Competitor information section - regularly updated
Come and join us
Royal Geelong Yacht Club has a proud history of hosting visiting sailors and their extended families. Rest assured the club and all involved with Audi Victoria Week will be doing everything possible to make sure competitors enjoy every aspect of what promises to be a sensational championship.
I hope to see you in Geelong next January!
Doug Jarvis
Event Coordinator
Audi Victoria Week
Principal
Rhumbline Marketing P/L
doug@rhumblinemarketing.com.au
Contacts:
Rhumbline Marketing P/L
Event Coordinators
info@geelongweek.com.au
+61 (0) 3 5229 9101
Royal Geelong Yacht Club
info@rgyc.com.au
+61 (0) 5229 3705
General information
First time visitors
Audi Victoria Week can be a little intimidating for first time visitors! A jam packed marina and a seemingly chaotic yacht club, surrounded by tens of thousands of visitors enjoying a diverse range of festivities, is a little different to the normal club regatta.
Audi Victoria Week is a unique major event where sailing shines as the core attraction. (Some say the Melbourne Cup of yachting!) Audi Victoria Week is all about huge fleets, memorable racing, camaraderie and a shoreside program that is guaranteed to put a put a smile on the dial.
Audi Victoria Week is also the kind of event where everyone gives a little in order to be part of the big stage. So be prepared to share, enjoy the whole experience and don’t be surprised to see the unexpected.
Racing
Audi Victoria Week is staged at both ends of Port Phillip, commencing in Melbourne and finishing in Geelong. The competition heads to the protected waters of Corio Bay via a spectacular 34nm (approx) passage race.
If typical summer weather patterns prevail, competitors will experience a diversity of conditions. At the top end of Port Phillip a strong sea breeze generally heralds short, choppy conditions. In stark contrast the inner and outer harbour of Corio Bay is usually flat and fast in the prevailing south easterly sea breeze - conditions that should produce high speed sailing and a closely fought championship.
General tourism information
Geelong – quick facts
• Population approximately 208,395
• 75 kilometres south-west of Melbourne
• Victoria’s second largest city
The name ‘Geelong’ is derived from ‘jillong’, the Aboriginal work for bay, which means ‘a place of the sea bird over the white cliffs’. This waterfront city offers a diverse range of food, wine, cultural and recreational attractions and colonial history evident in the city’s 100 National Trust-listed buildings. Geelong is also the major gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula and Great Ocean Road.
Geelong takes full advantage of its unique north-facing bay with fabulous waterfront eateries, landscaped gardens and walking paths set against the backdrop of Corio Bay. Stroll past the sculptured bollards dotted along the foreshore that chronicle characters from the city’s past and present, including dapper young ladies in neck-to-knee bathing costumes, 1930s lifesavers, traditional Aussie families, a Geelong footballer, jaunty sailors, fishermen and a town band.
Close by is Eastern Beach, which features an art deco-style pool, promenade complex and the restored pavilion that houses a pleasant restaurant, café and kiosk. Pakington Street, the wide tree-lined avenue linking the suburbs of Geelong West and Newtown, is also worth a visit and is only a few minutes from the city. There are many different restaurants and eateries to try as well as delicatessens, wine merchants, a park to relax in and a street ambience to experience.
Where to stay?
A majority of crews choose Geelong as the ‘home’ base and travel to and from Melbourne on the first day of competition. Others prefer to stay in Melbourne either onboard or close by for the lead up and first day, before taking up residence in Geelong.
How to find accommodation?
Geelong has a wide variety of accommodation and although the Waterfront and City is heavily booked during AVW - early birds will find options close by. The place to start the search is our Official Accommodation Provider, Four Points by Sheraton Geelong which is conveniently located across the road from the event. For other options please visit www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au for a comprehensive search which covers Geelong, all surrounding districts including the Great Ocean Road, our famous surf beaches like Torquay (20km), Barwon Heads (28km), Ocean Grove (26km) Point Lonsdale (30km) and bay side resorts like Portarlington (26km) etc.
Buses
Royal Geelong Yacht Club will be providing buses to and from Melbourne on Saturday 23 January for the start of the Passage Race. The bus will depart from the Taxation Office, near the RGYC at 6am. For further information please call Chris Parker at RGYC on (03) 5229 0730.
Corporate Hospitality opportunities
Audi Victoria Week is fast becoming the ‘Melbourne Cup’ of the sailing world, with corporate hospitality available to rival the Cup carnival.
Corporate hospitality allows guests the opportunity to be immersed in all the entertainment and activities that the event has to offer.
Don’t miss out! These spots will fill quickly so please hurry to take advantage of this exclusive offer! Please contact our Corporate Hospitality sales team at Rhumbline Marketing on (03) 5229 9101 or email info@rhumblinemarketing.com.au
Competitor Update
Trailer/yacht storage
Trailer Storage is available within a temporary storage facility at Limeburners boat ramp. (The storage area is a fenced gravel area of approx 1000 square meters – approximately 2.5 km from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club)
The ramps are both deep water public ramps and provide a sheltered launching area with the trailer storage area immediately adjacent to the ramps.
Keys can be picked up and returned at the Regatta Office at RGYC.
The Royal Geelong Yacht Club is unable to allow launching and retrieval from the on site ramps except in an emergency and reminds all competitors to respect the local laws and guidelines at Limeburners Point.
Berthing arrangements
With our sport of yachting expanding more and more each year, we have had to come to terms and accept the fact that unfortunately we cannot offer everyone a pen, however, the team at Royal Geelong Yacht Club and Audi Victoria Week have worked tirelessly to create safe berthing arrangements and trust that you will find these suitable to all your needs.
Entry Pass System
The yacht club will be open to the public throughout the long weekend until 4pm each day, after 4pm you must have a pass to gain access, "NO PASS = NO ENTRY".
A pass-out system has been devised this year and you will receive a hand-stamp should you wish to re-enter that night.
Unfortunately extra passes cannot be issued.
Looking for crew/Looking for a ride
If you are either looking for crew to take part or wanting a ride for Audi Victoria Week, please get in touch with the Sailing Administrator sailadmin@rgyc.com.au to notify us of your requirements. We often get Skippers looking for crew members and sailors looking for a yacht so we can put you in touch with one another.
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