The Cowes Yacht Club's premier event, Around French Island National Catamaran Challenge, returns to Cowes on February 15 next year. Entries are now open.
Cowes Yacht Club is welcoming the 29th running of Australia's toughest off the beach sailing endurance races on February 15, 2025.
The Australian Air Safaris Around French Island National Catamaran Challenge will feature up to 70 of the best sailors from not only Westernport Bay but from around the country with entries already submitted from Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales.
The race starts and finishes at the Yacht Club located 400m west of the pier,
The race is a simple navigation around French Island in Westernport Bay.
The most direct route is 70 kilometres, but most competitors will travel over 100km while navigating the race,
In the past competitors have finished in the dark with race times in excess of eight hours, but the quickest time sits at two hours 45-minutes.
The event began in 1997 as a fun event for Cowes Yacht Club catamaran sailors.
In the early days the race would be attempted by as few at 10 catamarans but over the years the race has grown and became known as one of the toughest and most gruelling sailing races in Australia.
If the challenge of the race wasn't enough, with thanks to major sponsor Australian Air Safaris, the event has over $10,000 in prize money spread across divisions and line honour trophies, with additional trophies for All Female Crew and first Female Skipper.
The Phillip Island community has embraced the event.
In 2024 there were hundreds of people at the Yacht Club for the race start and with thanks to Wildlife Coast Cruises, a sold out spectator ferry was on the water for the race start.
In 2025 the spectator ferry will be back and tickets will be on sale soon.
Once again the club will host a free BBQ, giveaways and provide a brilliant view to watch the race start.
The event is possible because of the incredible support of partners like Red Rocks Golf Course, Modra Technologies, the Isle of Wight Hotel, Bass Coast Shire Council, Westernport Water, Bendigo Bank, Wildlife Coast Cruises, the Phillip Island RSL, and of course Australian Air Safaris backing the event.
The Australian Air Safaris Around French Island National Catamaran Challenge will be held on February 15, with a maximum of 70 competitors.
Entries now open: www.cowesyachtclub.com/afi
Make a note in your diary, as event day will include an active program of public activities. In the week before the event, details will be provided of these exciting initiatives.
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