2016 Festival of Sails - Entries open

by Laureen Deale on 10 Nov 2015 The countdown is on for Australia’s favourite summer regatta, 2016 Festival of Sails run by the Royal Geelong Yacht Club.

The 2016 Festival of Sails racing series presented by Rex Gorell Land Rover will be staged over five days, kicking off on Friday 22nd of January with the regatta drawing to a close on the Tuesday morning of the Australia Day long weekend.

Online entries are now open and this year the Royal Geelong Yacht Club in conjunction with Geelong Travel is offering some amazing race entry prizes including an incredible trip for two to New York. Enter before November 30 to go into the draw. Interstate entries also go into the draw for an amazing Bausele watch, the official watch of the 2016 Festival of sails.

These are some amazing prizes so head to the website and make sure you get your entry in early for the 2016 Festival of Sails to be in the running.

Interstate entries should also note that by prior arrangement, all interstate yachts will be able to berth for free at Royal Geelong Yacht Club from early January (subject to berth availability).

Notice of Race issued

The Race Management Committee of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club has also issued the Notice of Race for the event.

The NoR also outlines the schedule for the 2016 Festival of Sails, which will incorporate the VX One Sports Boats Nationals and the Morris Finance Sydney 38 National Championships.

Race days for the Morris Finance Sydney 38 National Championship will be Saturday 23 – Monday 25 with presentations at the end of racing on the Monday. It’s shaping up to be the largest nationals fleet for many years.

Saturday Passage Race

Another highlight is the historic Passage Race which will be held on Saturday of the Australia Day long weekend. It’s the first time in many years the Passage Race will be staged on a Saturday which should mean an even bigger fleet of yachts can make the dash to Geelong for line honours.

What’s new for 2016

The Royal Geelong Yacht Club has some exciting plans for the 2016 Festival of Sails, having taken over the entire running of the event for the first time in a number of years.

The format that makes the regatta so successful will remain, but many areas such as the layout for events zones, food and beverage and entertainment are all being tweaked.

Significant changes are being made to the layout in and around the yacht club, with the creation of a ‘Regatta Village’ for sailors, their families and the general public to enjoy.

A highlight in the ‘Regatta Village’ will be the unique Bundaberg Distillatorium. The 1.2 million dollar Distillatorium is on a three year national tour and will visit Geelong for the first time at next year’s Festival of Sails.

Visitors will have the chance to taste premium rums and experience the rich history at the heart of Queensland’s historic Bundaberg Distilling Company.

The Bundaberg Distillatorium will be a fantastic addition to the foreshore activities during the regatta and long weekend festivities.
2017 Viper World Championships.

The Royal Geelong Yacht Club has also announced it will stage the Viper World Championships in January 2017.

The ISAF One Design Viper World Championships will be held from January 7th – 15th 2017 and will be a major lead-in event for the 2017 Festival of Sails.

It’s the first time the Viper World Championships will be staged in Australia after the inaugural event was held in Erquy, on the north coast of Brittany in France last year.