Beer Can Regatta ready to take float

The Territorian spirit will be alive and well at Darwin’s Beer Can Regatta with thousands expected to line Mindil Beach for the annual event that raises funds for the Combined Lions Clubs of Darwin. Fund-raising with a difference, the Regatta is also a recycling initiative, providing a use for all the beer cans that are emptied in Darwin during the many afternoons spent fishing, watching sunsets, or just wondering when the monsoon is going to break.

With just a few months until the first boat is launched at the event on Sunday 8 August 2010, Darwin residents and boaties from all over Australia have been collecting aluminium cans to build these unique boats to race (or sink) off the Darwin coast.Since the inaugural event in 1974, the Beer Can Regatta has been a favourite event on the Northern Territory calendar, and over the years it has developed into a major attraction with up to 65 entries, ranging in size from 1 to 12 metres.

The event also features a number of family activities such as tug-of-war, thong (flip-flop) throwing and sand castle building and the famous Mindil Beach Markets also operate on the day.Entry into the Beer Can Regatta is by gold coin donation. Food, drink and bar facilities will be available at this not-to-be-missed event.

For more information on the event, including guidelines for entries and boat construction, log onto www.beercanregatta.org.au.