As the Chairman of our historic Annual Yachting Regatta and on behalf of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, I would like invite and welcome sponsors, competitors, officials, guests, volunteers and spectators to the largest annual sailing regatta in the Southern Hemisphere
We have renamed the event, as the Festival of Sails, to better depict both the sailing and onshore festivities that have become a part of this tremendous week of sailing in Melbourne and Geelong, as well as to remind us of events heritage.
The Festival of Sails 2012 program begins in Melbourne on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd January. Reinvigorating the rich history of the event, in 2012 the Melbourne program will be conducted with the co-operation, of Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, in Williamstown. This weekend of racing will see the Premier Racing and Sydney 38 Fleets racing at the Northern end of Port Phillip, as the start of their Festival of Sails campaigns.
Australia Day on Thursday 26th January sees racing resume, with the iconic Passage race from Williamstown to Geelong, whilst further inshore racing will be taking place in Geelong. Racing will continue in Geelong on Corio Bay until Sunday the 29th.
Royal Geelong Yacht Club is proud of its history in hosting many State and National Class Championships during the regatta. In 2011, the event will be staging Australian Championships for the Melges 24 Class and the Farr 1020 Class, as well as Victorian State Championships for the SB3 Class and the hugely exciting Moths.
The Festival of Sails is unlike any other regatta in Australia in the range of on and off water activities that are available to entertain those who may not be competing. It is truly a great festival to enjoy with the family over the school holiday period. I encourage everyone to get behind the 2012 Festival of Sails to make this great event even bigger and better than past years and I look forward to seeing you all in January 2012.
Ian Murray
Regatta Chairman
