All the preparations are in place and the doors are ready to open for next weekend’s inaugural Club Marine Pittwater Sail Expo to be hosted on the grounds of The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Newport over the 24 & 25 March between 10am and 5pm.

With the sold out sign up for exhibitors, this free community event will feature over 35 exhibitors supplying goods and services to the professional and leisure sailor.  The club itself will be a feature exhibitor with members on hand to discuss all activities on offer including yacht racing, cruising, kids sailing and training and offer tours of the club.

The RPAYC will be bursting with activity with yachts of all shapes and sizes on display on the floating marinas, product demonstrations in the marquees on the lawn in front of the club house and exhibitions within the club.

Many leading marine industry brands will be exhibiting at the Pittwater Sail Expo including monohull and multihull yachts by Bavaria, Beneteau, Catalina, Corsair trimaran, Dehler, Dufour, Elan, Hanse, Island Packet, Jeanneau, J-Yachts, Lagoon catamarans, US Yachts, Seawind catamarans, Sunbeam and X-Yachts as well as Ozi Opti dinghies, Etchells and Melges. There will even be an historic Jubilee boat on display.

Other marine goods and services will be displaying their wares such as charter services, inflatable boats, marine paints, rigging, sail makers, shipwrights, marine groups, deck hardware, soft furnishings, electrical, batteries, ropes, marine insurance and much, much more.

Pittwater authorities will have a presence also with the Water Police, NSW Maritime and Marine Rescue having their vessels on display on one of the marina arms whilst Marine Rescue Broken Bay will be volunteering their time to assist with the sausage sizzle, raffles and assisting visitors at the car parks.

It’s also an excellent opportunity for the public who have an interest in sailing to learn more about what the club has to offer and all aspects of sailing, training and membership. There will be entertainment, great food and product demonstrations throughout the two day event. Visitors can even take a tour of Wild Oats X.

With organisers expecting between 2000 and 3000 people to visit the Pittwater Sail Expo over the week-end, a shuttle bus has been organised to ferry people to and from the club to various pick up and drop off points throughout Newport to assist with parking demands. The Club offers limited car parking in Crystal Bay car park in Crystal St, next door to the club with public car parking available opposite Newport Arms, Newport public school, Newport surf club, Porters Reserve and Newport shops. The shuttle bus will depart every 30 minutes from the main boom gate at the RPAYC.  More details including a bus and parking map is available on the event website.

At midday on Saturday there will be an official opening by the RPAYC Commodore Rob Curtis Federal MP Bronwyn Bishop, State MP Rob Stokes and Pittwater Mayor Harvey Rose.

On Sunday at 3pm there is a presentation by Craig & Kerry Margetts and family who circumnavigated Australia on a Seawind catamaran.

Club Marine Pittwater Sail Expo spokesman Maurice Gilet said, “The Pittwater Sail Expo is completely sold out from an exhibitor point of view which is tremendous news and for us to achieve our aims and make this year, and the years to come, a success is very pleasing. We look forward to welcoming everyone to our club and providing a great sail expo experience”.

The RPAYC will also be waiving the joining fee for anyone who wishes to join the club on the sail expo weekend.

So if you have an interest or want to learn more about sailing don’t miss the Club Marine Pittwater Sail Expo.

Situated on magnificent Pittwater on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club is the state’s largest sailing club and combined with its extensive racing, cruising and dinghy programs, lures many sailors to the club.  The club is home to over 1700 members, over 300 yachts, 70 hardstand boats and 100 dinghies. The club was established in 1867, making it one of the oldest yacht clubs in Australia.

The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club is located at 16 Mitala St Newport and admission is free. A Sail Expo visitor guide is also available.

For more info on the Club Marine Pittwater Sail Expo visit: www.rpayc.com.au/pittwater-sail-expo