Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin will be adorned with sailing boats this January as the Y Canberra Region Sailing Club hosts the 63rd Australian Heron Sailing Championships for 2024.
Taking place from 7th – 12th January, the Championship will be sailed on the West Basin of Lake Burley Griffin, with the Herons launching from The Y Canberra Region Sailing Club in Yarralumla.
“Our Club is so excited to be welcoming around 50 families from around Australia to come and enjoy inland lake sailing in a Canberra summer,” said Chris Sant, The Y Canberra Region Sailing Club Member and Heron Sailor.
A Heron is a 3.4m long sailing dinghy that can be sailed by both adults and children, and Chris Sant explains that Herons are an ideal boat for newcomers to learn to sail from aged 8 to 80 years.
“What makes this event extra special, is that the four Herons our Club will enter as part of the Championships will be crewed by grandparent/grandchild teams. It’s such a wonderful, family friendly sailing event,” Mr Sant continued.
The 63rd Australian Heron Sailing Championships will see sailing events take place across the six days, apart from 10th January when no racing is scheduled. The Canberra team will be led by Para-Olympic sailor, Peter Thompson. The Y Canberra Region is hosting and organising the events, with The Y Canberra Region Sailing Club members volunteering their time.
“Canberrans are invited to watch the sailing events with races started each day from 2pm when there are sufficient wind conditions. The best place to view the sailing is on Alexandrina Drive, directly south of Springbank Island. We welcome everyone to come and enjoy the racing spectacle from this area knows as ‘Experts Point,” Mr Sant concluded.
For more information on The Y Canberra Region Sailing Club , visit www.ymcacanberra.org.au