The RoyalHobart Regatta began in 1838, is a series of aquatic competitions and displays held annually in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia and is Tasmania's oldest sporting event. The regatta runs for three days, ending on the second Monday in February, and dominates the whole river for the duration of the event. The regatta of 6 February 1934 was the first to be called the Royal Hobart Regatta, the title being conferred by King George V. On 1 December 1838, the first Hobart Town Anniversary Regatta was held in Hobart, Tasmania to celebrate the Tasmanian Anniversary of the 17th-century European discovery of the island by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who made the first reported European sighting of the island on 24 November 1642. It was decided that the annual anniversary regatta should be celebrated by the wearing of a sprig of silver wattle blossom tied with British Navy blue ribbon. It was begun by the then Governor of Tasmania, Sir John Franklin. Franklin provided free food and beer for all of the spectators, and the tradition of free entry continues to this day. The Monday was declared as a public holiday by the governor, and is now the oldest public holiday still continuing in Australia. Since 1879 the regatta has been held in January or February, rather than December. The Hobart Regatta was not staged in 1853 and 1854. The 1942 regatta, which commemorated the 300th anniversary of Abel Tasman's exploration, was held on 5 December 1942. The 1967 regatta was cancelled because of the bushfires on 7 February 1967. Originally staged at Pavilion Point, the regatta has, since 1856, been held in grounds near Macquarie Point known as the "Regatta Ground" at the Queens Domain along the western side of the River Derwent. The grounds are now dominated by the Hobart Cenotaph, a war memorial to Tasmania's war dead. It is normally well attended by public and competitors and is usually well supported by the Royal Australian Navy, which sends a warship to be a flagship for the regatta, and sometimes the Royal Australian Air Force, who provide fly-pasts with military aircraft. Often the RAAF Roulettes will do aerobatic performances. The Australian Army's elite Red Beretparachute regiment provides sky diving displays. The events includes sailing, rowing, open water swimming, wood chopping, jet ski racing, dragon boat racing, a tug of war and a trans-Derwent swim across the 1.6 km width of the river. There is also a Miss Regatta girl competition, and the Regatta always has an official attendance ceremony by the Governor. In 2013, the Regatta celebrated 175 years of the event.
