2016 Splash Festival - Sailors set to make a Splash on Sydney Harbour

by Splash Festival Media Team on 2 Dec 2015 2016 Splash Festival - Early-bird entry to the Splash Festival closes on Friday December 4th, 2015. The Splash Festival encompasses the Australian 420, I14, Zhik 9er and Youth Championships. The events will be held over the first two weeks of 2016, with the 420, I14 and 9er classes running from the 1st – 8th of January, with the Youth Championships following on the 10-14th of January.

The Splash Festival encourages participants to ‘Sail, Play, Live Across Sydney Harbour’ and hosts, Woollahra Sailing Club are working hard to make Splash Festival one to remember! During the event visitors will have unprecedented access to the racing, with live updates and spectator ferries available over the two weeks. The Splash team hopes that everyone involved in the Festival will be able to make the most of their trip to Sydney Harbour.

Splash not only involves respective class National Championships, but the events will also serve as selection events for International Representative Teams in 2016, including the prestigious ISAF Youth World Championships representative team. The Australian Youth Championships are one of the key selection events for sailors hoping to compete in Oman next summer.

It will be the first time many young sailors have had the chance to compete on home waters since they began racing on the National Circuit. There is no doubt that the excitement of competing at home in familiar territory will spur on Sydney’s best.

Woollahra Sailing Club representative, John Cooley, will compete with his crewmate, Simon Hoffman, at the Zhik 9er Championships and Australian Youth Championships in the hope of gaining selection for the ISAF Youth World Championships. With a mixed track record, the duo will be looking to gain experience throughout the Splash Festival events.

Cooley steered the young team to sixth at the 2015 29er World Championships and is excited to get out on his usual training and racing track, ‘There is definitely less stress – there are no major logistics to deal with! My boat lives at the club and it’s only a five-minute walk from home for me.’

Cooley, who also placed sexond at the 2015 UK 29er National Championships thinks the edge will come from home comforts and experience on the harbour stage, ‘It’s not necessarily confidence, but it’s certainly comforting to rule out some variables.’

Sydney Harbour is known for her natural amphitheater and Cooley is the first to admit that the sights of Sydney are breath-taking, ‘it’s so cool to sail near landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House – you can’t look up and see those sorts of things in many places around the world!”

Although it may be tempting for competitor’s to be distracted by the postcard views, Cooley warns that sailors will need to keep their head in the race, ‘not only is there a mix of conditions, but looking out for traffic and being aware of your surroundings is really important, too!’

Early-bird Entries to the 2016 Splash Festival, encompassing the Australian 420, I14, Zhik 9er and Youth Championships, close on the 4th of December. Ensure you enter before then to avoid the additional late fees. Entries can be made online.

For more information regarding the Splash Festival 2016 including the Australian 420, I14, 9er and Youth Championships, visit the Woollahra Sailing Club website.