Entries sailing in for festival

ENTRIES are open for the 180th Festival of the Sails event with organisers encouraging teams to sign up.

Event chair Roger Bennett said the 180th edition of the January 26 to 29 festival was returning to a pre-COVID level.

“We’ve been able to open up race entries earlier than in recent years,” Mr Bennett said.

“It is really great to be back to something approaching normal, COVID hasn’t gone away completely of course, but we’re already in front of where we would be traditionally in terms of entrant numbers.

“Hopefully that will continue over the next couple of months.”

More than 200 yachts took part in last year’s Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race, an event that kicks off the four-day Festival.

‘Extasea’ navigated the windy conditions across Port Phillip Bay best earlier this year, meanwhile the Cookson 50 from Royal Geelong Yacht Club took home line honours after finishing the race in less than four hours.

The event will feature a range of races, featuring smaller and more mobile vessels, competing in Corio Bay’s inner and outer harbours.

Mr Bennett added that 2023’s Festival of Sails will hold a special place in committee members’ hearts given the history and joy it has provided to residents and visitors of Geelong for almost two centuries.

“It’s hard to put into words really,” Mr Bennett said.

“If someone had been told 180 years ago that an assortment of boats would still be taking part in this race, they would find it hard to comprehend.

“It’s an event that both Geelong and Victoria should be really proud of.”We keep looking to Europe for examples of history, but we have our own right here.”

Mr Bennett said that the Festival of Sails entertainment precinct will return in 2023, with visitors able to enjoy professional musicians at several venues across Geelong’s waterfront and CBD.

He also confirmed fireworks will be return to the waterfront for the festival which has been one of the major attractions for both sailing enthusiasts and attendees.

To enter into the 180th edition of the Festival of Sails, head to www.festivalofsails.com.au