Festival of Sails 2013 Launch

by Festival of Sails media on 24 Sep 2012

Passage Race - Festival of Sails Teri Dodds

The Hon Hugh Delahunty The Victorian Minister for Sport & Recreation to formally launch the Festival of Sails 2013 on Tuesday 25th September 2012, at 11:30am at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, 25 Eastern Beach Rd, Geelong Victoria 3220
At the launch along with the the Minister for Sport & Recreation, Hon Hugh Delahunty, will be the Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong, Cr John Mitchell, the Commodore of Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Mr Andrew Neilson and
Olympic Sailing Gold Medallist, Mark Turnbull OAM (Event Manager).

The Festival of Sails is a significant Geelong based sporting and community event, that is free to the general public and has consistently delivered considerable economic and community benefits to the Geelong region and the state of Victoria.

The State Government of Victoria has supported the event since 2007.

In 2012 the City of Greater Geelong committed to its continued support of the Festival of Sails until 2015.
With consistently more than 400 yachts of all types and sizes, over 4500 participants from around Australia and Internationally, upwards of 100,000 festival visitors, and the convergence of local and international boating media, the Festival of Sails showcases Victoria and the cities of Melbourne and Geelong, as well as the fantastic regions surrounding Port Phillip and Corio Bay.

The Festival of Sails in 2013 will commence with two days of high performance racing, with the Audi IRC Australian Championship fleet racing in Geelong from Thursday 24th January, from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club.

The historic Melbourne to Geelong passage race, which sees over 300 boats at a mass start off Melbourne, will take place on Friday 25th January. The truly unique 34nm race has nearly three times as many starters as the Sydney to Hobart, and waters of Port Phillip enable the spectator fleet to follow the race participants all the way to Geelong and then join them as a part of the festival action.

Australia Day (Saturday 26th January) is the start of the Community shoreside festival and the skies of Geelong light up with the Bay FM Fireworks Spectacular, where the crowds will arrive early to set-up blankets and picnics along the waterfront’s best vantage points, to watch the as the fireworks illuminate the massive fleet of yachts visiting Geelong.

The on-water action will continue on the waters of Corio Bay from Saturday 26th to Monday 28th of January. With over 15 different race series catering from the highest performance Grand Prix racers to trailable cruisers, the varied race action is sure to offer something for everyone.

The Festival of Sails is proudly supported by the Victorian State Government, City of Greater Geelong and many valued supporting sponsors.

For more information on the Festival of Sails please visit www.festivalofsails.com.au

Snapshot of Event Dates

Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th January 2012
• Audi IRC Australian Championships (Geelong)
Friday January 25th 2012
• Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race – starting off Melbourne
• Corio Bay inner and outer harbour racing - Geelong
Saturday January 26th 2012 (Australia Day)
• Corio Bay inner and outer harbour racing - Geelong
• Shoreside Festival and Entertainment 10:00am to late – Geelong
• Bay FM Fireworks Spectacular (sunset) - Geelong
Sunday 27th January 2012
• Shoreside Festival and Entertainment 10:00am to late - Geelong
• Corio Bay inner and outer harbour racing - Geelong
Monday January 28th 2012 (Public Holiday)
• Event Presentations – Royal Geelong Yacht Club
• Shoreside Festival and Entertainment 10:00am – 5:00pm - Geelong
• Corio Bay inner harbour racing - Geelong

For further festival and regatta information visit: www.festivalofsails.com.au
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/102288

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