2014 Festival of Sails

Geelong’s biggest annual event the Festival of Sails takes place on Geelong’s beautiful waterfront and Corio Bay over the Australia Day Weekend each year. The event is regarded as one of Australia’s premier sailing events and dates back to 1844 making it one of the world’s most historic.

The 2014 event promises to be bigger and better than ever with in-excess of 4500 sailors competing on over 400 yachts and loads of family fun stretched along the entire waterfront precinct.

Corio Bay is at its best during the Festival of Sails weekend with the watercraft making a spectacular site from all around the bay. This weekend is one of the city’s busiest with crowds usually in the vicinity of 100,00 people flocking to the watefront for a weekend of food, music, markets and the spectacular fireworks display that will be held at dusk on Sunday the 26th.

One of the highlights of this year’s event is sure to be the Melges 24 World Championship. This international event will feature around 40 vessels from around the world and will be the first time this world championship event has been held in the Southern Hemisphere.

This year’s Festival of Sails begins on Tuesday the 21st of January and goes through to the 27th of January, with the shoreline excitement taking place over the weekend. Some of the wonderful entertainment planned for this year will include Fireman Sam, Bertie Blackman, Miss Murphy and The Ape featuring Cruel Sea frontman Tex Perkins.