Meet The Local Artist Behind 2027 Festival Of Sails Campaign

A decade after sailing into Geelong as a Festival of Sails competitor, Surf Coast artist Minerva Lamorgese has returned to capture the event’s spirit through her distinctive illustrations for All Eyes on the Bay, the Festival’s 2027 campaign.

Minerva’s whimsical illustrations combine the movement and excitement of Festival of Sails, where boats and sails transform into birds in flight, with the spectacle of racing on Corio Bay meeting the celebrations along Geelong’s waterfront.

Steve Harper, Royal Geelong Yacht Club General Manager, said collaborating with Minerva was a natural fit, reflecting Festival of Sails’ commitment to celebrating Geelong and its community.
“Festival of Sails is deeply connected to Geelong, so it felt right to work with a local artist to bring this year’s campaign to life. Minerva has such a great connection to the event. The first time she saw Geelong was from the water, sailing into Royal Geelong Yacht Club during Festival of Sails. Now, she’s bringing that experience to life through her artwork,” said Steve.

Italian-born Minerva has called the Surf Coast home for the past decade and said creating the artwork held special significance.
“I will never forget Festival of Sails 2016. Sailing on Heartbreaker, we were surrounded by boats and multicoloured spinnakers, then welcomed into a waterfront filled with flags, music and people. It was my first Australian regatta and, as a Mediterranean sailor, it felt like a connection between my two cultures, from Italy to Australia. I’ve kept that memory close to my heart,” said Minerva.

That experience inspired the sense of movement and transformation at the heart of All Eyes on the Bay.
“The metamorphosis is key. The boats and sails transform into birds, moving from sailing to flying and gliding on the wind. I wanted to recreate some of the sensation of travelling, sailing and flying that I felt when I first arrived in Geelong during the Festival of Sails,” said Minerva.

Visitors to Festival of Sails 2027 will have the opportunity to view Minerva’s six original artworks at Royal Geelong Yacht Club, thanks to club member Paul Loughnan, who has purchased the works to display at the Club.

All Eyes on Geelong in January
Presented by TLC Healthcare, Festival of Sails 2027 will host five major sailing championships and the iconic Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race, with racing from 22 to 26 January.
The excitement continues ashore on 23 and 24 January, with free live music, fireworks and family activities at Royal Geelong Yacht Club and along Geelong’s waterfront.