Milang to Goolwa Freshwater Classic

by Press Officer on 11 Nov 2002 The BEA Motors & Malaysia Airlines Milang to Goolwa Freshwater Classic - 26th January 2003

Australia’s most popular freshwater yacht race, the BEA Motors & Malaysia Airlines Milang Goolwa Freshwater Classic will head off again on 26th January 2003.

A tradition in South Australia on the Australia Day weekend, some 400 yachts including trailer sailers, multihulls, off the beach cats and dinghies join the classic Goolwa riverboats for the Milang Goolwa Freshwater Classic hosted by the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club and jointly sponsored by BEA Motors & Malaysia Airlines.

The race is sailed in 9 divisions over 26 miles from Milang on the shores of Lake Alexandrina - across the lake, around Pt Sturt and then downstream to Goolwa finishing just short of the Hindmarsh Island Bridge.

Befitting the size of the event, a large rescue fleet will accompany the race, managed by the Victor Harbor and Goolwa Sea Rescue Squadron and supported by the Department of Marine and Harbours, SA Police and power boat volunteers.

Now in its 37th year the event originally started to settle an argument between two hardened local river boat skippers who decided on a 'decent race' on 27 December 1966. They raced from Goolwa to Milang, little knowing that their challenge to each other was destined to become Australia's biggest freshwater race.

Yachtsmen and women have been coming to Goolwa for 148 years to participate in races organised by the club. Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club was founded some time before August 1854 and is the oldest yacht club in South Australia and believed to be the oldest in Australia.

The 2003 Race
Race Director Barrie Payne said: “ It's great to have a long weekend end once again for the race, with the majority of the fleet cruising to Milang on Saturday 25th for the Sunday morning start. I anticipate a huge increase in numbers for the post race celebrations at the GRYC Club, with great music and entertainment throughout the evening'.

The race weekend starts with the twilight invitation only Taylor Collison 'Go for Gold' dash in which the sports trailerables and the classic Restricted 21s compete for a winner take all gold nugget provided by race sponsor, Taylor Collison share brokers. Competition is always fierce and already entries have been confirmed from New South Wales and Victoria.

Communities along the Lower Murray Lakes foreshore are again providing strong support for this event having recognised its enormous contribution to local tourism and the spectacle it provides from the cliff tops along the shoreline. GRYC Commodore Grahame Evett notes that “one of the features of the Freshwater Classic is the large spectator participation with crowds taking up positions from every vantage point along the river bank and cliff tops. Spectator craft also line the river banks on the edges of the channel to add to the carnival atmosphere of this event.”

In welcoming Malaysia Airlines on board for its fifth year of sponsorship and BEA Motors for their seventh year the GRYC club also acknowledges the help and support again of the South Australian Government and will be promoting the SunSmart message throughout summer.

Commodore Grahame Evett noted: 'Over the last 36 years this race has at one time or another been a ‘must do’ for almost every serious and not so serious sailer in South Australia and from Eastern States and even WA. It caters for everyone in the sailing community.”

Nomination forms for the race are available from The Race Committee, PO Box 321 Goolwa SA 5214; Phone 08 8555 2617; or from the club web site www.gryc.com.au; or by E-mail, mg@gryc.com.au