Sail Melbourne Next Gen will run from 11 - 14 January 2021 for the Optimist, O’Pen Skiff, Minnow and Cadet Classes. Sail Melbourne will run from 16 - 20 January 2021 for the Olympic and Invited Classes. Both events will be hosted by Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC). Entries are now open, and the notice of race can be accessed HERE.

Sail Melbourne is Australia’s premier Olympic and Invited Classes Regatta, held annually on the waters of Port Phillip, Victoria. The 2021 edition of Sail Melbourne will feature “Sail Melbourne Next Gen”. This event will be focused on the Optimist Class and similar classes. The division of the event across two weeks further strengthens the ability to stage the event during potential COVID restrictions.  

Local Victorian sailors, Tess Lloyd, Sam and Will Phillips, are selected to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics will be attending Sail Melbourne to assist with their Road to Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 with sailing taking place at Enoshima Yacht Harbour. All three sailors have not spent much time in Victoria this year due to COVID-19. You could say all three sailors have been nomadic travellers for the past six months.

Above image Will and Sam Phillips credit: Beau Outteridge 

“When Victoria was about to go into lockdown back in July we only had hours to pack and get ourselves over the border to NSW to ensure we could continue our training with our coach and the team. We have been moving around on the east coast with training and taking the best advantages of the weather and breeze to assist our training and prepare our Olympic campaign.  Being away from home has made us homesick, but knowing our summer preparation will be back home in Victoria, we are looking forward to being home.” Said, Will and Sam Phillips

Established in 1992, it has become the largest annual ‘Off the Beach’ regatta in the southern hemisphere and is critical to the growth and success of junior and youth sailors, enabling them to race alongside their Olympic heroes.

Whilst Victoria’s ongoing COVID restrictions remain unknown for January 2021 the Royal Brighton Yacht Club is determined to continue in the tradition of Victoria hosting a world class event and will work with local authorities, Australian Sailing and all competitors to meet all the necessary COVID guidelines.  

For more information on Sail Melbourne Next Gen and Sail Melbourne and to enter see the website: www.sailmelbourne.com.au