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Festival Of Sails

2024 Competitor Information

General Race Information 
  • As per the Festival of Sails Notice of Race 2.1: It is the intention of the OA to have the sailing instructions available 1 week prior to the start of racing.
  • Notice of Race 2.2: The Sailing Instructions (SI’s) will be posted on the event web site HERE 
  • Division splits will be allocated 1 week prior to the start of racing.
 
Berth Allocations 

Your Berth allocations will be sent to you on or before Wednesday January 24th, 2024 from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club office. 

 
Delivery of your boat to Royal Geelong Yacht Club (via land):

For those arriving in Geelong on Tuesday January 23rd:

  • If you can park your boat at your accommodation / off-site overnight, please do.
  • Access to the Club will be available ONLY after 5:00 PM If you need to deliver your boat to RGYC on Tuesday evening, please contact the RGYC Marina Manager, Paul Walters, during the day with an ETA, and on approach to the club. Contact details listed are below.

For those arriving in Geelong on Wednesday January 24th:

  • Please contact the RGYC Marina Manager with your ETA and on approach to the club.
 
Launching your boat:
  • Boat launching facilities are limited for Festival of Sails 2024.
  • The Marina and event staff will direct you to the appropriate rigging area.
  • Please coordinate a crane-in time slot with our Marina team to ensure we have no clashes with our on-site event build and logistics.
  • Cadet Sprint Series Competitors should be aware of potential road closures and traffic congestion because of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Cadet launching and retrieval is available from Eastern Beach adjacent to Royal Geelong Yacht Club on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • Contact Marina Manager Paul Walters: 0418 524 867
 
Trailer Storage:
  • Due to on-site construction, there will be no trailer parking at RGYC. Trailer storage for participants has been arranged off-site at Geelong Marine World from Wednesday January 24th.
  • Arrangements for storage will need to be made directly with Geelong Marine World via Jake Broadhead on 03 5248 1752
  • Please note access will only be available during business hours. 
  • You will be able to access your trailer immediately after racing has finished on Sunday January 28th in order to crane your boat out. 
 
Skippers Packs:
  • Skippers are required to complete a short form to enable their skippers’ packs, including their division backstay flags, to be delivered to the correct clubs and marinas around Port Philip Bay prior to the start of the regatta.
  • This form must be completed by close of business January 18th 2024. 
  • RGYC members can collect their skippers pack and backstay flag from RGYC Reception from Tuesday January 22nd 2024.
  • See the form for skippers’ packs HERE 
 
Registering for a ticket to Festival of Sails:

This year we are excited to be going digital for our ticketing and removing the need for wrist bands to enter the site after 6:00pm on Friday and Saturday!

Each entry has been allocated a set number of tickets for your crew, family, and friends as per the number requested on your entry form.  

IMPORTANT: Each individual competitor MUST have and carry their own ticket to enter the event. These tickets will be scanned at the entry gate and without a ticket you will not be allowed to enter the event site. Tickets with QR codes may remain on your phone or may be printed for scanning at the entrance gates.

SKIPPERS: If you are registering tickets on behalf of your crew, please ensure you have sent everyone their ticket before arriving at the entry gates.

  • To access your competitor ticket, you will be required to enter your Sail Number into the ‘Promo Code’ section of this ticketing website, this will grant you access to your exclusive 3-day access Competitor Ticket.

  •  If you are both an RGYC Member and a 2024 Festival of Sails Competitor, please register yourself for a ‘Competitor Ticket’
  •  If you would like to book further tickets for family and friends, we also have General Admission Tickets available, or if you are a RGYC Member, you will also have a 2-ticket allocation which is available to be booked using your Member Number in the ‘Promo Code’ section. You are welcome to share your Member Number with your family and friends.

If you need any assistance navigating this online ticketing process, please see our Instructional Document on how to book your tickets online.

Hospitality Opening Hours:

This year, there is a wide variety of food and drink options for you to enjoy at Festival of Sails!

