2015 Lakefest Aquatic Week - A week-long celebration of boating

by Melvyn (Mel) Steiner on 17 Dec 2014 The Lakefest Aquatic Week on beautiful Lake Macquarie – just south of Newcastle – is set to become a reality with a number of events confirmed to occur during the February 20-27 week long celebration.

Lakefest has been created by the Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto, Lake Macquarie Yacht Club, Wangi Amateur Sailing Club, Belmont 16's, Toronto Rotary Sunrise and Variety the Children’s Charity.

Lakefest committee chair Mel Steiner said that the concept arose out of the highly successful 2013 Heaven Can Wait Charity Sailing Regatta.

'Race debriefs concluded that the regatta could be a part of a much bigger aquatic festival on the lake, promoting sailing and other water-based lake activities, Lake Macquarie, and the Hunter Region in general,' he said.

'Timing was a crucial issue in bringing the Lakefest concept to life.

'We did not want to overlap with other lake events that were scheduled in the peak holiday periods, but still needed warmer weather (for overnight races) and the ability to link with other charity events that occur during the summer months,' said Steiner.

Events currently scheduled to run during Lakefest week include:

• The Variety Splash (a Variety Bash on water)
• The 2015 Heaven Can Wait Charity Sailing Regatta (incorporating the pre race fund raising dinner, One Lap Dash, 12 Hour and 24 Hour Races)
• Belmont 16’s Junior Pirate Fun Race
• Rotary Paddlefest
• The Lake Macquarie RTC Group Two Day Regatta
• Wangi Amateur Sailing Club’s Open Friday Twilight race.

Steiner said that in recent years, a major hurdle to having yachts from other ports participate in regattas on Lake Macquarie has been the Swansea Channel entrance to the lake.

'Irregular maintenance of the channel has frequently resulted in a build-up of sand restricting the entry of yachts with drafts of around 1.8 m and over.

'The good news is that the dredging of Swansea Channel is scheduled to start in early November, with an expected completion time of around the end of January 2015.

'This will certainly open the opportunity for boats from other ports to participate in this inaugural Lakefest aquatic week,' he said.

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