Festival of Sails builds momentum as entries start flowing

The Festival of Sails 2027 fleet is already taking shape, with the first entries received within 30 minutes of registrations opening. 

Melbourne skipper Duncan Russell led the way with G’NET, followed by the first interstate entry from Mary Ann Harvey and Andrew Lloyd aboard South Australia’s Clockwork. 

Clockwork also became the first entry in the Australian Yachting Championship, which will be hosted as part of Festival of Sails in partnership with Australian Sailing and Sandringham Yacht Club. 

The Australian Yachting Championship will run from 22 to 26 January 2027, headlining an expanded championship line up that also includes the Australian Sports Boat Association National Championship and the S80 Victorian Championship. The Festival program also features the iconic Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race, now in its 184th year. 

For Duncan Russell, entering early was an easy decision after competing in more than 20 Festivals of Sails. 

“It’s a good mix of the on water and off water activities,” he says.  

“We stay in Geelong and look forward to the bands and the atmosphere down at the Club. We also have a good time catching up with friends and other yachties that we only often see once every Australia Day.” 

 The iconic Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race, taking place on Saturday 23rd January remains one of the highlights. 

“We love the Passage Race. The Passage Race for us is exciting and we’ve got certain strategies and theories every year.” 

“Being out on the water for several hours and making our way towards Geelong, and then being able to celebrate and relax when we get there is a highlight.”  =

Duncan says there was no reason to delay entering. 

“One of my crew, who has only sailed once in Geelong previously, asked me the other day when entries open. And then I thought, well, there’s the link to enter. Why not just do it?”   

Clockwork co-owners Andrew Lloyd and Mary Ann Harvey will return to Geelong for the third consecutive year, with Festival of Sails once again forming the final major event in an eight-month racing campaign spanning some of Australia’s premier regattas. 

Beginning with the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta in winter, the campaign takes them through offshore races, Queensland race weeks, the Sydney to Hobart, and the Sydney 38 National Championship at Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, before finishing at Festival of Sails ahead of the Adelaide to Port Lincoln Race. 

“We’re excited to be part of the Australian Yachting Championship, but we were always going to come to Festival of Sails,” Andrew Lloyd says. “This is our third year in a row.” 

Lloyd says the timing of the Festival makes it an ideal addition to a national racing schedule. 

“It’s also great timing with the Sydney 38 National Championships at Royal Yacht Club on Victoria on the weekend before.”   

Mary Ann Harvey says Festival of Sails has become a natural conclusion to the team’s annual campaign. 

“Festival of Sails is the bookend to our whole eight-month campaign,” Mary Ann says. 

“It finishes a long run of regattas around Australia, and it’s a delightful way to wrap it all up before we head home.” 

She says what sets the Festival apart is the atmosphere both on and off the water. 

“I think the Festival of Sails is quite extraordinary. The social involvement of the community is incredible, and you tend not to see that at other regattas. The community really comes out and gets involved in the whole event and it’s fantastic to see.”   

“Being part of the fleet start of the Passage Race, with two lines of 100 boats and a cannon going off in your ear from a tall ship. The spectacle is incredible and we love it.”   

Mary Ann says Festival of Sails is an event every sailor should experience. 

“Do Festival of Sails,” she says. “It’s very convenient for Adelaide and Sydney boats to get to, and every Victorian boat should be in it. It’s a fantastic event.”   

Festival of Sails 2027 is proudly brought to life with the support of the Victorian Government through Visit Victoria, the City of Greater Geelong, presenting partner TLC Healthcare, and Australian Sailing. 

Entries are now open, with the Notice of Race available online. 

View the Notice of Race