significance.  

Scotch College Pipes and Drums will march in from Harbour Esplanade, supporting the arrival of VIPs including City of Melbourne councillors and representatives of the Wurundjeri people. This will be followed by the annual colourful spectacle of the Melbourne Regatta and Blessing of the Fleet presided over by the incomparable Father Bob Maguire and concluded by a colourful sail-by of a flotilla of vessels dressed especially for the occasion. Sing along with the mass choirs, including our very own Docklands choir.

At the conclusion of the Regatta, Melbourne Day celebrations will kick on with a variety of events including a free concert featuring Daryl Braithewaite and Russell Morris. The day will be supported by Gold FM outside broadcast and local bars and restaurants open for the afternoon. All this is well supported by a variety of roving entertainment, arts, crafts and food stalls along Harbour Esplanade and NAB forecourt.

The Melbourne Regatta free ferry service will once again operate between Melbourne City Marina over at NewQuay, stopping off at Shed 2 for a tour of the Alma Doepel and arriving at Water Plaza, Victoria Harbour. Make sure you use the opportunity to discover all of Docklands and do it by water!

For those who wish to be a part of the Melbourne Regatta, the Mission to Seafarers is operating a cruise from its premises leaving around 11am and joining in the blessing sail-by before going on a cruise of Melbourne’s port to see mighty ships up close.

There will be other cruise options available on the day including the Enterprize and the recently-arrived Alexander Stewart. Details of the mission cruise and other cruises are on the Melbourne Regatta website.

All charter boat operators who wish to offer a cruise package should contact Melbourne Regatta through the website.

Also all yachties wishing to be a part of the Poker Prologue event leading into the regatta, well first, you are most welcome. Sign up for the Poker Prologue, a high seas, high stakes competition for yachties to take part on Saturday, August 29 as a lead-in to the main Melbourne Regatta event. Contact City of Melbourne Marina and book your overnight berth. More details on the website http://www.melbourneregatta.com.au

Don’t forget the Alma Doepel Voyage of a Lifetime Gala Lunch on Friday, August 28 at Etihad Stadium. Seats and tables can be booked at http://www.almadoepel.com.au/gala-lunch. Join Peter Hitchener from Channel 9 and other distinguished guests from Melbourne’s business community to rally behind this unique and worthy cause. Play your part in raising money to continue providing youth sailing programs and restore the Alma Doepel. Etihad Stadium has generously provided the Medallion Club as a great setting for this exciting event.

August is a great month to be in Docklands. Make sure you enjoy all that is on offer in this great city of ours. You can’t say you have not been told! Talk to you next month.