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The Darwin Beer Can Regatta is a festival event which has been held annually since 1974 in
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. 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 cans, 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, prior to water events, and those that fall apart are part of the day's entertainment. A great many sundry events go along with theregatta
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-throwing contest and the "Henley-on-Mindil" competition (named after the Henley-on-Todd Regatta), where participants run their " boats" around like '' Flintstones'' 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 atDarwin 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 fr ...
, instead of the usual Mindil Beach 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 HouseReferences
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