Yachting championships and Festival of Sails form ultimate double bill

TWO of Australia’s favourite yachting regattas, the prestigious Australian Yachting Championships and traditional Festival of Sails, have joined forces to create a week-long celebration of summer sailing in Victoria early next year.

The Australian Yachting Championships will be hosted by Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron from January 22 to 24, before the Festival of Sails starts with the Passage Race from Melbourne to Geelong on Australia Day, January 26.

The Festival of Sails, from January 26 to 28, will be hosted by the Royal Geelong Yacht Club.

The timing of the back-to-back events will provide the perfect opportunity for sailors to compete in both regattas, with a lay-day on Friday January 25 allowing crews and boats to flow over from one to the other.

Australian Sailing, which runs the Australian Yachting Championships, selected dates that will give crews the best opportunity to be part of both events.

Festival of Sails chairman Stuart Dickson said the timing of the Australian Yachting Championships couldn’t be better for participants, especially those from interstate and overseas.

“To have two premier sailing events in the same state within days of each other is fantastic,” he said.

“In 2018 the Australian Yachting Championships and the Festival of Sails were held one week apart, which meant we were able to encourage a number of the Grand Prix boats to stay around for the following weekend.

“In 2019, there will only be one day between the two regattas in January, so hopefully this will encourage even more yachts who are travelling from interstate (or overseas) to attend two premier regattas that are so close together,” he said.

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