Milang-Goolwa Freshwater Classic - Entries now open for 2015 edition

by Locky McLaren on 4 Nov 2014 Entries are now open for The Marina Hindmarsh Island 2015 Milang-Goolwa Freshwater Classic. The race will be held on Sunday 25 January 2015, and promises to be a great spectacle. The 2014 race attracted 200 boats with more than 1,000 sailors on the water competing.

The Freshwater Classic still holds the record as the largest freshwater yacht race in the southern hemisphere when 584 boats competed in 1986. Thousands of boats have taken part over the years and it took a decade of drought to halt the race, momentarily, from 2007 to 2011.

There are some very important changes for the 2015 race, carefully designed to improve safety for all competitors. As usual the race will start near the Milang jetty, proceed across Lake Alexandrina to Point Sturt, and then downstream to the finish line at Goolwa in front of the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club. For the 2015 race, 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 bounded by Channel Marker 88 and Point Sturt. All boats except those in Division 6 must pass through both gates.

There will be compulsory briefings for entrants, at Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club at 0900 hours on Saturday 24th January 2015, or at Milang at 1800 hours on Saturday 24th January or at 0800 hours on Sunday 25th January 2015. Other changes are also included in the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions, which are now on the Goolwa Regatta Week website.

The Marina Hindmarsh Island Milang to Goolwa race is open to many off-the-beach monohull and catamaran classes as well as family trailer-sailor and giant 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.

Thousands of spectators are again expected to watch the Milang to Goolwa race, from on-shore and on-water, along the route downstream of Milang, around Point Sturt, past 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 17th January to 25th January 2015. '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 lakes and the river and Hindmarsh Island as tourist attractions,' Locky McLaren said.

For all event and entry information, visit the event website.