Cowes Yacht Club is welcoming the 29th running of Australia’s toughest off the beach sailing endurance races on February 15th 2025.

Starting and finishing at the Yacht Club located 400m west of the pier, The Australian Air Safaris National 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 & New South Wales.

The race is a simple navigation around French Island in Westernport Bay, the most direct route is 70km 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 8hours, but the quickest time sitting at 2hours 45mins.

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 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 have really embraced and got behind supporting 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 on the water for the race start, in 2025 the spectator ferry will be back and tickets will be on sale soon, and the club will have a free BBQ, give aways and 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 Council, Westernport Water, Bendigo Bank, Wildlife Coast Cruises, the Phillip Island RSL and of course Australian Air Safaris all backing the event.

The Australian Air Safaris Around French Island National Catamaran Challenge will be held on February 15th and entries are open to a maximum of 70 competitors. Entries are open now so visit www.cowesyachtclub.com/afi.

Cowes Yacht Club encourages the public to put a note in their diary of the event day as there will be an active program of public engagement and further details will be provided in the week before the event of these exciting initiatives.