2016 Milang Goolwa Freshwater Classic - Entries now open

by Locky McLaren on 18 Nov 2015 Entries are now open for The Marina Hindmarsh Island 2016 Milang-Goolwa Freshwater Classic. The race will be held on Sunday 24 January 2016, providing a spectacular finale for Goolwa Regatta Week. The Marina Hindmarsh Island Goolwa Regatta Week starts on Saturday 16 January 2016, with a variety of events and activities scheduled for sailors and spectators in and around Goolwa.

The Freshwater Classic is a must-do race every year for hundreds of families from around the State, that is a unique experience for all yachties. The 2015 race attracted 200 boats with more than 1000 sailors as crew on the water competing.

There will be nine Divisions this year, with the addition of a new Division for Sports Boats. Other Divisions cater for many off-the-beach monohull and catamaran classes as well as family trailer-sailor and large multihull yachts, along with wooden vintage river boats and the historic Restricted 21 racing wooden boats – among them Australia’s oldest wooden boats still actively racing.

The race will start near the Milang jetty, proceed across SA’s biggest inland waterway Lake Alexandrina to Point Sturt, and then downstream past Clayton to the finish line at Goolwa in front of the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club. A gate will be set approximately half way across Lake Alexandrina but within two Nautical Miles of the shoreline and a second gate will be set off Point Sturt, again less than two Nautical Miles off-shore. All boats except those in Division six and seven must pass through both gates.

The Notice of Race is now on the Goolwa Regatta Week website. The Sailing Instructions will be posted soon.

Thousands of spectators are again expected to watch the Milang to Goolwa yacht race, from on-shore and from hundreds of power boats on-water, along the route downstream of Milang, around Point Sturt, past the Clayton cliffs and on to Goolwa.

Locky McLaren, Commodore of the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, urged competitors to enter early and to encourage family and friends to enjoy Goolwa Regatta Week from Saturday 16th January to 24th January 2016. “There are some fascinating events throughout the week, with great spectator viewing available, so everyone can get involved.”

“The Marina Hindmarsh Island Milang Goolwa Freshwater Classic is a unique and iconic event, held in one of SA’s most extensive recreational water playgrounds. Goolwa Regatta Week helps showcase the Lower Murray lakes and the river and Hindmarsh Island as our State’s significant tourist attractions,” Locky McLaren said.