Festival of Sails enters 100-day countdown

THERE are less than 100 days until the 2019 Festival of Sails kicks off on Australia Day, and entries for the three-day regatta – which runs from January 26 to 28 – are tracking above numbers recorded at the same time of the year for the previous two events.

Festival of Sails chair Stuart Dickson said more than 50 entries received by the October 18 milestone was ahead of schedule for this time of the year, which was a great sign that people are keen to support the event and compete.

“We usually see an influx of entries after the Christmas holiday period so it is exceptionally pleasing to see people getting in early.

“With the busy festive season around the corner, now is an ideal time for participants to sign up and get their crew and boat ready.”

Early entries include Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban from NSW, the winner of the 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and 2018 Festival of Sails. Other entries so far include two multihulls from South Australia, Peter Hawker’s Carbon Credit and Gerald Volk’s Crosshair; plus 11 entries in the VX One Australian Championships, including two Geelong boats vying for the title.

“The Festival of Sails caters for all levels of sailing, from high performance racing machines to family cruisers and junior sailors,” Mr Dickson said.

“There really is something for everyone and we are looking forward to welcoming many more entries, big and small.”

The Royal Geelong Yacht Club is expecting sailors from across Australia as well as overseas for the largest keelboat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere.

In 2019, the Festival of Sails will join forces with the prestigious Australian Yachting Championships to create a weeklong celebration of summer sailing in Victoria next January.

The Australian Yachting Championships will be held at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron in St Kilda from January 22 to 24, 2019, providing an opportunity for sailors to compete in both regattas, back to back.

The timing is also ideal for sailors who may have completed the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, to compete in the Australian Yachting Championships and the Festival of Sails on their way home.