Warm up at the Latrobe City Sauna Sail on Hazelwood Pondage

by Samuel Watson on 15 Apr 2009 The 2009 Latrobe City Sauna Sail will be held on the long Weekend in June (6, 7 and 8) at Latrobe Valley Yacht Club, Hazelwood Pondage. The Sauna Sail is a significant event on the Victorian Sailing Calendar for 'off the beach' classes and has been run at Hazelwood Pondage since the mid 1960s.

During its history the event has attracted sailors from throughout south-eastern Australia and has often been used as a warm up for both national and international events, particularly sailors who travel to Europe for major events in the northern summer.

Several class associations use the Sauna Sail as part of their annual program. In particular the Victorian Paper Tiger Association have run their annual Inland Winter Championships in conjunction with Sauna Sail for several years.

Sauna Sail attracts a broad rage of sailing enthusiasts. It is not uncommon to have three generations of sailors from the same family participating together. Novices and elite sailors alike are welcome and sail side by side throughout the weekend. The recent inclusion of the Access Dinghy classes has opened the way for disabled sailors to take part in the same events as the rest of the sailing community.

The regatta has a strong family emphasis and gives sailors of all ages the opportunity to compete together in a safe and friendly environment. But the great attraction of the Sauna Sail is the warm water of the Hazelwood Pondage. The water temperature seldom drops below 23 degrees.

If you wish to know more about Sauna Sail 2009 please contact:
Ross Phillips, LVYC Commodore on 0418 512 840. Bruce James, LVYC Secretary on 5633 2331 or lvyc@dcsi.net.au

*Camping is available at the Hazelwood Pondage, no bookings are necessary.

http://www.vic.yachting.org.au