The oldest Australian sporting event will be launching tomorrow, as 250 boats set sail from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria in Williamstown as part of the 180th running of the Festival of Sails.
The Passage Race normally attracts more than 200 entries as boats and yachts of all classes take to the waters of Port Phillip Bay for the opening challenge of the 34 nautical mile four-day regatta to Geelong, which will run from Thursday, January 26 to Sunday, January 29.
Festival chairman Paul Buchholz said it is significant for the event to reach its 180th anniversary.
“You can’t deny the importance of any event hitting such a momentous milestone and we are incredibly proud,” he said.
“After more than two years of waves of Covid-related restrictions and interruptions to businesses and events, we think the 180th anniversary is a pretty good reason to celebrate, and we’ll be inviting everyone to join us.”
The race will begin at 9.30am, with Grand Prix racing yachts, cruiser/racer keelboats, multihulls, classic yachts and trailer sailers launching as part of the largest single start of a yacht race in the largest keelboat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere.
Details: festivalofsails.com.au
