Lake Macquarie Classic Boatfest

Welcome to Boatfest

Lake Macquarie Classic Boatfest invites the participation and exhibition of traditional and classic boats – steam, sail, motor and oared craft of all sizes from all over Australia. Boats must be of a design prior to 1975 but may have been built at anytime from any material. Wooden boats naturally qualify as pre 1975 design.

LATE ENTRIES ARE WELCOME. WE ARE FINALISING BOATS NOW. Registrations received by Friday 15th March 2013 (2 weeks before) can be assured of having your boat name on your Participants Plaque, and inclusion in Saturday Dinner which was a great success last year at RMYC Toronto.

Please click on our REGISTRATION PAGE for boat entry information.






BOATING FORUMS

Everyone is welcome to attend our free Boating forums, which is a presentation and discussion on the topic. This is the first year we have organised forums, and they will be well worthwhile to have a listen.

LOCATION: Sailing Club on foreshore

  • 9.30am - Lake Macquarie District Historical Society – A History of the Lake
  • 10.30am - Sailabilty
  • 11.30am - BOA - Dredging of Swansea Channel
  • LOCATION: Diggers Club in main street

  • 12.30pm - BOA - Environmental Waterway Zone W1 vs Recreational Waterway Zone W2.
  • 1.30pm - Phil Heaney “Around the World in a Powerboat”
  • 2.30pm - Boating Safety with Roads and Maritime Services (RMS)
  • LOCATION: Solar Sailor on Southern Jetty

  • 4pm - Renewable Energy
  • WELCOME TO ALL

    Everyone is welcome to this free Easter Weekend waterfront event Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st March, 2013 at Regatta Park, Toronto, on Lake Macquarie. We expect to have some 80 boats on display on the water and foreshore for the event.

    Thank you to our many sponsors, especially our foundation sponsor Marmong Point Marina, as well as platinum sponsors Lake Coal, Lake Macquarie City Council and Jim Knowles Group. Our sponsors pay for the expenses for this free event. Information download for prospective sponsors

    The festival utilises the Toronto foreshore, the parklands, launching  ramps and the waterfront enclosure and jetties for a wide range of marine related activities. 

    Over the two days of the event, you will be treated to model boat demonstrations and races, displays relating to classic boat activities, kids games, entertainment and of course the Quick'n'Dirty boat building competition held on the Sunday of the festival.  The event culminates in a Grand Parade and Blessing of the Fleet at 3.00 p.m. on the Sunday afternoon.  The festival provides a wonderful experience for people of all ages.

    The superb eateries of Toronto located close to the foreshore will cater for all tastes whilst enjoying the spectacle of the boats and activities through out the weekend. Food stalls will also be located along foreshore.

    We welcome your tax deductible donation of $10 for individual membership of our charitable organisation. Please download your Membership form

    HELP - We urgently need new members to run the following years event. Consider assisting this year and learning the ropes from our aging boatie members?

    NEWS RELEASES

    BOATSHED - News Release 6th March 2013 - Men's Shed, Men's Boatshed, Family Boatshed - call our proposed Boatshed at Rathmines what you will, as it is early days yet, but Lake Macquarie Council will be asked to agree to our proposal at their meeting on the 25th of this month, thanks to the good work of the council management of these council assets, and our many supporters. INTERESTED VOLUNTEERS, MEMBERS, PLEASE CHECK THIS PAGE IN APRIL as we will all know more. Also, at Classic Boatfest over Easter, we will be happy to talk to you. We anticipate modelling our Boatshed on the Men's Shed operation, with particular guidelines from the Living Boat Trust in Tasmania. Living Boat Trust website

    News Release November 2012 - Classic Boatfest has won the Heritage Award from NSW Tidy Towns 2012. Heritage award 2012 NSW Tidy Towns Tidy Towns website

    NBN 3 TV station - news presentation of our 2012 Easter event BOATS OF A BYGONE ERA HIT LAKE MAC

    Web News Articles about our 2012 Event

  • NBN 3 TV station - news presentation of our 2012 Easter event BOATS OF A BYGONE ERA HIT LAKE MAC
  • Trade A Boat - excellent article about a selection of boats from our 2011 Easter event website
  • The STAR 29th February 2012 - Lake Macquarie calls for Quick'n'Dirty boat builders website
  • The STAR 7th March 2012 - Tokelau is a Townes 1948 Butcher Boat at 16foot 6inches website
  • The STAR 28th March 2012 - MV Fisher is a put-put launched in 1931 by Bill Fisher on the Parramatta River website
  • You Tube - Easter 2009 Event - previously named Heritage Afloat website

  • Event Partners

    Sydney Heritage Fleet Wooden Boat Association Lake Macquarie & District Historical Society

    Lake Macquarie and District Historical Society website

    Foundation Sponsor:

    Marmong Point Marina

    Platinum Sponsors:

    Lake Coal
    Lake Macquarie City Council