Hello, sailors: Mark Turnbull and Jav Greaves stay on deck at Audi Victoria Week in Geelong on Wednesday.
Andrew Mathieson
A BUMPER Australia Day crowd attracted to the sights of Geelong’s waterfront saved a historic sailing regatta from a shortfall in spectator numbers, according to Audi Victoria Week officials.
They conceded the absence of Geelong’s name from the title of the 157-year-old regatta had cost the event support among residents.
Event commercial manager Jav Greaves said about 60,000 visitors on Wednesday ensured an overall turnout of more than 100,000 for the event’s five days in Geelong.
The regatta included two days of lead-up events at Docklands to “draw people to the state” under a Tourism Victoria strategy.
“There was definitely some resistance from Geelong people,” Mr Greaves said.
“But they have to realise the event now is global and certainly national from a yachting perspective.
“I think that most people who understand tourism realise we need to market the state so Geelong can benefit from that marketing.”
Mr Greaves said the name change ensured the regatta now secured “a lot of serious entries”.
Until 2009 the event was known as Skandia Geelong Week.
Mr Greaves said stretching this year’s regatta from four days to five to finish on Australia Day also hurt crowd numbers.
Attendance on Monday and Tuesday was “marginal”, he said.
“That was difficult weekend with a lot of people going back to work on Monday and Tuesday rather than taking a long weekend but we’re seeing some really amazing crowds (on Wednesday),” Mr Greaves said
“People know this regatta really well and it forms a part of Australia Day calendar.
“It doesn’t take much to promote that on Australia Day.”
