Moody Buoys head to harbour city for Rolex Sydney Hobart, ahead of 177th MacGlide Festival of Sails

The crew from Moody Buoys in Hobart after the 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race © Jessica Gabites

Royal Geelong Yacht Club sailor Stuart Richardson is looking forward to his seventh MacGlide Festival of Sails, which will come just weeks after he competes in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Richardson will skipper cruising yacht Moody Buoys, which is owned by his parents Trevor and Dianne, in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race which starts tomorrow, Boxing Day.

The family are yet to decide whether Moody Buoys or their other boat Local Mocean, will be at the start line in the 177th MacGlide Festival of Sails, which runs from January 25 to 27, 2020.

"It will depend on available crew but we will most likely sail Moody Buoys with Mum and Dad, while Brenton Carnell will skipper Local Mocean with other crew," Richardson said.

Richardson has been sailing competitively since his parents bought their first yacht in 2013.

He said the variety of racing on offer at the MacGlide Festival of Sails is fantastic and having the regatta at your home club is pretty special.

"The flat waters and good winds are the best part of the bay. It enables a huge range of boats to compete - you can have big boats out there as well as little ones. It offers great racing."

Mr Richardson said the Passage Race, the 32-nautical mile sprint from Melbourne to Geelong on the first day of the Festival, was always a highlight and a terrific way to start the event.

"It's a great course they run. It's a great start with only two start lines and up to 100 boats on the start line. It's a spectacle."

"It's good fun, everyone has a laugh (during the Festival) and you get to know people from other boats," he enthused.

"It is a great atmosphere and everyone comes together at the end of the day."

The MacGlide Festival of Sails is part of RGYC's massive 'Summer of Sailing' in Geelong. The RGYC will also host the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra17 World Championship in February 2020, followed by the Laser Masters World Championships in March.

"It is great for the club. To be able to host any national or world title at your club is excellent, so it is great to see they can hold these types of events and the calibre of sailors that come with them," Richardson said.

Richardson will be joined on Moody Buoys in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race by fellow RGYC sailors Brenton Carnell and Chris and Sue Beretta. The rest of the crew will come from Sydney.

This will be the fourth Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Richardson has competed in after sailing in the 2014, 2016 and 2018.

"There will also be another Moody in the race, the sister ship from Sandringham. It will be good to have some local competition."

Geelong boat Extasea has also entered the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

RGYC Commodore, John Kint, said the countdown to the MacGlide Festival of Sails was well and truly on with only one month to go until the 177th anniversary of the three-day regatta.

"The MacGlide Festival of Sails is a highlight on the sailing calendar for many people each year. We are looking forward to once again welcoming competitors, from near and far, for another exciting regatta."