SPORT - 2009 Lake Mulwala Power festival

Yarrawonga Mulwala Tourism and the Victorian Speedboat Club have announced this year’s spectacular Lake Mulwala Power festival will once again be held on the last weekend in November showcasing the annual Yarrawonga Gold Cup in its third year running.

After last November’s successful event, organisers said this year’s festival is planned to go bigger and better again, although you might be asking: “How was last year’s event a success when the New Zealanders came over and took ‘our’ Cup back to the land of the long white cloud by defeating the Aussies on home water?”

With a great outdoor expo, many stalls, excellent powerboat racing and a bumper crowd, both the Yarrawonga Mulwala Tourism and the Victorian Speedboat Club said they could only brand the 2008 event as a huge success.

The Yarrawonga Gold Cup is set to complement the high standard expected with the powerboat racing, and this year, organisers said Lake Mulwala Power has secured the next best thing until the Aussie race boat teams can bring back the Griffith Cup, with the first round of the Australian Grand Prix Hydroplane Championship to be held on the Saturday.

The Hayes Wood Trophy is the Australian Championship for Unlimited Unrestricted Powerboats and always remains in Australia, rotating throughout the nation. This will be the first time the waters of Lake Mulwala will host the Hayes Wood. Yet another coup for Yarrawonga/Mulwala, said organisers.

Raced close to shore on a short oval circuit around buoys, the high-speed Grand Prix Hydroplanes and Blown Alcohol Displacements are the fastest boats in the world at over 270kmh. In addition, organisers said more than 10 other classes will be contesting various titles including the Formula Future Class for the kids. In all, more than 50 teams and their magnificent racing machines will be on display.

Lake Mulwala Power festival said it has a vision not only to showcase the best powerboat racing in the country, but to also expand the outdoor leisure show component which comprises market, stalls, outdoor leisure sites, boat displays, caravans and more outdoor interests along with onshore entertainment for the whole family.

The Lake Mulwala Power festival is held on November 28 and 29.

For further information, phone 1800 062 260