Lake Wendouree sailing goes ahead - there's enough water!
by Fiona Henderson, The Courier/Sail-World on 20 Feb 2013
They’re celebrating the water! SW
Some yacht clubs have it tougher than others. Sailors in Ballarat in Australia's southern state of Victoria are jubilant, and all it took was getting enough water in their lake to sail this weekend. Sailing in the form of a State yachting event will go ahead on Ballarat's Lake Wendouree after fears that low water levels would force it to be moved.
The dinghies will begin with a specialist coaching session on Friday afternoon before a two-day regatta expected to attract up to 25 competitors.
Recent heavy rains raised the water levels sufficiently to go ahead with the much anticipated sailing.
Ballarat Yacht Club commodore Paul Crosbie told The Courier yesterday he was very pleased the event would go ahead.
'It gives the Ballarat Yacht Club good exposure within the yachting fraternity,' Mr Crosbie said.
He said the water levels were at 325 millimetres below full after last Thursday’s storms raised the level by 25 millimetres.
'We’ve been monitoring the water levels and it was getting very fine. The (Ballarat City) council has been putting water in but it hasn’t been keeping pace with evaporation.'
Mr Crosbie said last month he was concerned the titles would be moved back to Melbourne after a hot summer and little January rainfall.
Ballarat mayor John Burt also told The Courier it was very pleasing the weekend’s events would go ahead.
'I am certain that all competitors will enjoy a great weekend,' Cr Burt said.
But it didn't only depend on the rain. He said the lake had received 200 megalitres of bore water since January 7, as well as two megalitres per day of Class A recycled water.
Cr Burt said the lake was 305 millimetres below full on Monday morning.
He also said the course for this weekend’s event had been harvested for weeds, with a further small section to the east of the Ballarat Yacht Club to be cut this week.
If you are anywhere within Cooee of Ballarat, head that way to watch a great weekend of sailing.
For more information contact the www.ballaratyachtclub.com.au/!Ballarat_Yacht_Club
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