Sail Melbourne 2021 is cancelled

Sail Melbourne, Australia’s premier annual Olympic regatta, and the largest of its type in the southern hemisphere, has been cancelled due to COVID-19. It was to be hosted by Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC) on January 16-20, 2021.

RBYC (Melbourne, Victoria) has been confirmed as a COVID-19 public exposure site, with known cases at the club on the 29th of December 2020 between 12:30-1:30 pm sitting outside in the restaurant. Anyone who visited the club at that time is encouraged to follow the health guidelines by getting tested immediately and quarantining for 14 days from the date of exposure.

With borders closing rapidly, the organizing committee made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s edition of the regatta in the interest of public safety.

While the marina remains open, the clubhouse plans to reopen on Monday 3rd of January having received confirmation from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) they are now able to do so post a certified deep clean of the club and its outer buildings. The deep clean was performed on December 31.

Sail Melbourne Event Chairman and Past Commodore of RBYC, Paul Pascoe shared his disappointed to have to cancel Sail Melbourne for 2021.

“With many sailors traveling from around the country to attend the regatta it was crucial that we made an informed but timely decision to provide them as much notice as possible due to travel,” noted Pascoe. “The primary focus is the safety of staff, visitors and members along with competitors health and welfare.”

Held annually since 1992, Sail Melbourne is a notable event on Olympic Circuit and considered by World Sailing as one of the key “Majors” around the world. This is the first time in 29 years that Sail Melbourne will not be going ahead.

Details: www.sailmelbourne.com.au

Source: Australia Sailing