Festival of Sails

Geelong’s historic Festival of Sails will celebrate its 177th anniversary this summer, with the three-day regatta running each year in late January. View more.


About the listing

Geelong’s historic Festival of Sails will celebrate its 177th anniversary this summer, with the three-day regatta running each January.

The Festival of Sails combines history with tradition; heritage with technology; tactics with teamwork; while entertainment and fine food waft across the ocean from a festival of shore based entertainment. 

As Australia’s oldest annual sporting event, sailing crews from around Australia and overseas head to the city of Geelong for brilliant flatwater racing in a reliable summer sea breeze.

The three-day racing schedule includes a two-handed division comprising of four races, including the traditional opening Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race, Australia’s largest mass yacht race, start off Williamstown to the north of Port Phillip. Then there’s the usual spectrum of divisions to cater for owners of sports boats, J111s, S80s, Etchells, cruising keelboats with spinnaker, cruising keelboats without spinnakers, cruising AMS and multihulls.

The Festival of Sails attracts tens of thousands of people  to enjoy the Australia Day festivities along the Geelong Waterfront, with the 2020 event returning to Steampacket Gardens to ensure an even bigger focus on family entertainment and on-water activities.

The Australian Citizenship ceremony is also conducted at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club during the Festival of Sails Australia Day weekend. 

With live music, market stalls, roving entertainers, food trucks, FREE family friendly activities and the Discover Sailing program, there is something for everyone. Whether you are a sailor or a spectator looking for some fun with the family, there is no better place to be than the Festival Of Sails on Geelong’s waterfront in January.

For more detailed information go here.


Photos


Festival of Sails