City launches Sailing regatta

City of Newcastle has welcomed the return of the spectacular Sailfest Newcastle Regatta.

The event will feature skiffs, catamarans and two hallowed pieces of silverware in Newcastle’s sporting pantheon – the 110-year-old Cock of The Harbour Trophy for the fastest boat on the harbour and the Newcastle Harbour Regatta trophy first contested in 1834.

The event will take place from Friday 29 March to Sunday 31 March, including a “Try Sailing” experience on Throsby Creek for kids and their guardians.

In connection with the Newcastle Sailing Yacht Club, the City is contributing $20,000 to the Transpac 52 (TP52) class of competition, an ocean-class vessel.

“I’m proud to announce our sponsorship towards this year’s Sailfest Newcastle Regatta as part of our commitment to develop local events as well as attracting high-quality sporting events,” the Lord Mayor said at today’s launch.

“The event will draw sailors from right up and down the east coast, providing a welcome boost for the local economy and adding another great fixture to our growing calendar of annual events.

“The Sailfest Regatta is a great way to help us realise our vision to create a vibrant and active city and we look forward to growing our relationship with organisers to really activate the harbour and its surrounds.

The event will also help a push by the City and the local sailing community to stage a stopover of the global Ocean Race sailing event in 2021.

The Ocean Race – formerly known as the Volvo Ocean Race - is often described as the longest and toughest professional sporting event in the world and one of the sport’s Big Three events, alongside the Olympic Games and America’s Cup.

The 2021 event will begin in Alicante, Spain, and hopefully feature Newcastle as a port of call in its yet-to-be-confirmed route.

The Newcastle Regatta will be on from 29-31 March. Visit https://www.ncyc.net.au/sailfest-2019-entries-open/