For Sailing Regatta FAQs, please click the below link;
Sailing Regatta FAQ’s
What is the Festival of Sails?
The Festival of Sails is the largest annual keel boat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere, held annually in Geelong and Melbourne. It is Victoria’s oldest sporting event and is annually attracts in excess of 400 yachts and 4500 participants.
How long has the event been running?
The first regatta was held in 1844. In 1997, a joint venture agreement between Royal Geelong Yacht Club and the City of Greater Geelong saw the events formerly known as the the Festival of Sail and Geelong Waterfront Festival united under the umbrella of the Festival of Sail.
How do I get to Geelong?
Getting to Geelong is easy! Located less than an hour from Melbourne, there are plenty of options for transportation to Geelong from the Melbourne CBD.
Drive
Travelling to Geelong is an easy drive along the Princes Freeway, and should take no more than an hour.
Fly
Geelong has its’ own airport at Avalon, which is just under half an hour away from the city centre. Avalon Airport services Jetstar and Tiger Airways flights to and from most major Australian cities. Hire cars and a shuttle service are also available from this point. Further information is available at www.avalonairportshuttle.com.au.
Alternatively, the Ring Road from Melbourne International Airport at Tullamarine makes the journey to Geelong a breeze.
Bus
Daily bus services arrive from interstate to Melbourne and connections to Geelong can be made via rail or connecting shuttle services.
Ferry
The Peninsula Searoad Ferry provides a car and passenger ferry service connecting the Mornington Peninsula to the Bellarine Peninsula. The service runs hourly from 7am to 7pm, every day. Geelong is a short 30 minute drive from the ferry disembarking point at Queenscliff. Ticket information is available at www.searoad.com.au.
Train
Trains from interstate and capital cities arrive at Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station allowing ongoing connections to Geelong. See www.vline.com.au for further timetable and ticketing information.
What else happens, other than yacht racing?
Plenty! Over 100,000 visitors will head for the Geelong Waterfront over the Australia Day holiday period. The Australia Day holiday period is a time to celebrate and the Geelong Waterfront is the place to be. Huge crowds head for the foreshore as soon as the first yacht appears on the horizon and from that point on it is celebration time – celebration of the nation’s anniversary, celebration of the totally rejuvenated waterfront precinct and a celebration to welcome all visiting sailors.
The four day Waterfront Festival is a free community based event with a number of distinct event precincts, which offer a diverse range of entertainment for the entire family, including fine food and wine; art and craft; market stalls; music and entertainment.
What are the different event precincts?
There are a number of distinct event precincts, catering to all types of festival go-ers.
Steampacket Gardens – The Festival of Sails Main Arena
Steampacket Gardens is the main activity hub of the festival, with a wide range of entertainment, festival food and siteholder stalls.
Fairnie Park – The Festival of Sails Regional Food & Wine Showcase
Fairnie Park is where the music will be laid back and acoustic, enabling patrons to sit in a relaxed atmosphere whilst sampling a nice glass of local wine and plate of the region’s best foods.
Royal Geelong Yacht Club – The Festival of Sails Regatta Village
Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) is the heart of the regatta and home to all the visiting yachties. The yacht club will be the night time licenced entertainment venue.
Eastern Beach – The Festival of Sails ‘Come & Try’ Zone
Eastern Beach will offer a family friendly come and try experience which will enable children and adults to safely try a range of beach based activities, such as sailing, wind surfing, kite boarding, stand-up paddle boarding, beach volleyball and outrigger canoeing..
Transvaal Square – The Festival of Sails Kids Zone
The grassed area of Transvaal Square will be turned into a fun filled kid friendly zone with low impact entertainment for under 12s.
