The 2018 Goolwa Regatta Week, which will be sponsored by Coorong Quays Hindmarsh Island through new owners Mill Hill Capital, kicks off this weekend and offers many reasons for holiday-makers, yacht racers, casual sailors, families and friends to spend time in the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula region.
This event truly is one of the hidden gems of South Australia with a strong lifestyle focus at the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, right where the Murray River meets the Ocean.
Regatta Week will run from Saturday 20 January through to Saturday 27 January and includes community events both on and off the water and Australia Day celebrations in the historic river towns of Goolwa and Milang.
While the program for the event has been expanded in recent years to include the associated community events of Goolwa Regatta Week, the long history of the event began with the iconic Milang-Goolwa Freshwater Classic, which has run since 1974 and is still the marquee event of the week.
It’s one of the region’s top sporting highlights and this year will be held on Saturday 27 January 2018 as sailors race the challenging river conditions from Milang back to Goolwa.
It’s also the first time the Classic has been raced on a Saturday, giving crews and visitors more time to relax and stay after the race.
The iconic town of Goolwa will play host to the 2018 Goolwa Regatta Week.
Haven’t heard of Goolwa?
Picture a town centre metres from the River Murray, with steam powered Paddle Wheeler, the SteamRanger Cockle Train, a fleet of century old sailing yachts, plus restaurants, wine bars, a distillery on the wharf overlooking the action, and across the water the Coorong Quays tourism and lifestyle development. It really is a remarkable place that has to be experienced in person, so Goolwa Regatta Week is your chance.
Goolwa is just a 75-minute drive from Adelaide via the Hills Freeway to Mt Barker and Strathalbyn, or by the Southern Expressway and Victor Harbor Road.
Along the race course there are excellent public viewing points at Milang, Point Sturt, Clayton and at Goolwa North the shorelines on Liverpool Road or across on Hindmarsh Island.
Stay updated
This year Down Under Sail is excited to be involved in the 2018 Goolwa Regatta Week and will be on the water at the event bringing all the coverage to you through our online and social media channels.
There will be live streaming of some of the major events, as well as social media updates and online stories throughout the day, so if you’re unable to attend and are suffering from a bad case of FOMO (fear of missing out), this will be the best way to stay involved.
Visit our Facebook page for all the day-to-day updates and stay tuned to the website for daily reports.
For more information about Goolwa Regatta Week, head to the event website.
