The Adelaide Sailing Club’s Fisher Peterson Tillett (FPT) junior and youth regatta is having a milestone in this year’s 50th running of the event, making the FPT by all accounts the oldest junior and youth sailing regatta in South Australia.
With the regatta’s history stretching back to 1967 and originally run on the Patawalonga Lake, the Fisher Trophy Regatta was initiated by Arthur Fisher, in remembrance of his father Tom and providing a regatta for the Holdfast Trainers, the then South Australian junior training dinghy.
The Tillett, Fisher and Peterson trophies.
It was always Arthur’s intention that it be a friendly and enjoyable event with a focus on participation and fellowship – these core values continue today with a focus on “Green Fleet” and an open invitation to all SA junior and youth sailors.
Sadly, as it was back then, access to the Patawalonga Lake became difficult due to its polluted state so in the 1980s a group of dedicated Glenelg Sailing Club members revived the regatta at a new location, Misery Point on West Lakes.
Juniors from Adelaide Sailing Club competing at the country-metropolitan championships in Kangaroo Island during the 2002/03 season.
These regattas were routinely attended by Arthur Fisher, who had the beautiful Fisher Trophy completely refurbished to coincide with the re-birth of the regatta. Not too soon after that the Fisher Trophy Regatta was held on the waters of the Gulf St Vincent, where it has remained ever since.
As junior and youth sailing began to flourish in South Australia, the Peterson and Tillett families became involved, both donating trophies for the 3o3 and International Cadet classes, respectively.
The International Cadet still has a strong presence in South Australia and will compete for the Tillett trophy.
The three families continue to sponsor the event today which enables the club to continue this great tradition and provide an opportunity for the families to get together again at the club for this iconic regatta.
The 303 class no longer races in South Australia but has always been an iconic double-handed boat.
Many generations of the Fisher, Peterson and Tillett families have now been involved with the event and it continues to be a proud part of the family tradition to support the event and also continue to support junior sailing in South Australia.
The trophies have now been realigned to reflect the current junior and youth classes across the state and as such the Opti Cup and the Open Bic Trophy have been established, while the Peterson trophy is now awarded on a yardstick basis for juniors sailing in any other class.
The Fisher Peterson Tillett Youth Regatta remains the major junior and youth sailing regatta at Adelaide Sailing Club and welcomes participation by any junior or youth classes affiliated with any Australian Sailing-affiliated club.
The ASC Flag Officers and Committee welcome you to join in on Sunday March 12 and be part of history at the 50th Fisher, Peterson, Tillett Regatta.
For more information head to www.adelaidesailingclub.com.au
