The Darwin Beer Can Regatta is a festival event
which has been held annually since 1974 in
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin ( ; Larrakia: ) is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. With an estimated population of 147,255 as of 2019, the city contains the majority of the residents of the sparsely populated Northern Territory.
It is the smalle ...
, Australia at
Mindil Beach
Mindil Beach is a beach in the Northern Territory of Australia, located in the suburb of The Gardens, Northern Territory, The Gardens, near Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin's central business district. Mindil Beach holds the Mindil Beach Suns ...
. The inaugural event had 63 entries
and was attended by about 22,000 people
which was about half of Darwin's population at the time.
Format
Participants create boats using empty
beer can
A drink can (or beverage can) is a metal container designed to hold a fixed portion of liquid such as carbonated soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, fruit juices, teas, herbal teas, energy drinks, etc. Drink cans are made of aluminum (75% of wo ...
s, soft drink (soda) cans, soft drink bottle and milk cartons. Up to 30,000 cans have been used for a single boat.
The vessels are not tested for
seaworthiness
Seakeeping ability or seaworthiness is a measure of how well-suited a watercraft is to conditions when underway. A ship or boat which has good seakeeping ability is said to be very seaworthy and is able to operate effectively even in high sea stat ...
, prior to water events, and those that fall apart are part of the day's entertainment. A great many sundry events go along with the
regatta
Boat racing is a sport in which boats, or other types of watercraft, race on water. Boat racing powered by oars is recorded as having occurred in ancient Egypt, and it is likely that people have engaged in races involving boats and other wate ...
, including concerts, sandcastles, a
thong
The thong is a garment generally used as either underwear or in some countries, as a swimsuit. It may also be worn for traditional ceremonies or competitions.
Viewed from the front, the thong typically resembles a bikini bottom, but at the b ...
-throwing contest and the "Henley-on-Mindil" competition (named after the
Henley-on-Todd Regatta
The Henley-on-Todd Regatta (also called the Todd River Race) is a "boat" race held annually in the typically dry sandy bed of the Todd River in Alice Springs, Australia.
It began – and continues – cautiously as a joke at the expense of the ...
), where participants run their "
boats
A boat is a watercraft of a large range of types and sizes, but generally smaller than a ship, which is distinguished by its larger size, shape, cargo or passenger capacity, or its ability to carry boats.
Small boats are typically found on inl ...
" around like ''
Flintstones
''The Flintstones'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the activities of the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighbor ...
'' cars.
Other events held on the day have included a thong-throwing contest and a competition for the best novelty hat.
History
The Regatta was begun in 1974 by Darwin businessmen, Lutz Frankenfeld and Paul Rice-Chapman,
as a way to clean up beer cans littering Darwin's streets.
The Darwin Regional Tourism Promotion Association was the organiser of the event until 1978 when it came under the aegis of the combined Lions Clubs of Darwin.
In the 1980s the Regatta had about 18 classes, which included motorised beer can boats.
The 2014 Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta took place on 6 July 2014, watched by 15,000 people and attended by visitors from all over Australia. The winner of the first beer can regatta was Kevin Jaques driving the Darwin Powerboat Club's entry "Pistol Knight". Des Hoare the cricketer and then Sales Manager for Swan Brewery Darwin, presented Jaques with the winning cheques totalling $1,000, doubled because the beer can boat used only Swan beer cans. As Jaques used his 80 hp Mercury Motor he was also presented with a Mercury First sticker. The perpetual trophy is held within the NT Museum storage area and the keepsake trophy is on the mantlepiece at Jaques' home. Jaques holds copies of the news clippings and the photographs of the presentations.
In 2020 the Beer Can Regatta was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.
In its place, on 8 August a much smaller, 4-hour, Mini-Regatta was held in which the vessels were made of milk cartons. Located at
Darwin Waterfront Precinct
The Darwin Waterfront Precinct is a tourist area in the Northern Territory of Australia in Darwin City. Restaurants, bars, a wave pool and a man-made beach are available for local community and tourists. It is located five minutes’ walk from ...
, instead of the usual
Mindil Beach
Mindil Beach is a beach in the Northern Territory of Australia, located in the suburb of The Gardens, Northern Territory, The Gardens, near Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin's central business district. Mindil Beach holds the Mindil Beach Suns ...
venue where as many as 15,000 watched the races, only a few hundred spectators attended.
In 2021 the Regatta was back at Mindil Beach on Sunday 5 September from 10am to 5pm., and in 2022 is scheduled for 26 June.
See also
*
Beer Can House
The Beer Can House is a folk art house in Rice Military, Houston, Texas,Feser, Katherine.Rice Military an eclectic 'urban center'" ''Houston Chronicle''. Sunday January 21, 2003. Business 6. Retrieved on October 21, 2012. covered with beer cans ...
References
External links
*
{{coord, 12, 26, 42.18, S, 130, 49, 51.72, E, region:AU-NT, display=title
Recurring events established in 1974
Festivals in the Northern Territory
Tourist attractions in Darwin, Northern Territory
Beer festivals in Australia
1974 establishments in Australia
Annual sporting events in Australia
Boat shows in Australia
Boat festivals
Sport in Darwin, Northern Territory