| WILLIAMSTOWN, VIC, AU-(3-10-2002) Australia’s oldest yacht club, the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, will play host to the Australian Offshore Keelboat Championships (AOKC), the premier regatta on Australia's yachting calendar, in January 2003.
To be held on the waters of Port Phillip, the regatta will help mark the 150th Jubilee celebrations of the Club, and up to 80 boats are likely to take part, of which half are expected to be the creme of interstate racing yachts.
The regatta will be staged from January 16-23, following on from the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race and Bass Strait Dash, and prior to the Bundaberg Rum Festival of Sail in Geelong.
Race organisers expect many boats will take advantage of the timing of the various regattas, yachts ‘rock hopping’ their way from Hobart to Melbourne to their home ports, ensuring a large and high quality fleet on the Bay in the New Year.
Those expected to compete include local boat, Bruce Taylor’s Sydney 38, Chutzpah, Sydney’s Michael Spies driven Beneteau 40.7, P&O Nedlloyd, Ray Roberts’ Farr 52, Hollywood Boulevard, and South Australian entry Secret Mens Business, an MBD 32 owned by Geoff Boettcher.
Previously staged at Hamilton Island and Adelaide, this third running of the Australian Yachting Federation event will see trophies awarded for both IMS and IRC divisions. In addition, trophies will be presented for AMS, PHS and JOG divisions, with class trophies for the Farr 40, Mumm 30 and Sydney38 one-design yachts, as part of the Championships.
A series of six demanding round the buoys races and a passage race around the Bay, the AOKC has already attracted a great deal of interest, indicating top level racing amongst some of Australia's best prepared teams, and with support from Sail Melbourne, it will be one of many high-profile regattas on Port Phillip this summer.
The Club has recently completed extensions and now boasts a dining room, with out-door undercover and lawn dining. With a travel lift, hardstand with two cranes and a well-protected marina, it is well placed to cater to visiting boats. The yard provides a vast range of marine services, with a chandlery close by.
Williamstown is the home of the RYCV, and is a historic seaport just 20 minutes from the CBD, enjoying tremendous shopping, dining, watering holes, and cafes serving some of the world’s finest coffee. Williamstown and the City and surrounds also offer great sight seeing.
A very enthusiastic Commodore, Colin Johnson commented, ‘January is a fabulous time to visit Melbourne, the weather is glorious, and sailing conditions are excellent. We thank the AYF for giving us the chance to run this event. It will be great to have all of these boats in fierce competition, then return after a hard day on the water to enjoy our club, and help us celebrate our 150th birthday.’
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