2017 Milang Goolwa Freshwater Classic - Entries now open!

by Mike O'Reilly on 10 Dec 2016 Entries are now open for the Marina Hindmarsh Island 2017 Milang-Goolwa Freshwater Classic. The race will be held on Sunday 22 January 2017, providing a spectacular finale for Goolwa Regatta Week.

The community based Goolwa Regatta Week starts on Saturday 14 January, with a variety of land based events and activities scheduled for sailors and spectators in and around Goolwa.

The Freshwater Classic is a must-do race every year for hundreds of families from around the State, that is a unique experience for all yachties. The 2016 race attracted nearly 200 boats with over 1,000 sailors as crew on the water competing.

There will be nine divisions this year, catering for many off-the-beach monohull and catamaran classes as well as sports boats, family trailer-sailor and large 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.

The race starts near the Milang jetty, proceeds across SA’s biggest inland waterway Lake Alexandrina to Point Sturt, and downstream past Clayton to the finish in front of the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club. A floating marker ‘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 six and seven must pass through both gates.

The notice of race and sailing instructions are now on the Goolwa Regatta Week website.

Community and Tourism Activities for all

Thousands of spectators are again expected to watch the Milang to Goolwa yacht race, from on-shore and from hundreds of power boats on-water, along the route downstream of Milang, around Point Sturt, past the ideal viewing place at Clayton cliffs and on to Goolwa.

Lyn Roberts, 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 14th January to 22nd January 2017.

“There are some fascinating events throughout the week that everyone can get involved with, and great spectator viewing is available.”

“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 Lower Murray lakes and the river and Hindmarsh Island as our State’s significant tourist attractions,” Lyn Roberts said.

All event and entry information visit website.