Breeze Builds as Festival of Sails Hits Stride
Festival of Sails 2026 continued on Sunday 25 January with racing filling Corio Bay with action and colour. Several divisions completed their series today, with tight results reflecting the staunch competition on the water.
In the J24 Division Hugo Ottoway’s Bruschetta VI won their four-race series by three points from Daniel Gallagher’s Dutch Tilt, who held the same margin over Simon Grain’s Convicts Revenge.
The Passage Mini Series saw Reverie with a win in race two today to secure a dominant overall win. Second place was taken out by Stuart Dickson’s Patternmaker on a tie break from Lynda Christophersen’s All Or Nothing.
In the Mornington Peninsula Passage Series Trevor Neate’s Morning Mist backed up their win in the Passage Race with a second place to take out the division. Phil Coghill’s Lyndal II was only two points behind in second place overall, with Stuart Gooley’s YT2 in third place.
The Classic Boat Series was won by local Royal Geelong Yacht Club boat Marie Louis III, owned by Scott Taylor.
Race 2 of the series got underway across two start lines, with the fleet heading directly towards Royal Geelong Yacht Club to their respective turning marks before heading downwind across the inner harbour. The two races saw battling at marks and interspersed divisions across the course.
Race 3 took competitors to the outer harbour for a longer course. Starting towards the south-eastern Stingaree Bay with a turning mark set off Limeburners Point.
The Australian Multihull Championships 2026, being sailed as part of Festival of Sails, are poised for a huge final day. In Division 1 Ian Holten’s Triballistic leading Dave Ruffin’s Kavala and Tim Pepperell’s Running Bare after seven races.
In Division 2 there are just two points separating each of Craig Humphries’ Ritalin in first place, Craig Unthank’s Sknot in second, and Gerald Valk’s Crosshair. With only four points covering the top four boats and a drop in play, all places are very much alive in the final race of the series.
Racing will continue on 26 January on Corio Bay, with Festival of Sails activities running across the weekend. For more information, visit festivalofsails.com.au.
Full results: https://www.topyacht.net.au/results/2026/fos/index.htm
– ENDS –
About the Festival of Sails
The Festival of Sails is Geelong’s ultimate summer celebration, combining world-class sailing with a vibrant community festival on the iconic Geelong Waterfront. Held each Australia Day long weekend, the event draws over 100,000 visitors and hundreds of yachts and competitors from across Australia and beyond.
Set against the backdrop of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club and Eastern Beach, the Festival of Sails this year will deliver three action-packed days of thrilling on-water racing, including the 183rd historic Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race presented by Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong, one of the oldest sporting events in the Southern Hemisphere, and a packed shoreside program featuring live music, gourmet food and beverages, family-friendly activities, fireworks, artisan markets, and entertainment for all ages.
Celebrating both the sport of sailing and community spirit, the Festival of Sails presented by TLC Healthcare brings together competitors, locals, and visitors for an unforgettable summer experience that captures the heart of Geelong’s waterfront culture.
