Festival of Sails this week
Australia's biggest yachting regatta at Geelong attracts over 300 boatsA passage race for the Multihull Division opens the Festival of Sails today (January 21) and on Thursday the Melges 24 Australian Open National Championships begins with the first of 10 windward/leeward races, a precursor to the ensuing Gill Melges 24 World Championship 2014.
On Friday it's time for the greater part of the mammoth fleet of over 300 yachts to set sail on the 34 nautical mile Melbourne to Geelong passage race.
Hugh Delahuny, Minister for Sport and Recreation will fire the start cannon at 9.30am off Point Ormond to signal the largest single start of a yacht race in the Southern Hemisphere.
Back on Geelong’s Corio Bay on Friday, the Sydney 38s will join the sports boats and Melges 24s for the start of their respective series.
The Festival attracts 100,000 people to Geelong’s waterfront and is regarded a Victorian major event which brings thousands of additional visitors to the region over the Australia Day long weekend.
Shoreside entertainment for the whole family will run in conjunction with the regatta making this a true festival with food stalls, entertainment a fireworks spectacular and more.
From Tuesday Monday January 27 an extensive sailing program will cater for all levels, with 14 different classes open to keelboats and multihulls from Australia and overseas.
The event will conclude on the Australia Day public holiday, with the trophy presentations and the final Shoreside Festival program of activities.
For more information go to www.festivalofsails.com.au
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