Summer of Sailing to call Geelong home in 2020

GEELONG will be the epicentre of world sailing when it hosts four Olympic Class World Championships during the 2020 Summer of Sailing.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren joined Member for Geelong Christine Couzens at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club to officially launch the events, which will see almost 800 international and local competitors take to the waters of Corio Bay.

The 2020 Summer of Sailing will include four high profile Olympic sailing classes, including the 49er (men), 49erFX (women) and Nacra World Championships, as well as the Laser Masters World Championship.

These prestigious racing events will cap off a busy season of major sporting events in Geelong on the back of the annual Festival of Sails and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in January.

The events are expected to inject more than $4.6 million into the Victorian economy as competitors, support crews and spectators descend on Geelong and the surrounding region February through March, supporting local businesses.

Mr Eren said the 2020 Summer of Sailing would bring thousands of sailing fans to regional Victoria.

“The 2020 Summer of Sailing is yet another reason why Victoria continues to be recognised as the sports capital of Australia.”

Member for Geelong Christine Couzens said Geelong continued to grow its events calendar.

“More and more major events are coming to Geelong, which is great for our town, great for local jobs and great for our economy.”

With the Tokyo Olympics taking place shortly after the Summer of Sailing in July 2020, event organisers are anticipating that international teams will stay on in Geelong to take advantage of the summer months to train before continuing on to Japan.

The 2020 Summer of Sailing is being supported by the state government’s Major Events Fund, which received a $4.5 million boost in the Victorian Budget 2018/19.

Visit Victoria is partnering with the Victorian Laser 2020 Regatta Committee, Sailing Australia and the Royal Geelong Yacht Club to deliver world class events during the 2020 summer.

Summer of Sailing events including the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra World Championships will take place from 8-15 February, 2020, while the Laser Masters World Championship will take place from 19-28 March, 2020.