The Interclub Bay Cruise is the largest and longest running single event held on Moreton Bay. Kids who have come on the Cruise keep coming back as adults and bring their kids.
In 1976, the late John Hattrick, while Commodore of the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS), initiated this annual Cruise to promote safe family boating and goodwill among the boating fraternity. A dedicated committee of volunteers representing ten yacht and boating clubs in South East Queensland work tirelessly throughout the year planning the Cruise, which is open to all sizes and types of vessels.
Commodore for 2018, Michelle Anderson, followed in her Dad’s footsteps, and proudly took on the role her father held 34 years earlier in 1984 on board the family boat “Wanderers Paradise”, a 36ft Aquarius. Michelle has fond memories of growing up on the Cruise as a kid, and the whole family attended once again in 2018. “It’s an amazing week. You get to experience the beauty of Moreton Bay, meet new and old friends, and have a lot of fun with like-minded boaties. It’s a great time for the family to come together and to have a ball,” she said.
The theme for the 2018 Cruise was “Get Down and Boogie 70s Cruise”. Of the 64 vessels (comprised of a total of 135 adults and 80 children) participating in 2018, 18 boats were newbies or “virgin cruisers”. There was a varied range of vessels — sailboats, classic timber cruisers and converted trawlers, runabouts, and motor cruisers.
Each day, the Cruise visited a new destination, daily activities occurred on shore, and a nominated club hosted the evening’s event on shore.
Some of the highlights of the Cruise were an Italian buffet meal, kids’ games, and a 70s quiz at RQYS Manly; tug of war competition, BBQ Dinner and Elvis impersonator evening on Karragarra Island; fabulous brunch and roast dinner and sing-a-long around the fire at RQYS Canaipa Point; great lunch at Tipplers Licensed Café; horse racing cup, a kid’s movie and pot luck dinner at Southport Yacht Club’s (SYC) Dux Anchorage; kid’s sailing lessons, sand castle competition, fancy dress 70s Disco night and sit-down dinner at SYC at Main Beach; Sail Past of the decorated fleet and saluting of the Commodore at Runaway Bay; kid’s water activities, drinks at Sunset Beach, a buffet meal and “treasure chest” draw of prizes at Couran Cove; and, a free sausage sizzle and a cruise talent quest at the B.O.A.T. Club.
The kids have a ball with a raft of planned kids’ activities. They also race by dinghy each day to give out the daily newspaper, the ‘Cruz Nooz’, for the payment of a bag of lollies. Kasey Goetze attended her first Cruise in 2018 with her husband and children on their 42ft Riviera Rivive, and loved it. “What an absolute blast! The atmosphere at all locations were family-orientated and fun (and the 70s night was electric). There was something for everyone! Even my toddler had a ball with all the kids. We honestly feel like part of the Cruise family now and are busting for the next one to come around — bring on the 2019 Interclub Bay Cruise!”
The affiliated boat clubs for 2018 were Breakfast Creek Boat Club (BCBC), Brisbane Outboard Aquatic Touring Club (B.O.A.T.), Karragarra Yacht Club (KYC), Little Ship Club (LSC), Moreton Bay Boat Club (MBBC), Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club (MBTBC), Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS), Southern Moreton Bay Boat Club (SMBBC), Southport Yacht Club (SYC) and Wynnum Manly Yacht Club (WMYC).
This inexpensive holiday costs under $160 per vessel for insurance, registration and marina fees. Meals and t-shirts are optional. Everyone is welcome. You do not have to be a member of an affiliated boat club to come on the Cruise.
Whether you are a seasoned boatie or a newbie, you will have a great time on the Cruise. The Cruise visits wonderful locations on Moreton Bay (and other boat clubs’ facilities). You will have the opportunity to make new friends and catch up with old friends, and learn more about boating, laugh and have a lot of fun. Come along and enjoy the camaraderie of the Cruise, and you will be glad you did.
By Michelle Anderson
The 2019 Interclub Bay Cruise will be held on 21-28 September. To find out more, visit the Interclub Bay Cruise website www.interclubbaycruise.org.au. Sign up to the eNews on the website or via the Interclub Bay Cruise Facebook page for regular updates.
