Preparations Started

The Sail Melbourne International Regatta is one of only five ISAF Grade 1 events held each year and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere.

It is an event that attracts competitors from around the world who know that not only will they have top level class racing, but the opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of other sailors on shore at the end of each day. In 2004 the Olympic and invited classes event had athletes from 21 countries participating in the regatta.

In 2005 the Sail Melbourne Olympic and Invited Classes event will be held from January 10th through to January 15th inclusive at Sandringham Yacht Club on the shores of Port Phillip.

Port Phillip is recognised as one of the world’s best open expanses of water for yacht racing. It is non-tidal with an afternoon sea breeze of 10-15 knots average wind strength. In January the climate is ideal with a daily average temperature of 25 – 30 degrees Celsius and warm water.

Racing in the Olympic Classes will be for:

·Europe
·Finn
·Laser
·Yngling
·49er
·Star
·470’s men and women
·Mistral men and women
·Tornado
·2.4m

The nominated Invited Classes in 2005 will comprise:

·Laser Radial
·Laser 4.7 and,
·The 420, ISAF youth dinghy

Advance race details are:

·On-site registration from Saturday January 8th 2005
·Measurement – spot checks only
·Racing commences Monday January 10th through to Saturday January 15th 2005
·Olympic courses
·All racing will conform to the Olympic standards
·Online entry will be available
·Prize money will be distributed to individual race winners and overall placegetters in each Olympic class.
·On shore there is an athletes centre with free fruit in the morning and after race entertainment and refreshments.
·A fun event sailed in Access disabled sailor dinghy’s in the ‘pond’ at the water front will be held for the individual race winners in each class over the first three days of racing with a ‘winner takes all’ $500.00 cash prize.

A low cost City of Bayside Homestay accommodation program in support of the regatta and in close proximity to the Yacht Club is available to all competitors. This has proven to be a most popular initiative.

Schenker Stinnes Logistics have been appointed to provide assistance with shipping boats to and from Australia. Full details on the services that Schenker can provide including related costs can be directly accessed through the Sail Melbourne web site.

We are currently endeavouring to obtain concessional container shipping rates for overseas competitors. Whatever we can achieve will be advised on the regatta website.

A pre-event commencing on January 5th through to January 7th 2005 (tentative dates) will be held at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club (adjacent to Sandringham) for nominated classes: 470’s men and women; Europe; Finn and Yngling.

A Mistral men and women pre-event may also be held from January 5th through to January 7th (tentative dates) 2005 at Parkdale Yacht Club or Elwood Sailing Club.

The preliminary notice of race for the Olympic & Invited Classes regatta will be posted on the event website at the address below early April 2004. Other information on the Sail Melbourne International regatta will also be available on the site throughout the year.