Goolwa's Big January Regatta has something for every taste…
by Mike O'Reilly 1 Jan 2018 15:18 AEDT
20-27 January 2018
Milang Goolwa Classic near Rat Island - Goolwa Regatta Week © Mike O'Reilly
Goolwa Regatta Week 2018 offers multiple reasons for yachties, holiday-makers, yacht racers, casual sailors, families and friends to spend time in this beautiful part of the Fleurieu Peninsula, where the Murray River meets the Southern Ocean.
Regatta Week from Saturday 20 January to Saturday 27 - includes community events on and off the water including Australia Day celebrations in historic river towns of Goolwa and Milang.
Goolwa: Picture a town centre metres from the River Murray, with steam powered Paddle Wheeler, the SteamRanger Cockle Train, a fleet of century old sailing yachts, plus restaurants, wine bars, a distillery on the wharf overlooking the action – and across the water the Coorong Quays tourism and lifestyle development - and that's our Goolwa in a few words.
Goolwa is a 75 minute drive from Adelaide via the Hills Freeway, to Mt Barker & Strathalbyn; or by the Southern Expressway and Victor Harbor Road.
The Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club (GRYC) has conducted the iconic Milang-Goolwa Freshwater Classic since 1974 and more recently expanded the program of associated community entertainment events with Goolwa Regatta Week.
First time the Classic is on a Saturday...
The sporting highlight is always the 50 km Milang-Goolwa Freshwater Classic yacht race, to be held on Saturday 27 January 2018. It's the first time the Classic has been raced on a Saturday, giving crews and visitors more time to relax & stay after the race. The Classic is being sponsored by Coorong Quays, Hindmarsh Island through new owners Mill Hill Capital.
The Milang Goolwa Freshwater Classic is a must-do race every year for hundreds of sailing families from around the State and further afield. The 2017 race attracted almost 200 boats.
There will be 10 Divisions in 2018, catering for many off-the-beach monohull and catamaran classes as well as family trailer-sailor and larger multihull yachts, along with wooden Vintage River Boats and the historic Restricted 21 wooden racing yachts competing in their own division for the first time. Goolwa has Australia's biggest and most competitive R21 fleet.
The race starts near historic Milang jetty, proceeds across SA's largest inland waterway, Lake Alexandrina, to a turn at Point Sturt, and downstream past Clayton cliffs to the finish at Goolwa.
Along the 50km race course there are excellent public viewing points at Milang, Point Sturt, Clayton and at Goolwa North the shorelines on Liverpool Road or across on Hindmarsh Island.
Regatta Week Activities...
Saturday 20th January 2018
- 1.00pm – 4.00pm: Marina Challenge Yacht Race – in Southern lagoons of The Marina Hindmarsh Island
Sunday 21st January 2018
- 11.00 am – 4.00pm: Goolwa Regatta Week Gala Day - Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club
- 10.00am: Sailability Regatta - Adjacent to the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club
- 2.00 pm: Goolwa Vintage Boat Club Yacht Race - Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club
- 5.00 pm: Vintage Yacht Race Presentations - Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club
Monday 22nd January 2018
- 2.00 pm: Radio Controlled Yacht Regatta - Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, followed by Presentations
Tuesday 23rd January 2018
- 4.00 pm – 9.00 pm: Dominant BBQ Cook-Off - Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club. Community Welcome.
Wednesday 24th January 2018
- 6.00 pm – 7.00pm: Pelican Marine & RV Tune Up Yacht Race – watch from GRYC Marina followed by Presentations
Thursday 25th January 2018
- 6.00 pm: Kies Harware Dash for Cash - Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, with Cash Presentations and Party celebration
Friday 26th January 2018
- 8.00 am – 10.00 am: Big Breakfast - Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club. Boats travel up river to Milang on Lake Alexandrina
Saturday 27th January 2018
- 9.00 am: The Goolwa Milang Freshwater Classic Yacht Race – starting at Milang with 10 Divisions
- 7.30 pm: Race Presentations and a major Party & Music event at Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, Barrage Road, Goolwa
Lyn Roberts, Commodore of the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, urged competitors to enter and to encourage family and friends to enjoy Goolwa Regatta Week. "There are some fascinating events throughout the week that everyone can get involved with, and great spectator viewing is available."
"The Milang Goolwa Freshwater Classic is an iconic event, held in SA's best recreational water playgrounds. Goolwa Regatta Week helps to showcase the Lower Murray lakes, the River Murray, Hindmarsh Island and the Coorong waterways as a significant tourist attraction," Lyn Roberts said.
The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions are now available on the Goolwa Regatta Week website.