Largest sailing regatta in Australia

Skandia Geelong Week is the largest sailing regatta in Australia, with over 400 sailboats competing over five days. First held in 1844, it is one of the nation's oldest sporting events.

-- Cruisers prepare for historic passage race --

More than two hundred cruising yachts are expected to participate in the historic Williamstown to Geelong passage race during Skandia Geelong Week.

While the majority of yachts at Skandia Geelong Week will hail from around Port Philip, many have traveled from interstate and some have made long road trips to be a part of Australia’s largest sailing event. Three hundred and fifty one yachts will make the thirty four nautical mile journey down to Geelong’s Corio Bay, with two Sonata 6.7’s numbering among the smallest in the fleet. “Blu & Me and my boat Stress Relief come from the ACT” explained John McDaniel “I have to say it was no stress relief to get here, quite the opposite in fact, but we’re making up for it now. We’re four mates with three bags of ice and a 50 litre cooler on board and can’t wait to get out there and sail.”

It’s easy to see why a long passage race would attract crews of small trailerable yachts more used to sailing on Lake Burley Griffin. “It takes us three minutes to sail north to south and less than an hour to cross the lake on one tack while here we can sail for six hours in relatively protected waters” says McDaniel, adding “we always come straight to Geelong and then cruise up to Williamstown, doing the passage race twice, in effect, to get the most of spending time on the water.

Grant Wharington, Skipper of Skandia Wild Thing VIC said this, “Skandia Geelong Week is a fantastic event. It’s got nice flat water, great racing; it’s perfect for spectators, family friendly and has lots of entertainment. It’s the ‘complete’ regatta – there’s something for everyone.”

Photo by Andrea Francolini