Premier

2020 Summer Of Sailing At Home In Geelong

16 August 2018

Geelong will be the epicentre of world sailing when it hosts four Olympic Class World Championships during the 2020 Summer of Sailing.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren joined Member for Geelong Christine Couzens at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club to officially launch the events, which will see almost 800 international and local competitors take to the waters of Corio Bay.

The 2020 Summer of Sailing will include four high profile Olympic sailing classes including the 49er (men), 49erFX (women) and Nacra World Championships, as well as the Laser Masters World Championship.

These prestigious racing events will cap off a busy season of major sporting events in Geelong on the back of the annual Festival of Sails and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in January.

The events are expected to inject more than $4.6 million into the Victorian economy as competitors, support crews and spectators descend on Geelong and the surrounding region February through March, supporting local businesses.

With the Tokyo Olympics taking place shortly after in July 2020, event organisers are anticipating that international teams will stay on in Geelong to take advantage of the summer months to train before continuing on to Japan.

The 2020 Summer of Sailing is being supported by the Andrews Labor Government’s Major Events Fund, which received a $4.5 million boost in the Victorian Budget 2018/19.

Visit Victoria is partnering with the Victorian Laser 2020 Regatta Committee, Sailing Australia and the Royal Geelong Yacht Club to deliver world class events during the 2020 summer.

Since 2014, the Labor Government has secured more than 60 major events, 320 business events and supported more than 160 events across our regions. This has helped create more than 15,000 new Victorian tourism jobs.

The 49er, 49erFX and Nacra World Championships will take place from 8-15 February 2020, while the Laser Masters World Championship will take place from 19-28 March 2020.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren

The 2020 Summer of Sailing will bring thousands of sailing fans to regional Victoria, keeping our bars and restaurants full, boosting our visitor economy and creating jobs.

The 2020 Summer of Sailing is yet another reason why Victoria continues to be recognised as the sports capital of Australia.”

Quote attributable to Member for Geelong Christine Couzens

“More and more major events are coming to Geelong which is great for our town, great for local jobs and great for our economy.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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