Highlights of Festival of Sails 2017
Highlights of Festival of Sails 2017
Cycling and sailing — two sports that people don’t usually think of together. But with the prestigious Festival of Sails coinciding with the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in Geelong, initiatives to bring the two sports together have been launched in the form of a celebrity pro-am race, which took place on the 25th of January. The aim of the initiative was to raise funds for charities such as Give Where You Live and the Amy Gillett Foundation.
The Bicycle Superstore are proud to say that we were the exclusive bicycle store at the Festival of Sails, now in its 174th year this year. We had a fantastic time bringing our passion for biking to the regatta, giving people the chance to take a Scott demo road bike out for a spin and even giving people the chance to win bikes from our fantastic range. It was delightful to spread the wonders of cycling to attendees of the Festival of Sails.
What is the Festival of Sails?
Held in Geelong every January, the Festival of Sails is Australia’s most beloved sailing and boating event. Running since 1844, it is also the country’s oldest sporting spectacle and has become a must-attend affair for professionals and enthusiasts alike. The Festival of Sails is a regatta that is attended by over 3000 competitors, 300 boats and 110,000 spectators. Alongside the racing, attendees are also treated to live music, roving entertainers, camel rides and other entertainment for the whole family nestled in among a wide array of market stalls and food trucks. This is what has made the Festival of Sails a popular event for both professional sailors and visitors looking for some family friendly fun.
The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
In its third year now, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race embodies the spirit of the Spring Classics of Europe and is the first of its kind in Australia. A race introduced to farewell the only Australian winner of the Tour de France, it is a weekend of showcasing some of the world’s best cycling, and is now a part of the UCI World Tour.
Running at the same time as the Festival of Sails, both events have been greeted enthusiastically by the city of Geelong as well as both cyclists and sailors alike. We at the Bicycle Superstore are honoured to have been a part of the experience!