2023 Festival of Sails confirmed for Australia Day weekend

BRINGING in more than 100,000 visitors to the Geelong region every year, the Festival of Sails has confirmed its dates for 2023’s 180th anniversary event.

The annual sailing festival will return for a four-day program next year over the Australia Day weekend, beginning on Thursday, January 26 and ending on Sunday, January 29.

Chairman of the Festival of Sails, Roger Bennett, said organisers were optimistic and excited about the 2023 event.

“With the 180th anniversary coming up, it’s just such a significant milestone among sporting events in general, so we’re looking forward to a large number of entries, larger than normal, at the four-day event,” Mr Bennett said.

The curtain-raiser Passage Race will open proceedings in 2023 for Australia’s oldest annual sporting event, following Paul Buchholz and Extasea’s win earlier this year.

Mr Bennett said that hosting the event over the Australia Day weekend will be huge for the City of Greater Geelong and the region.

“Accommodation will be at a premium,” Mr Bennett said.

“We expect all the other complementary events being held over the weekend on the Geelong and the Bellarine will add to the attraction for people,” Mr Bennett said.

“To say we are excited for the event is an understatement, and the benefit to everyone will be significant.”

Planning will ramp up of the next month with a number of meetings scheduled to take place this week.

The chairman said planning will only accelerate moving forward as race officers, volunteer promotion, and competitor confirmations expected to be the first items on the ballot for 2023’s planning agenda.

In 2022, more than 90 volunteers joined forces to work at the Festival of Sails, contributing almost 3,000 unpaid manhours to support the event.

To keep up-to-date with 2023 Festival of Sails updates head to www.festivalofsails.com.au