Bar Opening Hours

Bar Location

Date 

Opening Hours 

Tipi on the Bay

Friday 26th 

11:00am – 6:00pm 

Saturday 27th 

11:00am – 4:00pm 

7:00pm – 9:00pm 

Sunday 28th 

11:00am – 5:00pm 

Foredeck by Peroni

Friday 26th 

11:00am – 12:00am 

Saturday 27th 

11:00am – 12:00am 

Sunday 28th 

11:00am – 8:00pm 

Regatta Village Bar 

Friday 26th 

11:00am – 12:00am 

Saturday 27th 

11:00am – 12:00am 

Sunday 28th 

11:00am – 8:00pm 

Clubhouse Bar

Friday 26th 

11:00am – 12:00am

Saturday 27th 

1:00am – 12:00am

Sunday 28th 

11:00am – 6:00pm 

Jimmy Rum Bar

Friday 26th 

11:00am – 12:00am

Saturday 27th 

11:00am – 12:00am 

Sunday 28th 

11:00am – 8:00pm 

Western Lounge Bar 

Friday 26th 

5:00pm – 9:00pm 

Saturday 27th 

5:00pm – 9:00pm

 
The Yot Cafe Opening Hours

Date 

Menu 

Opening Hours 

Friday 26th 

Breakfast Menu 

7:00am – 10:30am

Day Time Menu

10:30am – 4:00pm 

Dinner Menu

5:30pm – 9:00pm 

Saturday 27th 

Breakfast Menu 

7:00am – 10:30am

Day Time Menu

10:30am – 4:00pm 

Dinner Menu

5:30pm – 9:00pm 

Sunday 28th 

Breakfast Menu 

7:00am – 10:30am

Day Time Menu

10:30am – 4:00pm 

Dinner Menu

5:30pm – 8:00pm 

 
Soos’ Calamari Bar Opening Hours

Date

Menu

Opening Hours

Friday 26th 

Squid Menu

12:00pm – 8:00pm

Saturday 27th

Squid Menu

12:00pm – 8:00pm

Sunday 28th 

Squid Menu

12:00pm – 5:00pm

 
Slab & Ice Bar Opening Hours

Bar Location 

Date

Opening Hours 

Regatta Village Bar 

Friday 26th 

11:00am – 6:00pm 

Saturday 27th 

7:00am – 6:00pm 

Sunday 28th 

7:00am – 6:00pm 

 
‘The Unlicensed Walkway’:

IMPORTANT: Please note due to licensing restrictions, any alcohol purchased off site cannot be brought into the event site under any circumstances. If you would like to transport alcohol to your yachts, you will be required to do so through a dedicated designated walkway,  ’The Unlicensed Walkway’ via the east entrance to the yard. 

Event site entrances will be staffed 24/7 by security and you will require your event  ticket or RGYC Member swipe card to access this walkway. Security will be checking these at the gate and will deny access to anyone without one of these. 

 
Sunday Session Presentation Party:

This year we are going out with a bang at Festival of Sails. Make sure to mark this one in your calendar and tell all your friends and family to be at the Regatta Village stage from 4:00pm onwards on Sunday January 28th to catch crowd favourites the Sweethearts followed by the Final Wrap and Presentations hosted by Sailor Girl, Nic Douglas! Then the afterparty will kick off from 6:30pm with the Sweethearts returning to start the celebrations as we mark the end of another successful regatta!

Want the best seats in the house to catch the Sunday Session Presentation Party? Grab a table on the Foredeck by Peroni for the Sunday Session Presentation Party! The bar will be open, and we will be serving grazing platters for you and your crew to enjoy as you toast to the best Festival of Sails yet and enjoy the festivities!

No need to book, simply come on down, grab a seat and enjoy the festivities and celebrations with your crew, friends, and family!

Event Merchandise:

What better way to commemorate the 2024 Festival of Sails than with piece of 2024 Festival of Sails merchandise!

Event merchandise will be available to purchase from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club Information Booth located in front of the clubhouse. 

Passage Race Transportation:

For those requiring transportation to the start of the passage race on Friday January 26th Royal Geelong Yacht Club will be running two buses from Geelong to Williamstown, Docklands, St Kilda & Brighton for crew needing to get to Melbourne for the start of the Passage Race. Boarding will commence from 5:15am with the buses departing from Brougham Street, Geelong at 5:45am sharp. 

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL!

You can book HERE

Important Contacts:

If you have any further queries or need to clarify any of the information provided, please refer to the contact list below.

  • General Enquiries: Royal Geelong Yacht Club (03) 5229 3705 or sailing@rgyc.com.au 
  • Marina Manager: Paul Walters – 0418 524 867
  • Sailing and Boating Manager: Drew Malcolm – 0439 275 294
  • Principle Race Officer: Dennis Thompson – Available in the Regatta Office.
  • Jury Chair: Philippe Mazard – Available in the jury room.
  • Geelong Marine World Trailer Storage: Jake Broadhead – 03 5248 1752

Please note any of the above information is subject to change.