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Australia Day Celebration
offered by supplier M18404 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 1
day(s)
Group Size: 10
- 35
people
Destination(s):
Australia
Specialty Categories:
Boating and Sailing
Festival Tours
Season: January
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 110 Australian Dollar (AUD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 110 Australian Dollar (AUD)
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Our Australia Day cruise begins with the Great Ferry Race aptly named the "Ferrython." Many harbour ferries (that normally provide commuter transport on Sydney's beautiful waterways have been completely transformed by fancy dress from the waterline to the funnel and beyond with streamers) take up position on the starting line in front of the Sydney Opera House.
Once the ancient cannon on Fort Denison is fired signaling the beginning of one of Sydney Harbours most exciting events, the captain of each of these colorfully clad, normally "staid workhorses," opens the throttle and the whole spectator fleet surge forward to keep up with the racing ferries. The course of the race takes the ferries around Shark Island and on toward Watson's Bay before turning back towards the City. There is much glory for the skipper of the victorious ferry in this event, so you can see "every trick in the book" including smoke screens as the ferries race toward the finish line under the Harbour Bridge.
Soon after the conclusion of the "Ferrython" and almost before the excitement has died down, we will participate in the Australia Day Parade where a huge armada of vessels (many in fancy dress) will cruise from the Harbour Bridge, past the Opera House and Clark Island, to Bradley's Head before turning back to the Harbour Bridge. As it is our Nations' Birthday, we will decorate Sydney Sundancer with hundreds of flags in Australia's sporting colors Green and Gold as a tribute to our fantastic sportsmen and women who have made us proud over the years.
At 2.00pm, we will be presented with a colorful airborne display as our champion pilots from the RAAF perform precision flying above our heads. These aeroplanes swoop in towards the harbor and action is so close above us that you can almost see a smile on the pilots face as he lines up for the next manoeuvre. This year's display will be from four F18 Hornets, our top of the range jet fighters. There will then be a search and rescue display, where helicopters simulate the rescue of sailors from the storm in the ill-fated 1999 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Rescue flares locate the person in the water and they will be subsequently winched to safety aboard a helicopter.
Following that, members of the Red Berets , the Army elite Parachute regiment splash down into Circular quay. At 3.30pm, in complete contrast to the air borne action of the modern day, we will be presented with historic sailing vessels - Sydney's fleet of Tall Ships, all decked out in their finest regalia. These majestic vessels, from a bygone era, parade past the Opera House and along the foreshores to take up their position on the starting line for a more sedate race - under sail.
It is wonderful to see these "grand ladies" with almost half their crew aloft (hanging from the yardarms, some more than 100 ft or 30 meters above the deck) set their sails to harness the wind just the way Captain Cook did more than 200 years ago. This is not the "heart racing" excitement of the "Ferrython" but for those who appreciate witnessing historic action, it will be the closest most of us will get to being along side a vessel, the likes of which are seen in Russel Crow's new movie: Master and Commander.
Later in the afternoon, we will be on the finishing line for the Australia Day Regatta (the worlds' longest continuously held yachting event), so we can cheer the winners of each class and division. You can expect to see ocean racing yachts that will have returned from Hobart, and Harbour racing yachts that regularly compete on weekends as well as our own 18 foot skiffs, all finishing their race in the vicinity of the Opera House.
That is what everyone remembers about the evening on Australia Day, but the evening cruise is more than that!! We will enjoy the worlds' only floating Jazz festival. Music is broadcast to the armada of spectator boats from giant loud speakers, while the band is aboard the "Music Shell" pontoon in the middle of the anchored fleet. Great jazz is followed by a spectacular fireworks display that is synchronized to the music played live by the band. When the fireworks are matched to Advance Australia Fair the feeling of pride and mate ship is incredible.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Australia and Oceania
Australia
Boating and Sailing
Festival Tours
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, ext: 18404
