Festival of Sails opens
Entries now being taken with earlybird discounts offered through NovemberEntries are now open for the 2013 Festival of Sails and within minutes of the opening, Paul Lindemann’s Victorian Beneteau 50, Biddy Hu II, was declared the first official entry for Australia’s largest keelboat regatta.
"It’s a great honour to be the first entry," said an enthusiastic Lindemann. "The Festival of Sails reminds me of my dinghy days, only on a grand scale.
"It’s one of those events that bring back memories of when I was sailing Lasers and the camaraderie of the class. You race all day then come in and have a few drinks on the dock or in the yacht club and talk with your mates about what happened on the water."
Hot on Lindemann’s heels once entries opened were another two Victorians, Brian Barnes’ Bavaria Match 42, Barnstormer (SYC), and RGYC club mate, Malcolm Eaton with his Sydney 39CR,
Being on top of his paperwork has qualified Lindemann for both first official entry and the early bird rate of $50 off the regular entry fee for the cruising with spinnaker division.
Entries received by November 30th will be eligible for an early bird discount of $50 off the regular entry fee, which will apply from December 1st to January 11th. A late entry fee of $100 will apply after thereafter.
Royal Geelong Yacht Club has been busy fielding many enquiries from prospective entries and is delighted with Lindemann’s enthusiasm. Sailing manger Rod Hagebols said: "Online entry was launched this morning and immediately we had our first applicant for the Cruising Series, quickly followed by two more.
"The cruising guys are the backbone of this longstanding sporting and cultural Victorian icon and we look forward to delivering them to the main arena on Friday 25th January via the colourful spectacle that is the opening Melbourne to Geelong passage race," Hagebols added.
For the 2013 running of the Festival of Sails, the IRC fleet will already be at Geelong contesting the Audi IRC Australian Championship, a single event national title that will rotate between the states each year.
From Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th January an extensive sailing program will cater for all levels, with 19 different classes open to keelboats and multihulls from Australia and overseas. The event will conclude Monday 28th, the Australia Day public holiday, with the trophy presentations and the final Shoreside Festival program of activities.
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