EBC’s Sail Pasts are usually held on Melbourne Cup weekend to kick start the boating season on the Lake. However in recent years we had to break with tradition due to the COVID pandemic and instead in 2020 we held a New Year’s Eve “Fire & Ice” Sail Past and in 2021 we had family friendly “Cartoon” Sail Past on 30th December, both of which were huge successes.
Sail Pasts are a grand annual event for the Club with a theme chosen by the Commodore and lots of fun festivities throughout the day beginning with a Commodore’s Luncheon (or Flag Officer’s Breakfast) and the Blessing of the Fleet. After lunch all the dressed-up houseboats and cruisers meet at the Dam wall and lead by the Vice Commodore they proceed into Anderson Harbour giving 3 cheers on their way past to the Commodore on the Welcome Dock and the Rear Commodore rounds out the procession.
There are awards handed out after the formal procession of Sail Past; these include categories of Best Overall, Best Family Boat, Best New Owners, Best Random Sail Past Boat, Can’t Believe You Did That, Best Cruiser and of course the Commodores Award.
Over the year’s Sail Past themes have included Australian Icons, Fire & Ice, Halloween, Disney, Travel and Cartoons.
Our members enthusiastically, and very creatively, get involved in Sail Past by dressing up their boats (and themselves!) to match the theme chosen by the Commodore. After the formal on water procession the Club usually hosts a huge BBQ, live music and celebrations continue well into the night!