It’ll be a hull of a crowd
MORE than 100,000 people are expected to flock to the Geelong waterfront this Australia Day long weekend to celebrate the nation’s oldest annual sporting event.
The 2020 Festival of Sails will attract up to 300 boats, with 3000 competitors and support crew coming from around Australia.
Sailors will compete in a diverse range of vessels from grand prix racers to family cruising boats, multi-hulls and sports boats, as part of the biggest keelboat regatta in the southern hemisphere.
The regatta kicks off on Saturday with a fleet of 245 boats taking part in the 56km Passage Race from Williamstown to Geelong — the oldest ocean race in Australia.
The race will mark the start of the 177th Festival of Sails, which will feature 14 different race series.
Peter Stephens, a two-decade-long member of and former commodore of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, said the festival was a great opportunity to catch up with fellow sailors from far and wide.
In the off-the-water action, the Waterfront Festival, presented by Geelong Connected Communities, will bring Steampacket Gardens, Eastern Beach and the grounds of the
Royal Geelong Yacht Club to life.
Highlights of the three-day Waterfront Festival will include live entertainment and “come and try” activities such as discovering sailing and virtual reality sailing.
Stallholders will food, arts and crafts.
And yesterday the Royal Geelong Yacht Club announced it will contribute $10,000 to kick start a Festival of Sails bushfire appeal in the wake of cancelling its tradprovide itional Australia Day works show.
Festival of Sails chairman Stuart Dickson said he was delighted that Geelong Connected Communities, which presents the Waterfront Festival during the event, had offered even more help by adding another $17,500.
Mr Dickson said the festival offered something for the whole family, both on and off the water.
“We know of a number of sailors who have been coming
Fireto Geelong every year to compete and are now sailing with their own kids and even grandchildren,” he said.
“It is fantastic to see generations of families enjoying the sport together.”
The Royal Geelong Yacht Club is open to the public to enjoy the atmosphere and entertainment in the Regatta Village, which will face the water inside the RGYC club grounds.
The Regatta Village will include a big screen for keeping up to date with the on-water action, food trucks, live music and a variety of stalls.
About 30 acts will perform on two stages.
While Regatta Village performances are free, wristbands are required from 5pm.
Tickets have now been fully allocated.
Wristbands are not required for the free performances in Steampacket Gardens.
The festival runs from Saturday to Monday.
For more information visit festivalofsails.com.au