Phillip Island is set to host a sailing spectacle as the Cowes Yacht Club’s 2022 Catamaran Challenge sets sail on Saturday, March 19.

The 70 km race where boats depart from Cowes and sail around French Island is expected to last five hours.

After months of preparation by the hard-working club committee, a large number of off the beach catamarans, from Victoria and interstate, have arrived to do battle for $10,000 in prize money.

The race is due to start at 12 noon. Three different classes of catamarans will start five minutes apart, which should make it quite a spectacle.

The Cowes Yacht Club has invited members of the public to come and view the race start from upstairs at the club house, with snacks and coffee on sale.

Spectators will also be able to take in the action from various vantage points across the region, including the island’s northern beaches, Rhyll, Corinella, Coronet Bay and locations on the other side of the bay.

The catamarans will depart from Cowes and make a lap around French Island before returning to Cowes for the finish line.

The final direction of the race will be decided on the day, however a club spokesperson said it was likely to be anti-clockwise.

“This is normally the best way to maximise the use of a stronger afternoon sea breeze for a faster sail down the channel home past Hastings, Crib Point, Stony Point then Sandy Point, back to finish in front of the club,” they said.

Safety in the event is paramount, and each boat has an individual tracker that will be followed by race control at Cowes.

There will also be many support boats on the water, to ensure the competitors go the right way.

The first boats are expected to finish around 5pm.

There will be a line honours finish, but the overall winner will be judged on handicap.

The club spokesperson said the handicap meant the event had a “level playing field”.

“The overall winner will be the team that sailed the best, not the team with the fastest or more expensive boat.

“We wish all the competitor’s good luck and great speed and now cannot wait to see who the winners will be.

“Will it be the one of the local teams using their knowledge of the region or will it be one of the interstate teams – only time will tell!”
A special trophy will be presented on the day honouring former life member of the Cowes Yacht Club, Neil Beddoe.

Neil Beddoe

The Westernport Water Memorial Award will be presented in Neil’s name to the first female crew to complete the race.

Neil was a former chair and member of Westernport Water’s customer consultative committee for over 10 years.

Other major event sponsors include Australian Air Sararis, which is providing $10,000 prize money, as well as Bass Coast Shire Council. Bendigo Bank, Phillip Island RSL, Purple Hen Wines, North Pier Hotel and Ronstan.

Traffic

There will be road closures in Cowes between 8am and 8pm on The Esplanade and Osbourne Avenue between Walpole Street and Beach Street to allow for unloading and parking of boat trailers.

The Yacht Club has advised local residents via a letter drop, and residents will still have access to their properties via the Osbourne Avenue barriers, exiting at the Walpole Street end.

The road will be one way for the duration of the closure and professional traffic managers have been engaged to manage the process.

Motorists can expect some delays in the area.