King of all wins at Festival of Sails 2025
by Nicole Douglass 27 Jan 21:04 NZDT
25-27 January 2025
The Festival of Sails 2025 wrapped today from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club. It was quite the spectacle, with 246 boats, 1100 sailors, 100,000 visitors and close to twenty divisional champions crowned post racing.
"Luck is the king of all wins," said Raymond Roberts of his win with Team Hollywood in Passage Rating Division 1 on both IRC and AMS. Always a gentleman, Roberts politely recognised the win prior to the final day of racing, which was abandoned early due to storm activity in the area.
"We sailed well, but you still need a bit of luck. I'm happy with the result and always love coming to Geelong. It's one of the best clubs in Australia and it's one of our favourites."
Fargo skippered by Ari Abrahams won on ORC in Passage Rating Division 1, with Damien Thomas' PP1 taking top position in the Super 40's series.
Clockwork's co-skippers Andrew Lloyd and Mary Ann Harvey were the overall winners on IRC in Passage Rating Division 2. Ginan, sailed by Nigel Jones and Cam Mckenzie, had a near-perfect scorecard to take the win on AMS. Winner on ORC was Wicked co-skippered by Mike and Mark Welsh.
"That's really good, isn't it?" said Harvey on their win. "We were just a bit bummed about racing being abandoned in this very unsettled weather. But look at this beautiful crew here, all the women and lovely men, we've had a fantastic time," she finished.
"It is our first Festival of Sails. Absolutely loved it".
The pole position in Passage Rating Division 3 went to Executive Decision skippered by William Sheers on ORC, with Arch De Triomphe skippered by John Neville taking first place on AMS.
Passage Rating Division 4 saw Watermark II co-skippered by David Suda and Herschel Landes took out their division on both ORC and AMS.
For the Double Handed division, James Russell's Surprise won on both ORC and EHC. But it was The Muppet Show skippered by Peter Williams and Matt Turner who claimed victory on AMS scoring.
Just Chillin' skippered by David Morell won EHC in the Passage Spinnaker Division 1 and in Passage Spinnaker Division 2 series, Geoff Adams' True Colours took the divisional win on EHC.
"Terrific, no 'I' in team," commented Adams on his team. "All our new crew and old crew came together beautifully".
In the Passage Spinnaker Division 3 series Kevin Curtis' Sea Eagle claimed top honours and Fleurieu Warrior skippered by Trevor Brown took Passage Spinnaker Division 4 series.
Stephen Blackburn's Pronto dominated the Passage Non-Spinnaker Series with a perfect scorecard.
"We're very excited," exclaimed Blackburn. "We had a lot of fun and went really fast which is good. I've done three years [at Festival of Sails] and I'm a member here so I've settled into the club and will be back next year".
In the Multihull Series, Kavala skippered by Dave Ruffin topped the leaderboard on OMR with Nathan Power's Playtime in the top position on EHC.
The overall first place position in the Mornington Peninsula Passage Series was won by Aye Sea Red skippered by Monica Jones on a countback over Lyndal II skippered by Phil Coghill.
On the windward leeward courses, in the S80 class, Manfred Herzer on Jack Tar took the win in all divisions.
Campbell Russell was the winner The Deakin University Trophy for the first Youth Skipper for his win with his co-skipper and father James Russell, winning both on ORC and EHC in the Double Handed Series.
Geoff Adams' True Colours was the winner of the Beneteau Trophy awarded to the best performing Beneteau manufactured boat in the Passage Spinnaker Series.
The Geelong Advertiser Teams Trophy awarded to the best performing team of three boats from any Australian Sailing affiliated Club went to Sandringham Yacht Club. The performances of Wicked, Fargo and Watermark II, making it the club's fourth consecutive win.
For more information visit the website www.festivalofsails.com.au.
Full results available here.