Wreck2Reef to mark decade in the water

REGISTRATIONS are now open for Indented Head Yacht Club’s 10th annual Wreck2Reef Open Water Swim, to be held in February next year.

Held in the stunning, protected waters of Half Moon Bay at Indented Head, the swim on Sunday February 10 will offer competitors some of the smoothest and safest water available in Port Phillip, with 2.5-kilometre, 1.2-kilometre and 500-metre swims and a 300-metre junior dash and dig.

Andrew Dix from Indented Head Yacht Club said fundraising efforts from the swim each year were directed towards the purchase and maintenance of yachts, rescue boats, and related safety equipment to enable the youth of the Bellarine got to experience the health and social benefits of sailing, where the prohibitive cost of such equipment had previously been a barrier to them.

“Indented Head, and the Northern Bellarine as a whole is an area of low socio-economic wealth,” Mr Dix said.

“The Yacht Club provides the only structured sporting facility in the Indented Head township, and Indented Head has no council-provided sporting facilities for its residents or visitors.”

Mr Dix said the Learn to Sail program and the club itself was developed and funded by its own members as a response to this need.

“It is consistent with the reason that the club was first established in the mid-1960s,” he said.

“At that time, a number of Indented Head Boat Club members saw a need to establish an activity that would entertain their young children safely, and encourage them to stay in Indented Head.

“The Yacht Club was first established as part of the boat club and as a result of its growth, separated out into a separate club in 1971.

“Some of the original children, are still involved in the club to this day.”

The event is also supported by the Indented Head Community Association, which provides resources to help run the event, and Barwon Heads/13th Beach SLSC, who provide all on water safety for competitors.

The swim will follow on from the 2019 Flying Brick Bellarine Sunset Run, which will be held on Saturday February 9.

The family-organised run is an important contributor to Bellarine Community Health Youth Services with awareness and funds raised from our Walk 4 Head Space contributing to their headspace program and the youth on the Bellarine. The total raised exceeds $15,000 to date.

For more information about the Indented Head Yacht Club and its activities, which are open to members and non-members alike, visit ihyc.com.au.

For any enquiries about the Wreck2Reef event, visit wreck2reef.com.au or phone Andrew on 0418 103339, or for more on the 2019 Flying Brick Bellarine Sunset Run visit bellarinesunsetrun.com.